Virginia’s General Assembly session provides opportunities to advocate, learn, lobby

The Virginia General Assembly is in session through March to discuss important legislative matters including the state budget and vote on bills. Read more about visiting to observe in person or through streaming services the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate in action.

Many issues are discussed and decided during the GA session that affect our lives including Virginia’s living wage, housing, education, health care and public transportation. Citizen involvement is a key part of the state government through lobbying, tracking legislation, testifying before committees, volunteering or interning with a legislator, or getting involved with advocacy groups. You can find out who are your legislators here: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

Virginia State Capitol building

Below is a listing of events sponsored by advocacy groups that better the lives of Virginians as a way to get involved in in the political process.

⭐️ American Civil Liberties Union ACLU of Virginia

⭐️ The Fund Our Schools campaign is a statewide advocacy effort that envisions a Virginia where every student has the opportunity to attain a high-quality public education.

⭐️Justice Forward Virginia, promotes criminal justice reform in Virginia by drafting & lobbying for humane, evidence-informed legislation, and educating & mobilizing advocates for action.

⭐️ New Virginia Majority – New Virginia Majority organizes & builds power in working-class communities of color throughout the commonwealth through large-scale political education, advocacy & strategic communication to build a just, sustainable, & progressive Virginia.

⭐️Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia works to ensure that individuals and families have the freedom, information, and ability to make their own informed reproductive choices. We do this through: Legislative activity: PPAV’s legislative team works with members of the Virginia General Assembly to introduce legislation to protect and expand reproductive health care services and reproductive rights, and to defeat legislation that will restrict access to reproductive health and rights. They lobby elected officials on legislation relating to reproductive health and rights. Public education: They build grassroots strength by organizing people, communities, and groups to become informed on issues, educate elected officials, and take action on issues. PPAV has built a strong statewide network of concerned grassroots supporters that is engaged and active in our work to protect reproductive rights and educates their communities about our issues. We strive to build grassroots leadership to sustain the work we do. Electoral activity: PPAV engages in electoral activity at the state and federal levels in order to ensure a legislature that is supportive of reproductive health and rights. Litigation: PPAV engages in legal activities to defend reproductive rights.

Have you signed up for the Virginia League of Conservation Voters 2022 Virginia General Assembly Weekly Reviews? https://bit.ly/3qOmNTb Tune in at noon on Fridays through March as they dive into topics like the extreme Wheeler nomination, RGGI, and more issues related to conservation and the environment in our Commonwealth.

⭐️ Virginia PTA–The Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers, better known as the Virginia PTA, is a volunteer child advocacy association working for ALL children and youth in the Commonwealth of Virginia

Virginia Interfaith Power and Light General Assembly GA Weekly Update Call. Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m: This year, in addition to their weekly Environmental Justice Now! broadcast, where the organization updates viewers with the week’s GA news; you can connect your faith community with VAIPL in an interactive and informative call on Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m. These meetings will continue through Sunday, March 13, 2022. On the weekly call, you and your faith community may have all of your GA 2022 questions answered, learn how legislation is moving through committees, and what you all can do to help Virginians create environmental justice through your advocacy.

⭐️ the Virginia Poverty Law Center protects the rights of low-income Virginians and ensure they have fair and equal access to civil courts and government policy makers.

If you know of an advocacy event to include in this list, email: news@rvaonthecheap.com

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