By Alexa Davis

October 8, 2026

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The air was abuzz with chatter on Tuesday, October 6, as dozens of people gathered for Queen
City Indivisible’s monthly member meeting.

The event, held at Queen City Brewery in Burlington, began with an informal discussion about
current events that are on people’s minds before transitioning into a presentation from the
organization’s volunteers. Topics covered included encouraging people to get out the vote for the
Midterm Elections on November 3 and generating wider awareness about key ballot items VT
Prop 3 and 4 regarding labor unions and equal rights, respectively. After these discussions, they
drafted postcards encouraging Vermonters to vote.

Burlington advocates for democracy are finding themselves embracing resilience and
community-oriented action, underlining the mission and tactics of Queen City Indivisible. This
local chapter, which is a grassroots volunteer-run system, is just one of the thousands of groups
that have emerged from the national association Indivisible, which aims to combating the rise of
authoritarianism in America.

While many chapters throughout the country are using existing practices to advocate for
democracy, the Burlington branch is doing things their own way by focusing on building
community.

The national Indivisible “has formed a critical flank of the opposition, using its millions of
members across the country to quickly spin up town halls, rallies, educational events and
protests,” according to The Guardian. The national organization acknowledges “a lot of people
are burned out on the idea of protesting and marching,” which were predominant tactics of unrest
after the first Trump administration.

Burlington’s chapter has gained high participation at rallies for No Kings Day. And yet they are
trying out new methods towards social change. Queen City Indivisible is focused on building
community through various activities embracing advocacy, arts, culture, and connecting with
others. While many of the events are centered towards justice, others simply enjoy the benefits of
getting to know the people around you.

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“Part of our idea was [understanding] that going to big protests is not for everyone, but there's
probably a bunch of people we could get to come to our potluck just in our neighborhood,” said
Jasmine Lamb, a founding member and volunteer for Queen City Indivisible. “Even if they don't
come to the protest, it'll help them feel more connected to each other, and it might be a step to
getting them involved.”

This was the central idea in starting the local chapter. Amidst the ever-changing state of the
political atmosphere, many wonder how they can be active citizens. After President Trump's
election in January 2025, this feeling became exacerbated.

“I was certainly feeling pretty despondent about this, and my husband Mark was as well,” Lamb
said. “He was like, ‘I just can’t spend another four years doomscrolling.’”

That’s what compelled them to initiate action nearby. Lamb’s husband later went on to propose
the Queen City chapter in a post on Front Porch Forum, asking if others would be interested.
Locals quickly picked up on this.

“A movement arrived and I was intrigued by it,” said Francine Cohen, an active member and
volunteer for the community committee. “I knew that I don’t have the power to change the
world, but to change my community and create connection.”

The group delegated roles into several committees, which work in conjunction to organize
members, throw events and facilitate public outreach. The steering committee guides Queen City
Indivisible’s overall mission. Sub-groups include the community, protest and election
committees.

While the organization has experienced many successes thus far, from gaining hundreds of
participants in their protests, implementing influential speakers and lobbying for policy changes,
not everything has gone to plan.

Just a year and a half old, Queen City Indivisible has faced some internal challenges. As with
any activist coalition, the organization has encountered difficulties conducting protests of
growing capacities.

The protests require substantial amounts of work in planning, which can often feel stressful and
high stakes, with the possibility of safety issues, according to Lamb. The volunteers’ takeaway is
that it is important to network with other activist groups in Burlington to build partnerships and
have a broader base of support.

“It’s really important that we step out of our isolation, come together and engage in meaningful
conversation— not only about national politics, but about our communities,” said Lamb.
Queen City Indivisible highlights connection as a strong tactic for social change, which is
exemplified through their various events. Protests, forums, neighborhood potlucks and Story
Slams are just a few. Both latter have financially supported organizations that also work to
benefit the area.

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Though such events require time and energy, it has proven to be worthwhile, according to
MaryAnn Bock, volunteer for the steering and protest committees. “I’ve had many, many people,
including everyone on the steering committee, say, ‘if I wasn’t a part of this, I’d be losing my
mind,” Bock said.

The desire for more lighthearted advocacy contributes to the mentality behind one of the most
recent events, Dance for Democracy. On Saturday, October 10, members gathered at the First
Congregational Church of Burlington for a dance. They raised money for Queen City Indivisible
and the Old Spokes Home.

Some of the motivation for the Dance was centered around the intersection between a cultural
activity and a social justice movement, all with the intention of bringing people together to unite
for change.

Other events involve advocacy through storytelling. In their Story Slams, Queen City Indivisible
sources inspiration from NPR's The Moth, which encourages people to listen, share, and
understand each other’s stories. The immersive experience allows everybody to participate.
“We got people to come that wouldn’t come to something else,” said Bock. “The same thing
goes for Dance for Democracy: it’s going to attract different people and it’s fun. That’s all there
is to it.”

A previous Story Slam generated proceeds towards Migrant Justice. Bock added that the
volunteers choose the benefit groups organically, and that any support, big or small, can help.
The stories shared are vivid and vulnerable, invoking a sense of passion and emotion for those
involved.

 

Another way to contribute to the sustenance of democracy is by voting. Back at the October
member meeting, the upcoming election was on everyone’s minds. Though a considerable
portion of Indivisible’s work involves events beyond the ballot box, their focus remains on the
polls.

 

One of the challenges the organization—and country—faces is getting a younger demographic
participating in civic action. The present network of activists, especially in Vermont, favors
retirees who grew up protesting and now have the time to continue to do so. Queen City
Indivisible is working on expanding the membership to include a more diverse network of
people.

“Taking action is not easy for people to do,” said Bock. She believes it’s even more difficult for
rural residents, students, and working parents. Through ongoing strategies, events, and
conversations, Queen City Indivisible aims to minimize this. “The main focus is getting people
to register to vote,” said Bock.

 

For more information on how to register to vote, visit https://vote.vermont.gov/public/dashboard.