Daniello “Dan” Balón, a longtime educator and advocate for improving cultural awareness and racial sensitivity in the Burlington School District, died suddenly Tuesday morning from a heart attack. Balón, 42, leaves behind his wife and two daughters.
“This was completely unexpected,” said Amy Mellencamp, Burlington High School principal, who has worked with Balón for the last four years. “Over the years, I have appreciated Dan’s very deep commitment and passion for the opportunities each one of us should have in life… No one could ever doubt the commitment he had for young people.”
Balón, a Filipino American, worked as director of diversity, education and engagmenet for the Burlington School District. His job involved recruiting and retaining people of color to city school jobs and providing diversity and equity training.
He was never shy about calling out what he saw as institutional racism and bigotry in all its forms. In a November 11, 2009 cover story, “Minority Rule: Who will lead the next generation of Vermont’s racial justice activists?” Seven Days identified Balón as an up-and-coming leader in Vermont’s social justice movement. Ironically, the story was precipitated by the deaths of two longtime Burlington civil rights adocates: John Tucker and Larry McCrory.
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