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4/3/2010 Grassroots group eyes reform

3/30/10 Augusta Free Press audio show on VOP's state budget proposals

3/15/10 New Yorker audio slides on Martinsville, site of VOP's newest office

1/22/10 VOP on NPR's Morning Edition

11/25/09 Charges dropped against Joe Szakos, the Anthem Blue Cross customer arrested for questioning rate increases

Great New Books on Organizing:

In Northern Virginia, dozens of Prince William County community leaders and candidates attended the “Prince William Meet and Greet” on September 18. VOP joined with eight organizations to sponsor an introduction to Prince William General Assembly candidates. The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Social Action Linking Together (SAL), Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness (VCEH), Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLAO), Virginia Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE), Virginia chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and Residential Construction Workers’ Association were among other co-sponsors.

Event organizers worked closely on last year’s campaign to raise the state’s minimum wage and related economic justice issues. However, the Meet and Greet is the first time these organizations have targeted Prince William County, which over the last couple months has become most widely known for its battles over immigration. A total of seven candidates from six highly significant House and Senate races attended.

The formal part of the program featured remarks from a community leader, Reverend Cornell Brooks, who reminded audience members of today’s political realities. Rev. Brooks addressed challenges faced by the working poor and others, and applauded Prince William “citizen-lobbyists” for their efforts.

Senator Chuck Colgan (D-29), chair of the Northern Virginia delegation, followed Rev. Brooks by welcoming guests and sharing his hopes that similar conversations can take place throughout the region.

Finally, organization representatives offered their top legislative priorities this year, including increases to rental assistance programs and capping payday lending rates at 36 percent. The candidates then had the opportunity to briefly respond to the organizations’ platforms.

Ben Greenberg, VOP’s legislative director, outlined the organization’s broad legislative agenda spanning from a payday lending interest cap to helping low-income Virginians afford child care.

“The event was successful because so many groups representing established regional and statewide networks of faith-based and private advocate and direct service providers all working for social justice came together,” said John Horejsi, co-organizer of the event with VOP Apprentice Organizer Richael Faithful. “They discovered and were challenged by the call to social justice.”

Positive responses from voters and candidates will likely lead to more outreach to the more distant D.C. suburb. After being absent from the area for five years, the Meet and Greet program re-connected VOP to Prince William County with a slate of like-minded groups, many of which have participated with VOP in multi-organization, legislative alliances on the state level.

Horejsi agrees that the future of local coalition-building looks optimistic. He believes that organizers have a legitimate role in forging public opinion and influencing legislative voting on issues that affect peoples’ lives. The anti-poverty message of the program resonated strongly in an area struggling with high housing costs and a drop in industry growth.

Horejsi said, “Both in the individual discussions and during the program, candidates were reminded of their responsibility to those in need.”

For additional information, contact Richael Faithful at faithful@virginia-organizing.org or (757) 784-6046.