March 7, 2020 | Category: Civic Circle, Uncategorized
Happy Women’s History Month
This excellent blog from the YWCA not only details how the fight for the 19th Amendment made our country stronger overall, but how the women’s suffrage movement had to work hard to ensure it was truly working toward the goal of a more inclusive democracy. This meant adding the voices and support of black women like Ida B. Wells, Mary Jackson, and many others. Read the whole story here.
2020 Census
On Thursday, March 12, the 2020 Census will become available online for the first time. You can visit my2020census.gov to complete the survey.
Here are some resources to help:
- Explore a sample census form and learn about the kind of questions that will be asked on the 2020 census.
- Make a plan to participate online. This is the first year that households will be able to take the census online. Households will be able to complete the online questionnaire starting in mid-March. Don’t fret, here’s a video that walks you through the process.
- Or make a plan to participate by mail. In mid-March, households will begin receiving official U.S. Census Bureau mailings with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 census. Simply follow these guidelines and mail your form back.
- Participate in the census using the language that is the most comfortable for you. As households in the United States speak a variety of languages, the Census Bureau is providing multiple ways to help households respond in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and more.
- Make sure the census is accessible for you. People with disabilities have historically been hard to count within the census, and so there are a number of new and improved resources to make the process more accessible.
The census is completely confidential. The census is a count of everyone in the United States, no matter your immigration status, and your information is completely confidential. Read all about it here.
Updates
- The Virginia Values Act passed both chambers and now heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed. Once this bill becomes law, Virginia would become the first Southern state to adopt protections for the LGBT community. The bills also would for the first time apply Virginia’s civil rights protections to public accommodations such as restaurants and stores — not just for the LGBT community but also for racial minorities, women and religious groups. Read more.
- The General Assembly also voted to repeal Lee Jackson Day and replace it with an Election Day holiday. The expansions to voting rights will help ensure that every eligible Virginia voter has the opportunity to make their voice heard! [READ MORE]
- The bill that will allow undocumented students in Virginia to qualify for in-state tuition passed the House and Senate. WRIC Capital Connection featured Virginia Student Power Network member and VAPLP alumna Yanet Amado’s story, as well as highlights the work of so many students across the Commonwealth who are fighting to make in-state tuition a reality in Virginia. [READ MORE]
Upcoming Events
2020 Roanoke Women’s March
Join Roanoke Indivisible and the Blue Ridge Resistance Alliance of Virginia (BRRAVA) on Saturday, March 7, at the 2020 Women’s March on Roanoke: FIERCE FEMINIST FUTURE to celebrate International Women’s Day, register voters, and learn from local civic exhibitors. Music by Solacoustix at noon, followed by the FIERCE FEMINIST FUTURE program where local women activists will inspire us with how they are building that future today, here in our communities.
Strategic Plan For Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Commonwealth of Virginia are hosting five community forums around the state where Virginians can provide input on Virginia’s first-ever “Strategic Plan for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence.” Participants will be able to engage with the volunteer executive steering committee currently tasked with drafting the plan. Suggestions and feedback will help inform the development of an actionable and measurable framework that will foster collective and tangible change and guide Virginia’s effort to address statewide inequities. Learn more.
All five community forums will take place from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM on these dates:
- Monday, March 2, Norfolk
- Chrysler Museum of Art, One Memorial Place, Norfolk, Virginia 23510
- Monday, March 9, Charlottesville
- Charlottesville High School, Media Center, 1400 Melbourne Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
- Wednesday, March 18, Harrisonburg
- Harrisonburg City Hall, 409 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801
- Tuesday, March 25, Falls Church
- James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, Virginia 22042
- Monday, March 30, Bristol
- Bristol Virginia Public Schools, School Board Office, 220 Lee Street, Bristol, Virginia 24201
Leadership Development
The Virginia Progressive Leadership Project is a transformative leadership development program committed to cultivating and fostering progressive leaders in the Commonwealth. We recruit and train leaders who reflect and represent the richly diverse communities of the Commonwealth. Applications for Cohort 7 are now open! If there are folks in your network who are working to move Virginia forward, be sure to nominate them here!
Jobs Opportunities
Virginia League of Planned Parenthood
Community Organizer (Fairfax)
Community Organizer (Richmond)
Blue Ridge Abortion Fund
Executive Director (Charlottesville)
Development Director (Charlottesville)
Virginia Center of Inclusive Community
Outreach Program Coordinator (RVA)
League of Conservation Voters
Virginia Field Director (RVA)
American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia
Director of Communications (RVA)
Senior Staff Attorney (RVA)
Campaigns Manager (RVA)
***All positions are currently accepting applications even if posting indicates a deadline that has already passed***
Tools
Legislative Information System
Virginia Public Access Project
Support
Help support our efforts to advance justice, equity and opportunity to make sure every Virginian’s voice is heard in the Commonwealth’s democratic process, especially the voices of underrepresented communities. Join our movement in standing up for people of color, women, immigrants, low-income families, the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities!
