Brandolyn Bradley was born in Cleveland, Ohio in December 1984 into a mixed race family descended from immigrants and enslaved Africans.  She spent her formative years preparing for service that grew into lifetime of activism and civic engagement.  At an early age, her grandmother took her to protests and rallies supporting the rights of people who have been historically marginalized.  She attended political events for local candidates such as Mayor Michael White during his re-election campaign in Cleveland (pictured below). 

 

Brandolyn grew up in a pro-union family who often spoke about the challenges they faced.  Raised by a single Mother, her family had to sometimes rely on food pantries to get by.  This taught Brandolyn how to economize and learn fiscal responsibility.  She began volunteering while still in elementary school by working with Habitat for Humanity, serving meals at churches and food banks, and participating in marathon walks for charity. 

As a result of these experiences, Brandolyn is uniquely qualified to understand the economic hardships people are facing today.

 

In 1997, Brandolyn’s Mom moved their family just outside of Washington, D.C. to Northern Virginia for a better life.  Brandolyn spent her adolescence in Fairfax County public schools.  The nation’s capital area consists of millions of people from all over the world.  This gave Brandolyn the experience of being around people from a multitude of countries, speaking many languages.  She developed an appreciation for the diversity of America and the benefits that multiculturalism brings to the country and its many communities.  

 

While in high school, Brandolyn experienced many traumatic events.  The September 11th terrorist attack on the Pentagon, the D.C. sniper, and a bomb threat the night of her senior prom made Brandolyn realize that she needed space and to be in an environment that would promote her growth as a human being and well-rounded person.  She enrolled at a small liberal arts college in Vermont, the former Green Mountain College in Poultney.  

Like many of her experiences, this would forever shape Brandolyn’s life.  It transformed her relationship with the natural environment

and provided her with the opportunity to grow as a person in a way that only Vermont can.  While in college, Brandolyn learned about self-sustenance, sustainability and developed an appreciation and respect for the planet. She left Green Mountain College with feet firmly planted, sleeves rolled up, and ready to face the challenges of the day.  She knew her future would revolve around a life of service and helping others.

 

After graduating with a B.A. in Psychology, Brandolyn moved to Providence, Rhode Island and served two years in AmeriCorps providing in-class assistance to middle schoolers.  This included the rehabilitation of Roger Williams Middle School where she led volunteer staff in renovation efforts.  After her service years, she began her career in non-profits primarily as a community educator on intimate partner violence and sexual assault where she honed her skills in organizing communities on important causes.  She also worked on behalf of a clean water initiative by canvassing and fundraising.  In 2016 Brandolyn returned to Vermont where she took a position with Vermont Health Connect as an eligibility service specialist.  Her passion for understanding healthcare systems not only allowed her to help guide Vermonters through the complex process of eligibility for healthcare plans but also exposed her to the struggles Vermonters were facing in their everyday lives.

 

In 2019 Brandolyn transitioned to the Frederick C. Binter Center for Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders at the University of Vermont Medical Center.  At the Binter Center, she is the first point of contact for many patients and their partners.  Beyond her patient-facing work, she is the driving force behind numerous initiatives that have expanded patient reach, quality, and equity of the Center’s programs.  Her leadership is visible in every layer of the Binter Center, from strategic planning to public-facing events, to budget oversight. She remains essential to the center’s success. In May 2026 Brandolyn played a pivitol role is getting H.739 passed through the legislature making Vermont the first in the nation to ban the use of paraquat, a chemical linked to causing parkinson's. 

 

In 2021 while earning her M.A. in Psychology from Adler University, Brandolyn welcomed her daughter.  By the Spring of 2022, her family moved from Winooski to St. Johnsbury, Vermont where in 2024 Brandolyn was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Caledonia Food Co-op.  As a volunteer board member, she has been instrumental in the final phase of fundraising, hiring a General Manager, leading communications and outreach initiatives, and designing both the interior and exterior of the building.

 

In 2025 Brandolyn was accepted into the 2025/2026 cohort for the Vermont Leadership Institute through the Snelling Center for Government.  She completed her leadership journey in May 2026.  All these experiences combined helped Brandolyn develop leadership skills, empathy and compassion to do the hard work of serving the people of Vermont in the state legislature.​​