NAACP: 7th Annual Freedom Fund Event

8 Court Street, Rutland, VT

Join Rutland Area Branch of the NAACP to honor local heroes, look back on our accomplishments, celebrate community, and enjoy some delicious food!

The annual Freedom Fund event is the NAACP’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and an opportunity to gather our busy, rural community together to celebrate all we’ve done and look ahead to the new year.

This year’s event features keynote speaker Lisa Ryan.

Lisa Ryan (she/her) is a seasoned leader in equity and justice, currently serving as the Community Inclusion Director at the Vermont Criminal Justice Council/Vermont Police Academy. In this role, she oversees statewide fair and impartial policing initiatives, advances inclusive policy development, drives data-informed equity strategies, and fosters meaningful community engagement.

Lisa brings over a decade of experience in restorative justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, mediation, conflict resolution, and systems transformation. She previously served as the inaugural Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Vermont Law and Graduate School, and held leadership roles including Directors of Domestic Violence Response Systems at the Vermont Network and the Rutland County Community Justice Center.

Deeply rooted in Vermont, Lisa served on the Rutland City Board of Aldermen and was the former First Vice President and a founding member of the Rutland Area Branch of the NAACP. Her leadership and impact have earned statewide recognition—she was named one of Vermont’s “Rising Stars” by Vermont Business Magazine in 2017 and voted Rutland Young Professional of the Year in 2018.

She holds a Master of Science in Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies from Champlain College and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Temple University. Her work is grounded in a commitment to inclusive systems, collaborative leadership, and community-centered justice.

To purchase tickets, visit: https://freedomfund26.rsvpify.com/