Keep calm and cider on with your Peninsula Chapter this fall!
May you and your family be well as the fall season begins. Carve out some time with your Peninsula Chapter! This month has many events and actions around housing, voting rights, and education. Be sure to join your Peninsula Chapter in making change in Newport News and Hampton today!
Sunday, September 7 is Grandparent’s Day. We know that our work is generational. We appreciate our elders in the community and in our chapter who have strengthened our roots through compassion and activism. Have a Happy Grandparents Day!
We also want to acknowledge that Hispanic Heritage Month is from September 15 through October 15. Newport News is having restaurant week in celebration of the occasion and will present a proclamation this Tuesday during the Newport News Council Meeting. Virginia Organizing is proud to acknowledge the contributions of Hispanic community members, and how our nation is stronger because of Hispanic culture and influence.
What’s a tree’s least favorite month of the year?
Sep-timber
We love the change of the season, especially as we mark our 30th anniversary in grassroots advocacy! We cannot be-leaf it either! We have been able to accomplish so many things as a chapter around education, childcare, and housing. Our efforts put a spotlight on the Peninsula community’s need for a regional shelter.
Our efforts over the past three years have resulted in Hampton City Council earmarking over 1.5 million dollars towards a regional shelter and a continued commitment to address housing needs.
Newport News has also opened a women’s shelter, and recently on social media, Mayor Jones stated plans to create “thriving neighborhoods” by partnering with the Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing, Baker Tilly, PNC Bank, and the RED.
Although we have completed our housing campaign, we will keep an eye on the Peninsula to hold the city councils accountable to their respective commitments to address housing insecurity and homelessness in our Peninsula communities.
Calendar of Events
Join us for chapter events and community engagements
CNU Discover & Serve Fair
Date: Thursday, September 4
Time: 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Location: Freeman Activity Center
Address: 1 University Pl, Newport News, VA 23606
Formerly known as the Volunteer Fair, now known as the Discover and Serve Fair. This allows our chapter to reach out to staff, community members and students at Christopher Newport University (CNU) as the fall semester begins. Great opportunity for leadership development and community engagement!
Senior Citizen Advisory Committee
Date: Monday, September 8
Time: 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.
Location: Hampton Senior Center
Address: 3501 Kecoughtan Rd, Hampton, VA 23661
Hampton City Council will attend this meeting.
Newport News City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 9
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Brittingham-Midtown Community Center
Address: 570 McLawhorne Dr, Newport News, VA 23601
Public School Strong Orientation
Date: Tuesday, September 9
Time: 7p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual
This is a great session to learn more about grassroots strategies to advocate for education in our region.
Learn more here: https://healtowin.org/take-action/
Register for Orientation here: https://www.mobilize.us/raceforward/event/596321/
BIPOC Pride Event
Date: Friday, September 12 through Sunday, September 14
Time: Varies by Day
Location: Front Lawn and Back Parking Lot
Address: 809 S. Military Highway, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
There is parking on site. Empowering workshops led by BIPOC leaders, wellness & healing sessions
Light refreshments, grounding vibes, a day to connect, reflect, and build intentional community.
Monthly Chapter Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 16
Time: 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Location: Downing-Gross Cultural Center
Address: 2410 Wickham Ave, Newport News, VA 23607
Join us for an in-person chapter meeting to celebrate our wins this year as we prepare for the Grassroots Gathering! Please let us know if you need a ride. Join us for social hour. The center closes at 8 p.m. Socialize with your peers on the peninsula and meet your local organizer.
This is also an opportunity to drop off donations for Grassroots Gathering or our Community Closet efforts. We are looking for hangers, new and gently used clothing, and access.
Community + Family Resiliency in the Age of ICE
Hosted by Child Care For Every Family Network
Date: Wednesday, September 24
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: Virtual, link provided upon registration. More in our Statewide blurb below
Hampton City Council Special Session
Date: Wednesday, September 24
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Hampton Roads Convention Center
Address: 1610 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA 23666
There is a special session being held. Later the same day at 6 p.m. there will be a ceremonial meeting held at the City Chambers.
Hampton City Council Ceremonial Session
Date: Wednesday, September 24
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers
Address: 22 Lincoln Street, 8th Floor, Hampton, VA 23669
The regularly scheduled council meeting will proceed after the ceremony at 6:30 p.m.
30th Anniversary Grassroots Gathering
Date: Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28
Time: Varies by Day
Location: Airfield Conference Center
Address: 15189 Airfield Rd, Wakefield, VA 23888
Join us for a three day weekend of workshops, learning, networking and growing! This is a great opportunity to learn more about grassroots advocacy work and to meet others already engaged in our efforts. Families welcome! Childcare provided on site. English, Spanish interpretation, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation available. Be sure to register yourself, family and friends today!
Social Justice University
Lucy is able to provide carpooling. If you would like to carpool, please let your organizer know.
Date: Sunday, September 26
Time: 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Location: CVUU (Coastal Virginia Unitarian Universalist)
Address: 809 S. Military Hwy., Virginia Beach.
Learn about six (6) legislative pieces that have a chance of passing and plan to meet with elected officials in November.
Statewide Actions
This autumn, we cannot fall for complacency! We must make a difference, t’is the season of change! Our statewide actions bring awareness and power to the issues that impact the greater Commonwealth and impact us locally. Often times, it may feel like there is too much going on and not enough time to address harmful policies.
What can you do? You can attend our Peninsula Chapter meetings. Bring someone with you! We need allies in the fight with us to protect our rights and strengthen our communities. We can attend school board meetings, city council meetings, the General Assembly (next January through March), meet with elected officials, write letters to the editor and opinion (op-ed) pieces, engage on social media, lift your concerns, raise your voice, donate to support our grassroots efforts.
Education & Childcare
Our educational efforts on the Peninsula include partnering with local and national partners for both in-person and virtual training sessions, workshops, events and calls to action. There are several ways to participate around the issue of education.
We are collecting stories this month from students, parents, educators and providers! We need to hear from you!!!
Are you a provider needing living wages? Are you a parent seeking childcare or education for your child? Are you a student being underserved? Has your family been negatively impacted by attacks on Head Start? Do you live in a rural Virginia community and need better resources for education in your community?
If you would like to share your story in written or video format, please reach out to me today!
Child Care For Every Family Network offers meetings in English and Spanish. Their next virtual meeting is Wednesday, September 24 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. It’s a lunch training session for Community + Family Resiliency in the Age of ICE
Please visit https://childcareforeveryfamily.org/events for more details.
October Grassroots Assembly October 3-5, 2025
This is an event outside of Virginia Organizing, hosted by Child Care For Every Family Network (CCFEFN). This event will take place in Louisiana. Travel and accommodations are through CCFEFN. Time is running out! Contact Erica at erica@childcareforeveryfamily.org
Visit this link for more information: https://childcareforeveryfamily.org/assembly/?emci=40176d35-8187-f011-b484-6045bdeb7413&emdi=2a319f81-3888-f011-b484-6045bdeb7413&ceid=25461014
Voting and Restoration of Rights Committee
Each year our chapter participates in civil civic engagement. It’s up to us to decide how we want to bring awareness to our peninsula community about civic engagement and voting. We have talked over Rank Choice Voting (RCV), candidate forums, and informing our unhoused neighbors.
CNU is not holding any candidate forums this year. There will be a viewing party on campus which we can share in October’s newsletter. The university has encouraged our organization to participate in Captains Vote Day which is CNU’s civic engagement outreach on campus. If you are interested in tabling for this event in October, please let me know.
Other ways we participate in civic engagement is the Restoration of Rights Committee, which meets monthly on Zoom. Lucy is one of our chapter representatives. We are looking for another chapter member to work with Lucy on this important initiative as we work for restoration of rights through a constitutional amendment. If you have a passion for voting, politics, policy change, public speaking, or restoration of rights, this is a great fit for you!
The next meeting is Wednesday, September 17 at 6 p.m. virtually over Zoom.
Environmental Justice and Housing Committee
Our chapter participates in events, coalitions, and actions that have impact across the Commonwealth. Our organizational efforts around environmental issues and housing has shifted recently. Our latest action was a call to action for comments about the Dominion Rate case. We had over 1,400 comments made during this call to action. GREAT WORK! We are waiting an update from Elisabeth, our Research & Policy Director, and our chapter representatives Aaron, Cher, and William.
If you have a passion for environmental justice, are studying in the field of policy, healthcare, psychology, environmental issues, there is a way to plug into your local peninsula chapter around these social justice issues and higher learning degree programs. Connect with your local chapter at our next meeting to learn how you can be a part of positive change in Newport News and Hampton this autumn!
Gender Justice: LGBTQ+ Workshop and Community Closet
We are working with our community partners to host cultural awareness and to support our LGBTQ+ neighbors. Stay tuned for more information on these engagements for the peninsula.
If you are interested in donating to this effort, participating in the workshop, volunteering your time during the community closet, please reach out to me today.
Life is gourd when you support a gourd cause! Your financial donation supports our chapter work on the Peninsula and greater organizational work across Virginia.
As we prepare for the Grassroots Gathering, your donation helps cover the cost of lodging, travel and meals. Your donation also supports your local chapter meeting with elected officials and lifting the voices of directly impacted community members. We are able to host workshops, listening sessions, network in our communities to create healthier neighborhoods, knowledgeable citizens, justice and equity filled spaces.
Please consider making a donation today!
Let’s harvest a brighter future together through our grassroots activism!
Thank you,
Sarah Miller
Virginia Organizing
Website: virginia-organizing.org
Be sure to follow us on socials @NNVAORG
