The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) is recruiting volunteers who will serve as faithfuladvocates/lobbyists on the VICPP issues during the 2017 legislative session, which runs from January 11 – February 28. The advocates will be the hands‐on lobbyists for VICPP’s priority issues. First, you will be trained by several of the best social justice lobbyists in the state. Next, you will be thoroughly briefed on VICPP’s priority issues. Then, you will represent VICPP by: Attending and reporting on hearings, markups and legislative events. Meeting with legislators and their staff members. Communicating the legislators’ position to the VICPP members in the districts. Drafting background pieces and alerts for engaging the membership in the issues. Volunteers should be active in the faith community and comfortable talking about the faith dimensions of the issues. Retired clergy, deacons, and lay leaders are sought. The work is in Richmond, the state capitol. If you do not live in Richmond, you should be prepared to be in Richmond at least four days a week during the 45 day legislative session. Free housing will be provided in homes of VICCPP supporters for those from out of town. If you are interested in this intense, but short‐term volunteer opportunity, please contact Kim Bobo at Kim@virginiainterfaithcenter.org.
The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy will participate in an summit conference in Norfolk focusing on lowering poverty and raising economic opportunities. “Cutting Poverty and Building Opportunity in Virginia: A Summit for Stakeholders”...
Virginia Consumer Voices for Healthcare staff participated in today’s Metro Richmond Senior Day at Byrd Park, distributing information on access to healthcare. Here Cassandra Shaw poses with Richmond City Council member Parker Agelasto. #HealthcareMatters
Here is the April VICPP Newsletter: VICPPP_Newsletter_1_4
A recap of how our Policy Priorities fared The 2016 General Assembly was a long (60-day) session, that adjourned sine die on March 12. The session was marked by policy differences between Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s...
Last week members of the House and Senate conference committee delivered their biennium budget conference report. This budget includes many advances for Virginia, most significantly, additional funding for our public education system, a 2%...
This is the final week of the 2016 General Assembly session. Last Tuesday the House and Senate ceremoniously rejected the opposing house’s version of the budget so that the details of the biennium budget...
The VICPP newsletter for March is now ready for view as a pdf file: VICPPP_Newsletter_1_3
Comments from Rabbi Beifield: Two central ideas underlie the abiding Jewish commitment to provide health care to all of God’s children. The first is Judaism’s teaching that an individual human life is of infinite...
Last Tuesday marked crossover, the halfway point through the 2016 General Assembly session. Bills were reported out of the house of origin in order to be considered by the other house. Additionally, the House...