V.O.I.C.E. of Northern Virginia
A New Dominion for Justice and Political Participation
Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement
an Industrial Areas Foundation Affiliate
Special Message: VOICE ANNUAL MEETING POSTPONED DUE TO SNOW
Even though the VOICE Annual Meeting had to be postponed due to the snow storm, 40 VOICE leaders from 17 institutions did brave the weather to meet on Sunday, 31 January, to caucus about the proposed VOICE Richmond Action on Access to Dental Care for Low Income Adults and VOICE’s advances on its immigration organizing. VOICE Dental Team Leader Joe Petitt shared some exciting news about possible state/federal financing to expand dental care for low-income adults that would be the focus of a VOICE Richmond Action possibly on Thursday, February 25th or Tuesday, February 23rd. VOICE leaders also took commitments to undertake house meetings/conversations among different cultural groups to better understand the immigration issue.
Since the snow prevented many VOICE leaders and institutions from attending this caucus to hear about the political opportunities around dental and to help shape/commit to a Richmond action, VOICE leaders yesterday decided to hold an URGENT VOICE Core Team Leaders/Action Team Caucus this THURSDAY EVENING FEBRUARY 4TH FROM 7:30 pm—9 PM AT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION IN ARLINGTON 4444 ARLINGTON BLVD, ARLINGTON, VA to plan the Richmond Action. VOICE is asking that at least 1-2 leaders from each VOICE institution attend on Thursday evening. It is imperative that we have representation from each institution so that we can plan the Richmond action. VOICE institutions are being asked to commit at least 7-10 leaders to go to Richmond in late February.
Please confirm your attendance on Thursday with your VOICE organizer or your jurisdictional captain.
WELCOME!
Cliquea aquí para la traducción en español: pagina Principal
Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) of Northern Virginia is a broad-based, multi-racial, multi-faith, multi-issue, multi-county, strictly non-partisan citizens' power organization dedicated to making change on social justice issues (affordable housing, healthcare, immigration) affecting the lives of low- and middle-income residents in four Northern Virginia jurisdictions: Prince William, Fairfax, and Arlington counties as well as the City of Alexandria. Our membership includes more than 45 houses of worship and 150,000 members across the region.
----------- MOST RECENTLY ----------
On Monday evening, 20 July 2009, over 1,140 VOICE leaders attended an Action with Governor Tim Kaine in Alexandria to discuss dental care for low-income adults in Virginia; and delays in processing applications for citizenship, permanent residency, and asylum by US Immigration & Citizenship Services.
Click on this link to see testimony on the need for dental care: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFeuujreDVQ
Click on this link to see Governor Kaine's response: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO9S5dj_2dQ
Photos from the Action
Click on Governor Kaine Action for more details.
Television, radio, and print news on the VOICE Action with Gov Kaine:
NBC 4 Television News Clip -- Click on the third video here VOICE Videos
WAMU Radio 88.5 audio Clip:
WAMU Radio 88.5 in print: http://wamu.org/news/09/07/21.php
Mount Vernon Gazette and Alexandria Gazette Packet: http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=331069&paper=69&cat=104
The Washington Hispanic: http://washingtonhispanic.com/html/metro.html#4
El Pregonero: http://www.elpreg.org/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=20&ArticleID=3240&TM=53132.26
Falls Church News Press: http://www.fcnp.com/around-fc/4783-community-news-a-notes.html VIRGINIA GOVERNOR TIM KAINE took the stage to participate in a meeting with hundreds of religious leaders from all over Virginia at T.C. Williams High School Monday night to hear concerns about the lack of dental care for the poorest of Virginia’s residents and the persistent federal delays in processing naturalization applications of Northern Virginia residents. The meeting was organized under the auspices of Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE), and a representative from the office of U.S. Senator Jim Webb was also present. (Photo: News-Press)
Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Kaine-confronted-with-budget-woes_-health-care-hopes-at-rally-8004049-51352462.html, 7/22/09
The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/us/05religion.html?_r=1
---------- VOICE Founding Action -------
On 5 October 2008 over 2,400 VOICE leaders and 27 elected officials attended the VOICE Founding Action.
To see a video of the VOICE Founding Action click on the following link: VOICE of NoVa Founding Action 5 Oct 08
Below are photos from the July 2008 Action at Bethlehem Baptist Church and the VOICE Founding Action at First Mt Zion Baptist Church in October 2008!
SAVE THE DATES!
THURSDAY, 4 FEB, 7:30 to 9 PM, URGENT VOICE Core Team Leaders/Action Team Caucus to plan a Richmond Action, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION IN ARLINGTON 4444 ARLINGTON BLVD, ARLINGTON. At least 1-2 leaders from each VOICE institution are recommended.
Evening Introductory Training:
Monday, 1 March -- VOICE Introductory Training: 7-9 pm, Old Presbyterian Meeting House, 318 South Royal Street, Alexandria
Three-Day LeadershipTraining for Baltimore/DC/VA Area
Thursday, 22 April, 5 pm to Saturday, 24 April, 12 noon
Thursday, 21 October, 5 pm to Saturday, 23 October, 12 noon
Seven-Day National Training:
Sunday, 21 March, 5 pm to Saturday, 27 March, 12 noon, Boston, MA
Monday, 17 May, 11 am to Friday, 21 May, 3 pm, Drew Seminary, Madison, NJ
Tuesday, 6 July, 12 noon to Tuesday, 13 July, 3 pm, Chicago, IL or Los Angeles, CA
Anti-Usury Campaign
Metro IAF launched a campaign on Wednesday, 22 July, with multiple actions in DC, London, NYC, Chicago, Boston, and NC to reinstate usury laws to cap lending interest rates at 10%. "The fundamental right of people to be protected from exploitation if and when they seek credit must be reasserted," Metro IAF states on the website
IAF del área metropolitana emprendió unacampaña el miércoles 22 de julio con múltiples actividades en D.C., Londres, NuevaYork, Chicago, Boston y Carolina del Norte para restaurar las leyes contra lausura para limitar en un 10% las tasas de interés en los préstamos. Metro IAF afirma en su sitio Web, “Debereafirmarse el derecho fundamental de las personas de estar protegidas contrala explotación al solicitar un préstamo.”