Michelle Bos-Lun Explained

Michelle Bos-Lun
Office1:Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from the Windham 3 district
Term Start1:2021
Predecessor1:Carolyn Partridge
Party:Democratic
Office2:Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from the Windham 4 district
Predecessor2:Nader Hashim
Term:2022-2024

Michelle Bos-Lun is an American educator who also works in social services and restorative justice. She has been a politician since being elected in 2020. She is a state representative initially elected to Windham-4 for her first term, but after redistricting, now serving Windham-3 district of Vermont.

Career

Bos-Lun moved to Vermont in 2003 to attend graduate school at the School for International Training Graduate Institute. Since that time she has worked in both education and social services. She  has worked for many years developing, leading and supervising service learning programs: both bringing  students from countries like Iraq and Belarus to  meet and learn with young Americans, and also bringing Americans abroad to places including India, Nepal and Morocco. For five years, she worked at Youth Services in the area of youth housing and career development.[1] She has designed, taught and supervised programs for the Governor's Institute of Vermont for many years. Prior to  election to the Vermont General Assembly Bos-Lun taught social studies and language arts at a secondary school level for seven years.  She has taught English and US and World History online for many years as well. The final year before her election Bos-Lun worked at the Brattleboro Community Justice Center  in restorative justice, supporting reentry for people recently released from incarceration. In 2023 after the legislature adjourned, Bos-Lun served as an interim case manager at Groundworks, supporting individuals who lacked permanent housing. Bos-Lun is co- founder and co-director of Bihar Educational Change Foundation, a nonprofit organization which supports educational and nutritional programs at three schools in Bihar, India. Bos-Lun also serves on the Board of Greater Falls Connections, a youth prevention organization based in Bellows Falls, Vermont.

State House of Representatives campaign

In May 2020, Bos-Lun attended Emerge VT, a program that trains Democratic women to run for office in Vermont.[2] On May 13, 2020, Bos-Lun declared her candidacy for the state House of Representatives seat vacated in the two-seat Windham-4 district by outgoing representative Nader Hashim.[3] On July 11, outgoing state representative Nader Hashim endorsed Bos-Lun and incumbent state representative Mike Mrowicki.[4] On August 11, Bos-Lun came in second in the Democratic primary, which was enough to win the Democratic nomination in the two-seat district. She beat Matt Ingram, Robert DePino, and David Ramos. The other Democratic nominee was Mike Mrowicki. On November 3, Bos-Lun and Mrowicki won the general election with no on-ballot opposition.[5] After redistricting in 2022, Bos-Lun ran for reelection in Windham-3 including the towns of Westminster, Rockingham, Brookline.[6]

Tenure

Committee assignments

House Corrections and Institutions: addressing policy for the VT Department of Corrections and for infrastructure spending for the Capital budget including housing projects, court house upgrades, state park infrastructure and more.

Caucus memberships

Democratic caucus

Climate Solutions Caucus

Women's caucus

Public health caucus

Policy positions

Rep. Bos-Lun has introduced legislation and supported policy changes in varied areas.  Bos-Lun has been a lead sponsor of bills addressing housing,  justice reform, mental health services & trapping. She has introduced two bills with VT students: one addressing anti-racism, and the other designating a Vermont State Mushroom. She has co-sponsored 63 bills in the 2023-2024 session focusing on child care, housing, climate, youth issues, and restorative justice.[7]

References

  1. Web site: 2020-05-13. Michelle Bos-Lun announces run: Windham 4 state representative. 2021-01-01. VTDigger. en-US.
  2. Web site: State Homepage. 2021-01-01. Emerge Vermont. en.
  3. Web site: Reformer. Susan Smallheer, Brattleboro. Mrowicki, Bos-Lun top Windham 4 Democratic primary. 2021-01-01. Brattleboro Reformer. en.
  4. Web site: 2020-07-11. Rep. Nader Hashim endorses Mike Mrowicki, Michelle Bos-Lun. 2021-01-01. The Vermont Journal & The Shopper. en-US.
  5. Web site: Reformer. Susan Smallheer, Brattleboro. Mrowicki, Bos-Lun coast to House election. 2021-01-01. Brattleboro Reformer. en.
  6. Web site: 2022-05-03 . Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun seeks re-election . 2024-03-18 . The Vermont Journal & The Shopper . en-US.
  7. Web site: Michelle Bos-Lun.com . 2024-03-28 . Michelle Bos-Lun . en-US.