A New Home for Vermonters Ready to Defend Their Natural Rights

Across Vermont, people are waking up to a simple truth: our rights do not come from government. Government was established to secure them.

The Natural Rights Project is being built as a citizen resource for Vermonters who want to understand, defend, and take action on the natural, inherent, and unalienable rights recognized in the Vermont Constitution.


THE FULL WEBSITE IS COMING SOON!


WHAT'S NEW?

PUBLISHED 7/18/26

Candidate Questionnaire now available - candidates are invited to respond, and Vermonters are encouraged to share it with those seeking to represent them.

Why This Project Exists

The Natural Rights Project exists to provide educational information about how proposed policies may affect natural rights as spelled out in Vermont’s Constitution, and to oppose policies that violate them.


Vermont’s Constitution recognizes that all people are born with natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, including life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness.


These rights do not come from government. The proper role of government is to secure and protect them.


The Natural Rights Project is being created to help Vermonters stay informed, understand the issues, and take meaningful action when those rights are threatened.

Mission

Our mission is to restore, preserve, and uphold the natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, which Vermont’s Constitution was designed to secure, by educating, informing, organizing, and activating self-governing Vermonters.

What the Full Website Will Cover

When the full website launches, it will focus on key areas where Vermonters’ natural rights are increasingly under pressure.


PROPERTY RIGHTS:
Protecting the right to acquire, possess, use, and defend private property.


PARENTAL RIGHTS:
Supporting the rights of parents to guide the care, upbringing, education, and well-being of their children.


MEDICAL FREEDOM:
Defending informed consent, individual liberty, and the right to make personal medical decisions without coercion.


FOOD FREEDOM:
Supporting the right of Vermonters to grow, raise, buy, sell, and share local food.


CIVIL LIBERTIES:
Protecting the basic freedoms that allow citizens to speak, assemble, worship, question, and participate in public life.


GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY:
Encouraging transparency, constitutional limits, and public participation in decisions that affect Vermonters’ lives and rights.

Who We Are

The Natural Rights Project is currently being formed by a small group of Vermonters committed to restoring, preserving, and upholding the natural, inherent, and unalienable rights recognized in Vermont’s Constitution.


Our founding Board of Directors is helping establish the organization’s structure, mission, and first-year priorities.


As we continue to build, we will be expanding our volunteer teams, advisory support, and statewide network of Vermonters who share this mission.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Alison Despathy - President

Jason Herron - Principal Officer

Jamie Gage - Treasurer

Lou White - Secretary

How We Will Be Effective

The Natural Rights Project is being built to do more than raise awareness. Our goal is to create a practical, organized, and legally grounded structure for protecting natural, inherent, and unalienable rights in Vermont.


Our work will focus on eight practical areas:

Legal & Constitutional Review

We will work with legal advisors to help identify when legislation, regulations, or policies may infringe on the natural and constitutional rights of Vermonters and evaluate lawful courses of action when necessary.

Public Education

We will help Vermonters understand what natural rights are, where they are protected in Vermont’s Constitution, and how current issues may affect those rights through articles, events, videos, interviews, email updates, and other public media.

Legislative Tracking & Civic Action

We will track key legislation & policy changes affecting natural rights, and help Vermonters respond through petitions, public comments, calls to legislators, letters, and other lawful forms of civic action.

Candidate & Lawmaker Accountability

We will interview candidates, elected officials, and public servants to see where they stand on Vermont’s Constitution and natural rights. Their responses will help create a public record voters and communities can refer to.

Collaboration With Existing Efforts

We will coordinate and collaborate with organizations, local groups, and citizens already working to protect the rights, freedoms, families, property, livelihoods, and communities of Vermonters.

Statewide Volunteer Network

We will build a volunteer network across Vermont so people can help in meaningful ways; through research, writing, outreach, events, petitions, communications, video, and local organizing.

Member Voice

Membership will not require a fee - only an interest in protecting natural rights. As NRP develops, we intend to create a structure where members and volunteers can share input, raise concerns, suggest priorities, and help shape the work being done.

Local District Structure

Our long-term goal is to build a network of local volunteers and district-level representatives who can help NRP stay connected to what is happening across Vermont and support action at the community level.

Why This Matters Now

Many Vermonters feel that decisions affecting their land, families, health, food, and local communities are being made without enough transparency, accountability, or respect for individual rights.


The Natural Rights Project is being created in response to that concern.


The goal is to give citizens a clear place to learn what is happening, understand why it matters, and take action in a focused and organized way.


A free society depends on informed citizens. It also depends on citizens who are willing to speak, organize, and hold government accountable when natural rights are at stake.

Stay Informed!

Contact Us

Why sign-up & what you'll receive


✔ Important Issue Alerts
Plain-English updates when legislation, policies, or public actions may affect natural rights in Vermont.


✔ Opportunities to Take Action
Education, petitions, public comments, calls to legislators, events, and other meaningful ways to participate.


✔ Launch & Project Updates
Occasional updates as the full Natural Rights Project website and volunteer network are built.


✔ No Noise. No Spam.
We’ll only email when something is important, relevant, and worth your attention.



Stay informed. Speak up when it matters. Help protect the rights that already belong to the people.

Join Us!

Join the Effort to Protect Natural Rights in Vermont


Across Vermont, many people are becoming concerned about the steady erosion of individual liberty, property rights, parental rights, medical freedom, and local self-determination.


The Natural Rights Project is being built to inform, organize, and empower Vermonters who believe these rights are worth defending.


As we prepare to launch, we are looking for volunteers to help with research, outreach, communications, local organizing, and issue-based action. Whether you're super interested or just exploring, fill out the simple form below and we'll get back to you.


Note: Natural Rights Project is being built as a citizen-led effort, not a top-down organization. As our volunteer team grows, we intend to shape our leadership structure around those who are actively contributing their time, skills, and judgment to the work. Some roles may involve meaningful responsibility and a voice in the future direction of the project, including how the Board is structured as we move forward.


Submit this Form to Explore Volunteer Roles

Volunteer

Why volunteer...


✔ Help Build the Foundation
Early volunteers will help shape the structure, priorities, and practical systems needed to move the project forward.


✔ Use Your Skills Meaningfully
Writing, outreach, organizing, communications, research, events, leadership, technical support - there may be a place for you.


✔ Have a Voice in the Direction
As key roles are filled, our leadership and Board structure may evolve so those carrying meaningful responsibility help shape our organization and direction


✔ Support Real Action & have a Real Impact
Help turn ideas into practical action through education, petitions, outreach, events, candidate questionnaires, and issue-based campaigns. This is not "just another non-profit"



Don't be shy! Whether you're just exploring or ready to jump in, we'd love to hear from you. No pressure, no obligation.

  • District Delegate

    There are 108 House districts in Vermont. Our goal is to have a District Delegate representing the Natural Rights Project (NRP) in every district.


    District Delegates will be central to the organization’s work. They will help keep NRP connected to what is happening in communities across Vermont, share local concerns and priorities, and help support issue-based outreach and action within their district.


    NRP should be built to serve and support these local delegates, giving them the tools, information, and structure they need to be effective in their own communities.


    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click here to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Communications Director

    The Communications Director helps guide the overall messaging, tone, and communications strategy for the organization.


    This role may involve coordinating a small communications team that supports public outreach across multiple channels, including website content, email updates, social media, video, community alerts, and online discussion spaces.


    The Communications Director helps ensure that the organization’s message is clear, consistent, accurate, and aligned with its mission, while supporting volunteers who may be helping with writing, moderation, social media outreach, phone-based outreach, or video content.



    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Content Writers

    Content Writers help explain important issues clearly and persuasively for supporters, volunteers, and the broader public.


    This role is intended for people who can take complex topics, such as legislation, policy proposals, natural rights issues, local concerns, or community action campaigns, and turn them into clear, accessible content that helps people understand what is happening and why it matters.


    Content Writers may help with website copy, email updates, action alerts, social media posts, educational articles, issue summaries, or other written materials that support the organization’s mission.



    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Social Media Advocate

    Social Media Advocates help NRP strengthen its online presence and make sure its message is clearly and consistently represented in public conversations.


    This role may involve sharing NRP content, supporting issue-based campaigns, responding respectfully to misinformation, encouraging constructive discussion, and helping more Vermonters understand the importance of protecting natural, inherent, and unalienable rights.


    The goal is not to argue online, but to communicate clearly, stay grounded in the mission, and help build informed public support.


    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Phone Outreach Volunteer

    Phone Outreach Volunteers help NRP connect directly with Vermonters from home.


    This role is intended for people who enjoy talking with others, listening well, and helping supporters stay informed and engaged. Phone Outreach Volunteers may help make calls related to volunteer follow-up, event reminders, issue alerts, petitions, local organizing, or other action campaigns.


    This is a good fit for someone who wants to contribute in a meaningful way without needing to attend in-person events or travel.


    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Videographer/Video Volunteer

    Video Volunteers help NRP document events, share important conversations, and create video content that helps Vermonters understand the issues.


    This role may include capturing footage at public events, recording short educational or training videos, conducting interviews with community members, and helping document conversations with legislators, candidates, or local leaders.


    This is a good fit for someone who is comfortable using video to tell a clear, compelling story (whether with professional equipment or a good phone camera) and who wants to help make NRP’s work more visible, accessible, and engaging.


    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.


    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Grassroots Director

    The Grassroots Director helps NRP build, support, and activate its volunteer network across Vermont.


    This role is intended for someone who enjoys connecting with people, identifying their strengths, and helping match volunteers with the roles, projects, and local efforts where they can be most effective.


    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Event Coordinator

    Event Coordinators help NRP plan, organize, and support in-person events that bring people together, raise awareness, and strengthen local involvement.


    This role may include helping coordinate rallies, speaker events, training meetings, informational gatherings, grassroots recruiting efforts, booths at local fairs, parades, raffles, fundraisers, or other community-based events.


    Event Coordinators help with the practical details that make events run smoothly — such as planning, scheduling, volunteer support, materials, setup, outreach, and follow-up — while helping create welcoming opportunities for Vermonters to learn, connect, and take action.


    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Follow-up Team

    Follow-Up Team


    Welcome new supporters and help them find their place.


    The Follow-Up Team helps make sure that people who sign up, volunteer, or express interest in the Natural Rights Project don’t fall through the cracks.


    This team reaches out to new supporters, thanks them for getting involved, learns a little more about their interests and skills, and helps connect them with the right volunteer opportunity or project need.


    This role is ideal for people who are friendly, organized, good listeners, and comfortable having simple conversations by email, phone, or text. You don’t need to be an expert in policy or politics; just someone who can help people feel welcomed, heard, and pointed in the right direction.


    This may include:

    • Welcoming new supporters after they sign up
    • Asking about their interests, skills, and availability
    • Helping match volunteers with current needs
    • Keeping simple notes so the team can follow up appropriately
    • Making sure people feel valued and included

    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Legislative/Media Liaison

    Legislative / Media Liaison


    Serve as a bridge between the organization, lawmakers, and the public conversation.


    The Legislative / Media Liaison is a Director-level role that helps represent the organization in communications with state legislators, public officials, and members of the media.


    This person serves as a key point of contact for legislative and media inquiries, helps build respectful working relationships with decision-makers, and supports the organization’s ability to respond thoughtfully and strategically to current issues.


    Working closely with the State Director and Legal Director, the Legislative / Media Liaison also helps guide legislative strategy, identify opportunities for engagement, and ensure that public messaging remains clear, accurate, and aligned with the organization’s mission.


    This role is ideal for someone who is professional, diplomatic, well-spoken, and comfortable communicating with elected officials, journalists, and community leaders.


    This may include:

    • Serving as a primary contact for state legislators and media representatives
    • Helping develop legislative outreach and engagement strategies
    • Coordinating with the State Director and Legal Director on policy priorities
    • Preparing or reviewing public statements, talking points, and media responses
    • Building relationships with lawmakers, reporters, and civic leaders
    • Monitoring legislative developments and identifying timely opportunities for action
    • Ensuring communications remain accurate, respectful, and mission-aligne

    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Veterans Alliance Director

    Veterans Alliance Director


    Help unite veterans and service members around the mission.


    The Veterans Alliance Director is a leadership role focused on building and guiding a united group of veterans, service members, and military families who support the organization’s mission.


    Veterans carry a unique voice in public life. Their experience, service, and credibility can help strengthen public understanding, build trust, and encourage civic action when fundamental rights are at stake.


    This Director helps organize veteran supporters, develop outreach strategies, identify opportunities for public engagement, and ensure that veterans who want to take action have a meaningful way to do so.


    This role is ideal for someone with military experience, strong leadership skills, good judgment, and the ability to bring people together around shared principles and respectful action.


    This may include:

    • Building and organizing a network of veteran supporters
    • Welcoming veterans, service members, and military families into the alliance
    • Helping identify veteran voices willing to speak, write, testify, or participate publicly
    • Coordinating veteran involvement in campaigns, events, and issue advocacy
    • Working with organizational leadership on veteran outreach strategy
    • Encouraging respectful, disciplined, mission-aligned activism
    • Helping ensure veterans feel valued, connected, and purposefully engaged

    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Veterans Alliance Member

     Veterans Alliance Member


    Stand with fellow veterans in support of natural rights.


    Veterans Alliance Members are veterans, service members, and military family members who want to lend their voices, experience, and civic leadership to the organization’s mission.


    This group helps bring veteran supporters together as a visible, organized, and principled community of advocates. Members may choose to participate in public outreach, issue campaigns, events, letters, testimony, or other forms of peaceful civic action.


    This role is ideal for veterans and military-connected supporters who care about protecting fundamental rights and want to stand alongside others with shared values.


    This may include:

    • Joining a network of veteran supporters
    • Participating in issue-based campaigns or public actions
    • Sharing personal perspective when appropriate
    • Signing letters, attending events, or supporting outreach efforts
    • Helping encourage other veterans to get involved
    • Serving as a visible, respectful voice for liberty, service, and civic responsibility

    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Technical Director

    Technical Director


    Manage the systems and tools that keep the organization running.


    The Technical Director is a leadership role responsible for overseeing the organization’s technology needs, digital systems, and technical infrastructure.


    This role helps ensure that the organization’s website, databases, email systems, volunteer tools, digital security, and internal platforms are reliable, organized, and aligned with the needs of the team.


    The Technical Director may also help evaluate new software, coordinate technical improvements, support data organization, and work with other Directors to make sure technology is serving the mission effectively.


    This role is ideal for someone who is technically skilled, security-minded, organized, and able to explain technical issues clearly to non-technical team members.


    This may include:

    • Overseeing the organization’s website, software, and digital tools
    • Helping select, manage, and improve technology platforms
    • Supporting data organization, access controls, and digital security
    • Coordinating with leadership on technical needs and priorities
    • Troubleshooting technical issues or delegating them to the appropriate team member
    • Creating simple systems and documentation for internal use
    • Helping ensure technology remains practical, secure, and mission-aligned

    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Information / Technical Analysts

    Information / Technical Analysts


    Assist with research, systems, data, and technical support.


    Information / Technical Analysts support the Technical Director by helping with the organization’s digital systems, information management, research, and technical tasks.


    This team may help organize data, review technical tools, troubleshoot basic issues, maintain internal records, assist with website or platform updates, and support the flow of accurate information across the organization.


    This role is ideal for people who are detail-oriented, comfortable with technology, good at problem-solving, and willing to help keep systems organized behind the scenes. Advanced technical experience may be helpful, but many tasks can be matched to a volunteer’s skill level.


    **This may include:**


    • Assisting with website, database, or platform updates
    • Helping organize information, files, records, or volunteer data
    • Researching tools, systems, or technical solutions
    • Supporting basic troubleshooting and documentation
    • Helping maintain accurate internal information
    • Assisting with data entry, cleanup, or reporting
    • Supporting the Technical Director with assigned projects

    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.


    Volunteer Interest Form

  • Legal Director

    Legal Director


    Guide the organization’s legal strategy and compliance.


    The Legal Director is a leadership role responsible for helping guide the organization’s legal strategy, compliance practices, and risk awareness.


    This role supports the organization by reviewing key legal considerations, advising leadership on compliance requirements, and helping ensure that the organization’s actions, public communications, campaigns, and operational practices remain legally sound.


    Working closely with the State Director, Legislative / Media Liaison, and other Directors as needed, the Legal Director helps the organization approach sensitive issues with clarity, discipline, and appropriate legal oversight.


    This role is ideal for an attorney or legally experienced professional who understands nonprofit, constitutional, legislative, election, or advocacy-related legal matters and can provide calm, strategic guidance.


    This may include:

    • Advising leadership on legal strategy and compliance
    • Helping review organizational policies, campaigns, and public-facing materials
    • Supporting legislative and advocacy strategy from a legal perspective
    • Identifying legal risks and helping develop appropriate safeguards Coordinating with outside counsel when needed
    • Helping ensure the organization operates within applicable laws and regulations
    • Providing guidance on nonprofit, advocacy, election, or communications-related legal issues

    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.

    Volunteer Interest Form

  • State Director

    State Director


    Lead the organization’s mission, strategy, and statewide development.


    The State Director is the senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the organization’s overall direction, operations, grassroots development, legislative strategy, and legal review process.


    As Chair of the Board of Directors, the State Director helps ensure that the organization remains focused, effective, legally sound, and aligned with its mission. This role works closely with the Legal Director, Legislative / Media Liaison, Technical Director, volunteer leaders, and other Directors to coordinate strategy across all areas of the organization.


    The State Director also plays a central role in building and activating a statewide grassroots network — helping supporters, volunteers, local teams, and issue-focused groups work together toward shared goals.


    This role is ideal for someone with strong leadership skills, sound judgment, strategic thinking, organizational discipline, and the ability to bring people together around a clear mission.


    This may include:

    • Overseeing the organization’s overall strategy, operations, and direction
    • Serving as Chair of the Board of Directors
    • Coordinating with Directors and team leads across all major areas
    • Guiding grassroots development, volunteer activation, and statewide organizing
    • Helping shape legislative strategy and issue priorities
    • Ensuring appropriate legal review and compliance coordination
    • Supporting clear decision-making, accountability, and mission alignment
    • Representing the organization in high-level conversations when appropriate

    TIME COMMITMENT:

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    TIMELINE:

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    NEXT STEPS:

    Interested in this role or have questions?


    Click the button below to complete the volunteer interest form, which will open in a pop-up. Once we receive your form, we’ll follow up by email with more information, next steps, and answers to any questions you may have.


    Volunteer Interest Form