VSPN
The VSPN Student Power Freedom Labs Fall Retreat took place on November 11th in Richmond. VSPN staff and community members facilitated three organizing workshops: 1) Making Meaning of the Moment- Art, Analysis, and Community Healing 2) Strategic Communication + Digital Organizing and 3) Direct Action.
The VSPN team, our members, and our community are committed to one another’s total liberation. Our goal for this gathering was to have a place for people to connect and strategize with folks across the state and also take some time to learn and process our ongoing and current struggles and challenges.
We were joined by youth and students across VA as well as some past fellows and alumni who helped with facilitation of some of our workshops. Huge thank you to everyone who made this day possible!
VA Bloc
VA Block is working with high school students on the Better School Meals campaign for better, edible, and nutritious school meals. To support their work towards better school meals for all, sign the petition at bit.ly/BetterFoodVA .
Leading up to Election Day, the Action Squad worked both virtually (social media, email, calls/texts) and in-person, to ensure that our communities were #VoteReady. We popped up at businesses, churches, and events throughout Hampton and Newport News spreading the word about same-day voter registration, Saturday voting, rights restoration, redistricting and new polling places, and candidates/offices on the ballot.
We also prioritized helping college students get informed as well by speaking at colleges and universities throughout the region.
On Election Day, we worked at various polling locations to support the candidates that most closely aligned with our mission of #BuildingHealthierCommunities.
TWU
TWU launched their 30 Days of Giving Campaign! Support their fundraising efforts here.
Alexandria youth continue meetings with school board members to share their concerns about racial disparities in the school system and demand solutions that benefit the well-being and success of students of color.
The City of Alexandria held an open house, “Alexandria West Community Planning” and TWU members from the West End community attended and participated to learn more about the small area plan that will impact their communities.
In Fairfax County, large out-of-state companies are buying up mobile home parks, raising prices, and putting our communities at risk of mass displacement. TWU community leaders met with delegate Paul Krizek to push for changes to state laws to provide better support for mobile home communities.
In Prince William County, community members continue pushing for investments and improvements to local housing policies for low-income communities.
Policy
Member Lobby Week (Hybrid)
New Virginia Majority is establishing its first pair of community advocates to shadow and participate in a series of initiatives the week of January 15, 2024. The purpose of the Member Lobby Week is to create a space for members to have a voice at the table, establish meaningful change, and to serve as agents in the creation of their own well-being by influencing the systems that impact their lives and the lives of their families, neighbors, and communities.
Members will receive a $599 stipend (contingent upon participation in all activities), a food allowance, an overnight stay in Richmond, Virginia (provided by New Virginia Majority for a non-Richmond area resident). Included in this opportunity are two mandatory training sessions to deepen public speaking, media, storytelling, and advocacy skills.
Here is what members can expect throughout the week:
- December 2, 2023: Legislative Summit
- January 10, 2024: Media Training
- January 15, 2024: MLK Day of Action
- January 15, 2024: Community Dinner
- January 16, 2024: Lobby/Shadow Day 1
- January 17, 2024: Lobby/Shadow Day 2
- January 18, 2024: Lobby/Shadow Day 3
- January 19, 2024: Debrief & Reflection
Know Your Rights Tenants Workshop
In collaboration with the Virginia Poverty Law Center and Virginia Housing Alliance, New Virginia Majority organizers, and community members participated in a Know Your Rights Tenants Workshop where our organizers and membership learned more about tenant rights at the Ginter Park Church in Richmond.
The “Know Your Rights” workshop covered topics ranging from tenant rights within a lease, tenant protections in eviction cases, and the court process of eviction. Members left the workshop more confident and knowledgeable about their tenant protections and about the court procedural steps in eviction. A second “Know Your Rights” tenant workshop will be scheduled for virtual attendance, focusing specifically on maintenance issues and repair requests rights. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Norfolk Chapter
Norfolk organizers collaborated with The Virginia League of Conservation Voters, NextGen and Freedom for a "State of Norfolk" event, a community roundtable discussion featuring a panel of community members and local thought leaders fielding questions about public safety, housing, environmental justice and education.
NVM in the News
- The Guardian: Virginia admits thousands of voters wrongly purged days before election
- ABC 8: After nearly 3,400 removed from Virginia’s voter rolls, advocates raise doubts over Youngkin’s response
- VPM: Virginia State Police prepares election ‘watch team’ for voter removals