Celebrating 15 Years of Building Local Resilience

Dear Friends,

In the midst of these tumultuous times, BALE’s work to reweave the fabric of local community is more vital than ever and we can’t do it without you. 

2025 has been transformative! In spring we celebrated Chris Wood, BALE founder & leader for 15 years, and welcomed new ED Elena Greenlee & an exciting new board. We also launched a flurry of new programming to support our mission to strengthen the resilience of our precious community.  This year we revived the Royalton Farmers Market, enlivening the heart of town, gathering farmers old and new with free music, interactive art and family friendly activity.

We built a Resistance Hub to organize on-going community responses to rising authoritarianism. We hosted trainings, pop-up events, and two peaceful rallies that each gathered 350+ people to affirm our rights and a future worth fighting for.

We kept the Commons humming with art shows, yoga classes, co-working, and moved countless pounds of free food into the community through our pantry. We did all of this with part-time staff and circles of committed volunteers.

This year, amidst all the uncertainty in our shifting landscape, we need our community to stand with us. We are seeking $40K in funding to support BALE to:

• Formalize the farmers market as a fixture that strengthens our local food web.

• Expand our mutual aid programs to meet rising food and financial insecurity.

• Organize gatherings that stimulate our creative, intellectual and spiritual lives.

• Continue to dream into building the best kind of local community, where all who chose to engage are welcomed, celebrated and challenged with big ideas!

We’re honored to serve a community of friends and neighbors who are dedicated to showing up for each other. In 2026 let’s grow our power to love, care for and celebrate our common home. 

Thank you for rising to the occasion! 
Sincerely,

Elena Greenlee, the BALE Board of Directors & Circle of Community Stewards