VOICE-Wide Action Team Meeting

Zoom meeting, June 28, 2020 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

VOICE-Wide Action Team Meeting

Over the next two weeks VOICE has the opportunity to use our power to forge major change in Virginia. Next week, VOICE clergy leaders will hold a Clergy Caucus meeting to discuss a revised 2020-2021 organizing proposal. Directly after the Caucus the clergy will meet with Gov. Northam and urge him to take further action around Virginia's looming eviction crisis.

On June 28th, we will gather the VOICE-Wide Action Team to discuss our meeting with Gov. Northam and chart our path forward in this historic moment.

Who should attend? VOICE leaders & those interested in moving VA to address our twin pandemics- COVID 19 & systemic racism. This meeting is open to VOICE & leaders from congregations or schools. Each VOICE institution should plan to have 3-4 participants attend. Institutions discerning membership in VOICE are strongly encouraged to attend. Click here to sign up

VOICE Applauds Eviction Moratorium

Gov. Northam Requests That Supreme Court Act to Protect Tenants

Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement, VOICE, recently welcomed a Virginia Supreme Court order effectively banning residential evictions through June 28, applauding Gov. Ralph Northam for his request to the Supreme Court to impose the moratorium after hearing from VOICE about the devastating impact that mass dislocation would have on individual families and the public health of Virginians in general.

"We thank the Governor for his request to the Virginia Supreme Court to temporarily halt evictions. As a result of this action, tens of thousands of families, mostly families of color, will not be forced from their homes as a result of income lost through no fault of their own," said Rev. Dr. Darrell King of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Gum Springs, Alexandria. "We look forward to working with the Governor and other state leaders in the days ahead to address the dual crises facing our country -- covid-19 and the impact of systemic racism."

King was one of 76 VOICE clergy leaders in the Commonwealth who signed a letter to the Governor to urge him to act to ensure an extension of the judicial moratorium in place during the quarantine phase of the pandemic. At the start of the pandemic, VOICE launched a listening campaign spanning 2,000 people in Northern Virginia to find out about the impact covid-19 has had on their lives. The number one issue VOICE heard was fear of eviction.

King said VOICE leaders also reached out to other key state officials, including Sen. Tim Kaine, Attorney General Mark Herring, members of the General Assembly, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons, all of whom recognized there could be potentially far-reaching impacts as a result of not acting to suspend eviction proceedings while state, local, and federal officials move to get more rent assistance funding in place during this extraordinary time.

Last month, VOICE contacted Herring to raise the visibility of pay or quit notices being sent to tenants in Arlington and elsewhere during the the initial judicial moratorium, causing some tenants to think erroneously that they had to move. Herring responded by distributing a statement to landlords reminding them of the temporary ban and notifying media to emphasize tenant rights and where to find help if threatened with eviction.

VOICE, which like its sister affiliates in the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) has a history of victories on housing affordability issues, began organizing around the mass eviction threat at the start of the pandemic. Other IAF affiliates’ organizing also has been successful, prompting Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker to sign one of the strongest pieces of anti-eviction legislation in the United States and secured over $100 million in eviction assistance from CARES Act funds in 9 counties/cities in North Carolina and Texas.

Attached is the Supreme Court amendment to the Fifth Order Modifying and Extending Declaration of Judicial Emergency in Response to Covid-19 Emergency. The order suspends and continues all residential unlawful detainer actions and issuance of writs of eviction through June 28.

VOICE, Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement, is a non-partisan, multi-faith, multi-jurisdiction citizens power organization that represents more than 200,000 Virginians. Since its founding in 2008, it has won victories on housing affordability, access to affordable healthcare, criminal justice reform, and other issues affecting the lives and livelihoods of low- and moderate-income communities.

Upcoming Events from VOICE

Listening Campaign Check-In

Thursday, April 30, 2019, 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM

This session is for all school and congregational leaders who are participating in the Economic Listening Campaign. We will update one another on what we have learned during the first stage of our listening work. Each participating leader is asked to have 5 conversations by the time of this session. Here are the materials: 1) Campaign briefing sheet here. 2) Listening Campaign Questions & vehicle to track responses, here. Please reach out to VOICE staff if you want to participate and have any questions.

In order to receive Zoom info you need to RSVP. RSVP here

Unemployment Insurance Training

Thursday, May 7 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM

Our partners at the The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis will lead a training on how Virginia is doing in providing unemployment insurance during the pandemic and what changes are needed to provide better coverage.

In order to receive Zoom info you need to RSVP. RSVP here

Listening Campaign Wrap-Up

Thursday, May 14 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM

This session is for all school and congregational leaders who are participating in the Economic Listening Campaign. We will share what we have learned from the listening campaign and discuss possible next steps to act on what the most prominent themes.

In order to receive Zoom info you need to RSVP. RSVP here

Notes from VOICE meeting with Chairman of the Fairfax Board of Supervisors, McKay, and VOICE clergy

Thursday, 20 February at the Moslem American Society building on Edsall Rd, in Franconia.

By Paul Cohen

New Fairfax County VOICE Clergy Chair is minister of Emmaus United Church of Christ in Vienna, Rev. Kristen McBrayer. She led off with a reminder that VOICE has three current priorities:

1. Criminal Justice Reform,
2. Affordable Housing,
3. and Education, e.g., counsellors and after school programs.

Thursday’s focus was Affordable Housing. My assessment is that overall meeting was successful in furthering VOICE’s relationship with McKay. In my opinion, we (local churches/temples/etc) need to establish relationship with new Reston/Hunter Mill supervisor Alcorn, and further relationship with Foust, who represents Dranesville - Herndon, Great Falls, and McLain.

Development Not At the Cost of Community - One Fairfax This was one of McKay’s themes. Fairfax county needs development, but not at the expense of lower income people and long time residents. Regarding Affordable Housing, McKay wants to get more money into the budget to provide for more affordable housing. The reality is that County Staff plans for what they see as affordable, including 5,000 homes over 15 years, and not what is needed. McKay wants to change that mindset, but the reality is that it will take years to just get to the level of funding replacement housing before county can begin to provide additional affordable housing. It is planned to add $25M in the upcoming budget and McKay wants to get to $120M. That will take four to five budget cycles just to get to replacement level. In addition to keeping the heat on our county representatives, in my opinion we need to get the attention of our state representatives and senators in order to increase Virginia’s funding for affordable housing, so that there is more money available for matching grants. We (UUCR members) should speak up at the local supervisor budget meeting in support of more money for affordable housing.

Mobile Homes There was a discussions on what to do about Audubon Park, Harmony Place, and other mobile housing parks along the Rte 1 corridor - about 1,000 homes. Speakers from each mobile home park and local Gum Springs area clergy talked about mobile home park problems. When mobile homes are closed, there is a net loss of affordable housing. McKay said that Audubon Park is owned by a large, multi-state publicly traded firm who has no plans to close their mobile home parks. You can expect to see a smaller VOICE action with McKay to get him and local supervisors to hold a local public meeting on this topic. The meeting will most likely be after the current budget cycle completes in May.

Tax Relief for People With Fixed Income There are big problems for individuals with fixed incomes and increasing property taxes. Taxes are increasing faster in areas of lower property values as developers come in to buy houses/lots and put in large, more expensive houses. This increases assessments and forces out many residents who want to remain in their houses. This is happening in older areas of Vienna, McLain, and Herndon, as well as in older areas of south county. This tends to be where minorities and those on fixed incomes are living, and they are being forced to sell their houses and move. Here’s some of what I found on the Fairfax Department of Tax Administration website (as of February 2020).

To be eligible for property tax relief, your total combined income may not exceed $72,000. The following income limitations and percentage of relief apply:

• If your gross income is $52,000 or less, you are eligible for 100% relief.
• If your gross income is $52,001 to $62,000, you are eligible for 50% relief.
• If your gross income is $62,001 to $72,000, you are eligible for 25% relief.

For each relative (other than a spouse) residing in the dwelling, the first $6,500 of their income may be excluded. There is no deduction for a relative who has no income. Applicants who are permanently and totally disabled may exclude the first $7,500 of income. Relatives (other than spouse) who are permanently and totally disabled and receive income due to their disability, may exclude this income from the total combined income.

The total combined net assets of owners of the dwelling and of the spouse of any owner who resides in the dwelling may not exceed $340,000, of the preceding year for which relief is sought. This does not include the value of the home, its furnishings and the homesite (up to one acre of land).

If I read this correctly and you have $339,500 in bank and gross income is mostly social security, and you live in your house, you should be applying for this program. McCay said that Department of Tax Administration people will come out and meet with groups to explain this program and tell them how to apply. It would be a good idea to get local supervisor(s) Alcorn or Foust to help arrange this, should UUCR decide to host a session on this topic. We may have members who qualify and could open it up to the community.

Older Adult Housing Fairfax County has a program to apply for a zoning variance to provide housing for grandparent or other senior living with a family. This could be or a garage conversion or a small structure. The plan under development is to remove restriction on “seniors” and make this variance available to others such as people who, for example, want to provide housing for their adult children.

As the meeting broke up, Becca Messman of Trinity Presbyterian in Herndon talked about local issues. We discussed a proposal of the principal of Herndon Elementary School to get more resources in the budget to provide for well-managed after school programs for 4, 5, and 6th graders. The principal’s research shows that this group of children are prime targets for gang recruitment - they come home to empty houses (parents working) with nothing to do and so are easy prey. She mentioned that the principal is working with other principals from Forest Edge, Terraset, and Dogwood in Reston, and Hutchinson and Cloverdale in Herndon. We (UUCR members) should speak up at local supervisor budget meetings in support of more money for after school activities at low income schools.

Upcoming VOICE meetings in 2020

As 2019 comes to a close, VOICE is gearing up for exciting opportunities in 2020. Principally, we are beginning to plan for VOICE's presence at General Assembly, which begins in early January.

In January, each VOICE region will convene Regional Caucuses to discuss and finalize our issue agenda for Richmond and discuss our state and local Action Plans. Who should attend? VOICE leaders, those who want to take a leadership role, and those discerning.

We will also be sending out soon sign-up links for days to go General Assembly. Each VOICE institution should plan to be in Richmond at least once during January and then potentially again later in Session.

Fairfax Caucus

Sunday, January 12th, 3-4:30PM

Location: Muslim American Society

6408 Edsall Rd, Alexandria

(Right off of 395, Edsall exit)

Click here to sign up

VOICE-Wide Action Team Meeting

Sunday, Feb. 9th, 3:45-5:45PM

Location: Muslim American Society

6408 Edsall Rd, Alexandria

(Right off of 395, Edsall exit)

This is VOICE's Annual Meeting, an important gathering where we look back at the lessons of the previous year and chart a new organizing path for 2020. Each VOICE institution, including those discerning membership, should plan to have 3-5 leaders attend.

Click here to sign up

GET OUT THE VOTE

Join VOICE Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Unitarian and other leaders this fall in our incredibly successful, strictly non-partisan, annual Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) effort. Each year, hundreds of VOICE leaders come together to flex our muscle where it counts the most---in pivotal, low-voting, swing districts near VOICE institutions. This year that means VOICE as a whole will come together to do GOTV in key precincts in Prince William County & Manassas.

WHY PWCO? In 2019, the political spotlight is shining on Prince William County. The PWCO races are receiving national media and financial attention due to the power that is at stake. VOICE is non-partisan; We care about people not parties. VOICE understands that in the world-as-it-is, power, is what moves our local and state interests forward. So if you care deeply about dismantling mass incarceration or quality after-school programs for children with or without wealth and/or ensuring affordable housing for NOVA residents THEN come join us do GOTV where it matters most, and this year, that's PWCO.

Click here to sign up!

Please help us meet these goals!

Tues Nov 5: (election day): Shifts all day. Goal: 100+ GOTV leaders.

Mon Nov 4: (day before election): Evening shifts. Goal: 100+ GOTV leaders.

Sun Nov 3: Afternoon shifts. Goal: 150+ GOTV leaders.

Sat Nov 2: Morning & afternoon shifts. Goal: 150+ GOTV leaders.

Training will be provided. Before each shift there will be a 30 minute training session teaching leaders the basics of non-partisan GOTV work.

GOTV Headquarters 2019

• Manassas Headquarters Location: First Baptist Church of Manassas 9258 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110
• Woodbridge Headquarters Location: Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Woodbridge 13111 Minnieville Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22192

Click here to sign up!

Fall 2019 VOICE Events

Arlington Presbyterian Community Walk

Throughout 2019, APC has been hosting "Community Walks" in their neighborhood; getting to know the neighboring residents, workers and business owners along Columbia Pike. Join us on the 16th to see how APC & VOICE are continuing to get outside the four walls.

Wednesday, October 16, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Arlington Presbyterian Church

918 S Lincoln St

Arlington, VA 22204

Meet in the garden behind Gilliam Place

Click here to sign up

Prince William County Candidates Action

Join 400+ VOICE Prince William County leaders and candidates for Board of Supervisors Chair, School Board Chair, and Commonwealth's Attorney.

VOICE is fighting to create a Public Defender office in PWCO, plus more after-school programs, mental health funding, and other major opportunities for parents at low-income public schools where VOICE has been organizing.

Sunday, October 20, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

St. Paul United Methodist Church

1400 G St

Woodbridge, VA 22191

Click here to sign up

VOICE-wide Clergy & Key Leader Meeting

Agenda will include:

- VA Power Analysis discussion

- Strategy discussion on State & Local issues

Thursday, November 14, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Location TBD

Click here to sign up

VOICE-Fairfax Criminal Justice Team Meeting

Join other Fairfax leaders in taking on our inhumane “justice” system that continues a 400 year practice of making money off of Black and Brown people and those without wealth. If real change is to happen, VOICE leaders know we must address this at the local and state level.

Thursday, November 14, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Dar Al-Hijrah

3159 Row St.

Falls Church, VA 22044

Click here to sign up

Organizing Training for New Leaders

This training will be an introduction to the basics of VOICE's approach to organizing power for change. It is open to any new VOICE leader or veteran leader who wants a refresher.

Saturday, November 16, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Dar Al-Noor Islamic Community Center

5404 Hoadly Rd

Manassas, VA 20112

Click here to sign up

IAF 3-Day Key Leaders Training

What? The best of the IAF’s power and leadership training.

Who? Leaders from VOICE & our sister affiliate in the DMV area

Download flyer here.

Thursday, November 21 (evening) to Saturday, November 23 (afternoon)

DoubleTree by Hilton BWI

890 Elkridge Landing Rd

Linthicum, MD 21090

Contact VOICE staff if you are interested.

Work with VOICE to Ensure

We Put Our Communities First!

At a 350-person Action with the Arlington County Board Chair and Mayor of Alexandria June 9th, VOICE unveiled our plan to put Communities First (see more below).

Now, we need your help to spread the word, listen to the NoVa community’s needs, and build the organized power to win for this long-term fight.

Are you willing to commit to gather 8-12 people together for a listening session this summer to identify community concerns and needs around the arrival of Amazon and related development?

If so - Come to the Arlington or Alexandria Strategy meetings the week of July 22nd (Details Below!), and/or contact VOICE atvoice@voice-iaf.org to find out how to get started!

VOICE Alexandria Strategy Team Meeting

Thursday, July 25th,

7:00 - 8:30 pm

Location TBD

VOICE Proposal: Communities First

Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement, VOICE, believes that the changes coming to the region brought by the arrival of Amazon, Virginia Tech, & other large employers should benefit COMMUNITIES FIRST.

This Sunday June 9th, join VOICE leaders as we outline our proposal, share stories from our communities and demonstrate the power needed to ensure that our elected officials put COMMUNITIES FIRST.

Following the proposal, COMMITMENTS will be given by Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey and Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson around COMMUNITIES FIRST, including the issues of

• Affordable housing,
• Equity in education, and
• Access to Opportunity for ALL residents

SUNDAY, June 9th

4:30PM - 6:15PM

Wakefield High School

1325 S Dinwiddie St,

Arlington, VA 22206

Sign Up Now for VOICE's Non-Partisan GOTV Campaign!

Sign up HERE to Get Out the Vote (GOTV)!

Rationale: VOICE will conduct a strictly non-partisan Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaign in VA congressional district 10-

Why? Politicians count! The more power we demonstrate, the more we can act on our issues.In order to claim NOVA as our parish and to ensure our democracy is loyal to people (not parties),

Training will be provided. Before each shift there will be a 30 minute training session teaching leaders the basics of non-partisan GOTV work..

Background: VOICE is “of” Northern Virginia – VOICE is not made up of professional campaigners, and we think that’s a good thing. - We are an organization of organizations, primarily faith based institutions such as churches, mosques and synagogues, that are rooted in Northern Virginia.VOICE families live here; this is our parish & our backyard, and for the families of VOICE to matter politically in Northern Virginia, VOICE volunteers have to be politically involved when the spotlight is on our backyard. Citizens of Virginia caring about the election have more power than out of state campaigners flying in for a one time campaign.

VOICE is STRICTLY NONPARTISAN -VOICE institutions and families are incredibly diverse; they come from a variety of different racial, religious and political backgrounds, which we also think is a good thing. People and institutions from different backgrounds working together to make democracy work makes our communities and organizations stronger.

Remember that non-partisan GOTV is a great way to teach students the importance of being civically engaged, and counts as service hours!

GOTV HEADQUARTERS:

1. Fairfax/Loudoun Headquarters Location: ADAMS Center, 46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling, VA 20164

2. Prince William/Manassas Headquarters Location: First Baptist Church of Manassas 9258 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR SPECIFIC GOTV SHIFTS!

Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement

Help us build relationships to promote understanding and create change.

VOICE-Wide Action Team Meeting

Date: Sunday, September 23

Time: 3:45-5:45 pm

Location: Dar Al-Hijrah

Address: 3159 Row Street,

Falls Church, VA 22044

RSVP: Click Here

Agenda will include:

• VOICE's 10/21 Action: Vision and strategy for VOICE's 1,200-person assembly with Virginia Governor Ralph Northam
• Issue agenda and asks: Discussion of VOICE's issue agenda and asks
• Build relational power to act boldly: Discussion of strategy for non-partisan GOTV this fall and for the General Assembly in early 2019

Clergy Caucus and Key Leaders Strategy Meeting

Date: Thursday, September 27

Time: 12:15 - 2:15 pm

Location: Vienna Baptist Church

Address: 541 Marshall Road, SW,

Vienna, VA 22180

RSVP: Click Here

Agenda will include:

• Moral call: Discuss moral call for the VOICE 10/21 Action
• Issue agenda and asks: Strategy discussion on VOICE's issues and asks
• Politics: What are we learning that is needed for moving on VOICE's issues?
• Build relational power to act boldly: Discussion of strategy for non-partisan GOTV this fall and for the General Assembly in early 2019.

VOICE-wide action meeting on July 22

Agenda

• Discuss draft of VOICE’s state issue agenda and next steps to move it forward
• Vote on VOICE Fall get-out-the-vote (GOTV) and action plan
• Take turn-out commitments for the Fall Action and GOTV turn-out initiative

Time and Location VOICE-Wide Action Team Meeting

Date: Sunday, July 22

Time: 3:45-5:45 pm

Location: Vienna Baptist Church

Address: 541 Marshall Road, SW,

Vienna, VA 22180

RSVP: Click Here

Please hold these dates open for VOICE-WIDE October Action

We ask that you hold both dates until we get confirmation on which of these dates works for the candidates. Thank you!

Sunday, October 14, 2018 at 3:30pm

AND

Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 3:30pm

VOICE Criminal Justice Team Meeting

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Agenda

• Beginning power analysis of criminal justice
• This political moment in Virginia and nationally, and our response
• Building relational power to act with returning citizens, other clergy, police chiefs, judges, et al.

Time and Place

Date: Thursday, May 17

Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Location: Mount Olive Baptist Church

Address: 1601 13th Road South

Arlington, VA 22204