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May 2024 Newsletter

Things are heating up as NVM chapters and hubs strategize, mobilize, and prioritize justice for housing, democracy, and progress in Virginia. Below are our May activities:

New Virginia Majority Richmond Chapter

  • The Richmond Chapter of Immigrant Justice celebrated Be the Power of Being Mothers, an annual event where NVM recognizes the effort they make to achieve a better place to live in a community with democracy, justice and progress in Virginia.
  • Tenants in Richmond mobilized on May 28 to demand $9 million from the mayor's office for the housing department. The demands include assistance with rent, public services and eviction prevention, access to city services regardless of immigration status, criminal history and prior evictions and an improved maintenance code to cushion the safe and affordable housing crisis facing renters across the city.

Be The Power of Being Mothers event and Richmond Tenants Day of Action

New Virginia Majority Loudoun Chapter

  • In Loudoun county, working class Latinx members and leaders have been fighting for dedicated local funds to support low cost housing and low income renters demanding that the richest county in America dedicate funds for rental subsidies. After two years since the program was approved, applications opened for the federally funded rent and utility assistance program this month.
  • Another win from our organizing efforts was that the Board of Supervisors passed a motion to allocate $2 million dollars for a universal basic income pilot program for low income households. NVM members spoke at the board meeting in support of this motion, highlighting exponential housing and utilities costs for working class families in Loudoun County.

ARPA funds pre-screening and Loudoun Board meeting

New Virginia Majority Norfolk Chapter

  • On May 6, Norfolk and Loudoun County organizers traveled to Lexington, KY for a Base Building Convening sponsored by the State Power Caucus. For three days, campaign coordinators Sofia Sayied and Carl Poole had the opportunity to share and learn practices on power building strategies, digital and field organizing, and issue campaigns with other organizers from across the country.


Base Building Convening

Virginia Student Power Network (VSPN)

  • This month students at institutions across the country walked out of graduation and held other demonstrations condemning the numerous attacks on free speech, university ties to Israeli occupation and complicity in genocide of Palestinians, as well as unwelcome commencement speakers and attacks on racial literacy programs.

Tenants and Workers United (TWU)

  • In partnership with Grassroots Alexandria and DSA NOVA Branch, TWU hosted the 2024 Nonpartisan Alexandria City Council and Mayoral Candidate Forum, which provided an opportunity for community members to hear from candidates about the most pressing issues residents face.
  • In Fairfax County, representatives from the Mobile Home Coalition testified at the board meeting, sharing feedback and requests for the county’s draft proposal for grant funding from the Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Main Competition. This grant award could provide an opportunity for the county to address the critical needs of mobile home communities, and we are urging leaders to prioritize the needs of those most impacted by the housing crisis.
  • In Prince William County, community leaders attended an educational workshop about strategizing and leading an issue campaign, and the importance of organizing as a community.


TWU organizers and members

New Virginia Majority Policy Team

  • On May 13, the Virginia General Assembly reconvened to finalize the state budget, officially ending the possibility of a government shutdown on July 1, 2024. The House of Delegates (94-6) and Senate (39-1) approved the two-year budget by wide margins. Learn more about the approved bipartisan budget deal through this article published by Virginian Mercury, Virginia lawmakers pass bipartisan budget that leaves tax policy unchanged.
  • The bill to require unconscious bias training and cultural competency training for medical professionals licensed was vetoed by Governor Youngkin. Sign and share the petition asking the governor to work with legislators and stakeholders to pass a bill in 2025.

New Virginia Majority Political Team

  • The Political Team has been busy at work getting out the vote in the Alexandria Primary race for City Council and Mayor. We endorsed Kirk McPike, Kevin Harris, Sarah Bagley, and Canek Aguirre for Alexandria City Council and Alyia Gaskins for Mayor.
  • On June 8, we'll be canvassing with some of our City Council candidates. On June 15, we'll be canvassing with our endorsed Mayoral candidate, Alyia Gaskins! To find out more about these events and sign up to get involved, visit mobilize.us/newvirginiamajority.
  • Our C3 program completed its internship partnership with Norfolk State University. Our political interns (Mikayla, pictured) gained valuable insights into the vital role of local government in our daily lives. This experience enriched her understanding of public service and civic engagement.

Political intern Makayla with Norfolk City Council member Danica Royster

NVM in the News