Kianna Bromley, University of Vermont Class of 2015, was a member of the inaugural year-long Sustainable Entrepreneurship Master in Business Administration program (SE-MBA)鈥攖he program that would eventually become the flagship Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) graduate program. As a pioneer member of the first graduating class, Bromley鈥檚 driving focus was social responsibility and building community resilience.
Upon graduating, Kianna worked for several years as a finance and business manager before reengaging with her passion as a theater arts educator in Montpelier as she raised her young family. Today, ten years later, Kianna has returned to 日韩无码 driven by a desire to bring change to the world and have a lasting impact on her community.
Setting the Stage for a New Theater
Kianna is the founder and president of the , a 501c3 in Montpelier that is working to purchase the Gary Library on the Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) campus and retain it for community use. The vision is for the 鈥淗ub鈥 to become a vibrant host for Central Vermont鈥檚 performing arts. The Hub will offer a flexible black box theater/performance venue, cafe and bar, and a four-classroom educational suite for all ages. Bromley and the many project supporters are working hard to build critical social infrastructure in the capital city that will increase connection and resiliency and be an economic driver.
Eric Klinenberg, an expert on social infrastructure, writes in his book Palaces for the People, 鈥淭he United States, like most developed nations, faces profound challenges - including climate change, an aging population, running away inequality, and explosive ethnic divisions - that we can address only if we establish stronger bonds with one another and develop some shared interests too.鈥 This project, at its core, is about supporting our Vermont community. The skills and insights Kianna learned from the SI-MBA program are a critical component of the project, driving the organization鈥檚 sustainable business model and core management skills. Her expertise and knowledge in experience design and systems thinking anchor the project.
How to Become a Player in the Project
This new non-profit venture is moving fast and making tremendous progress but needs support to reach their June goal. Over the last six months, they have established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, negotiated a Purchase & Sale Agreement with the VCFA, partnered with Connor Contracting and Freeman French Freeman for renovation plans, and have raised $322,000.
Their goal is to purchase the Gary Library for the negotiated purchase price of $595,000 and pivot to large federal and state grants and sponsorships to renovate the space accordingly. In this final push, they are seeking collective grassroots contributions through their , and leadership-level gifts, which can be arranged through Kianna Bromley at kianna@mpa-hub.org.