FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 

RICHMOND, Va – Young people in Virginia bring new perspectives to civic participation with the goal of promoting dialogue and supporting legislation on economic, social, and racial justice issues during the 2025 Student Day of Action (SDOA). This high-impact initiative designed and implemented by The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), teaches college students and young professionals advocacy skills and arranges appointments for them to meet directly with legislators and gain exposure to the political landscape of the commonwealth. VICPP will host its annual SDOA on Thursday, Jan. 30, and Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. 
 
The event begins on Thursday evening with dinner followed by an Advocacy 101 workshop that covers protocols for respectful conversations with legislators and how to discuss policy issues. On Friday, Jan. 31, students will travel to the General Assembly to meet one-on-one with legislators to advocate for health equity, affordable housing, higher education in prison, restoration of voting rights, paid sick days, and immigrant protection. The goal is to advance the rights of marginalized communities by inspiring effective policymaking. Later in the day they will attend workshops led by activists and key figures working to carry out intersectional justice through faith, respect, and collaborative work. 

“The Student Day of Action aims to catalyze positive change in the lives of everyday Virginians,” said Terri Erwin, Director of Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison. “This exciting two-day program unites the voices of young people from diverse socio-economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds who work together to fight for justice.”  
 

TOPICS 

  • Degrees of Freedom: Increasing Access to College inside Virginia Prisons 
  • When it Rains, It Pours: Environmental Justice in Days of Climate Change 
  • The Path of Entrepreneurship 
  • Underage, At Work, In Danger: Child Labor Protections in Virginia 
  • Are Unequal and Excessive Deaths in Childbirth Inevitable? 
  • Voting for Everyone: Restoration, Ranked Choice, (Grass) Roots 
  • Lived to Tell the Tale: Grassroots Advocacy for Criminal Legal System Reform 

 
LOCATIONS 

  • Saint Paul’s Baptist Church, 4247 Creighton Rd., Richmond  
     
  • The General Assembly Building, 923 E. Broad St. 
     

DATE/TIME 

  • Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, 6:00-8:30 PM 
     
  • Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, 8:00 AM-2:30 PM 

REGISTER 
The registration fee of $40 includes dinner Thursday night, breakfast and lunch on Friday and bus transportation from the church to the General Assembly and back. Those need of scholarship assistance are encouraged to contact Terri Erwin at terri@virginiainterfaithcenter.org. 

RESOURCES 
Visit the Student Day of Action 2025 webpage to register for the event, view past event photos and resources, and the official flyer for promotional use.  

CONTACTS  
Terri Erwin, PhD, Position Title, Terri@virginiainterfaithcenter.org  
Roberta Oster, Communications Director, Roberta@virginiainterfaithcenter.org 
Jeff (Ping Yen) Tsai, Bonner Intern, jeff.tsai@richmond.edu