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Speakers Bureau

Facing a Flooded World: Why Relationship is the Sweetest Way

Live Event
February 12: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Central Vermont endured catastrophic flooding in 2023 and 2024. Now, the horizon looks different. An America with less disaster response support seems likely, while the planet continues to warm and the rain falls hard and fast. This presentation by Shawna Trader from Barre Up! will explore several examples of community building projects which, in turn, are proving to be pathways towards resilience.

We are not doomed to endure passively the rising water and the changeful times. Community care is possible and necessary. We’ll explore The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton and how this prescient story points to the power of relationship as we look to the future.

Image is of The Heart of Barre, a multimedia art installation by painter Dierdra Michelle and poet/community organizer Shawna Trader honoring the strength and resilience of Barre residents in the face of back-to-back floods. A series of 20 portraits are accompanied by poetry, interviews and audio recordings, to be displayed at the Vermont State House in September.

About the Speaker

headshot of Shawn Trader, she is smiling with yellow sunglasses, a beard and pink sweat shirt over a black lives matter t-shirt
Picture by Shannon Alexander
Shawna is a caregiver, parent, poet and community organizer. Raised on the gulf coast of Florida, she has seen her share of storms. After many years in healthcare, she found herself leading The Rainbow Bridge Community Center in Barre, which became a convergence point for catastrophic flood response in 2023. Realizing the interconnected elements of community building and disaster preparedness and response, she continued that work as Chair of Barre Up, Barre City’s long term recovery group.
She is using her experience as a flood responder and community leader to advocate for critically needed change in Vermont. Her most recent project is called The Heart of Barre, a collaboration with local artist Dierdra Michelle. The project shares the collected wisdom, beauty and pain of Barre flood survivors. It can be found at The Aldrich Public Library in February, 2026, when it leaves the Vermont State House.

 

 

 

 

 

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