Dear ,

VICPP is blessed this summer to have some amazing interns who are doing important work and adding great energy and creativity to our work. Here’s where the students are from and the areas in which they are helping.  

• Nakayla Addison, Howard University: Criminal Justice
  
  
• Hollis Bannister, Intervarsity/William & Mary: Communications  

• Mattison Davis, University of Illinois: Criminal Justice  
  
  
• Nik Dore, University of Richmond/Bonner Scholar: Wage Theft 
   
• Drew Perdue, Randolph Macon University: Seminary/University Relations  
  
  
• Lauren Thornton, Virginia Commonwealth University: Health Equity  
  
  
• Parker Williams, University of Richmond/Bonner Scholar: Living Wage Certification 

The photo above shows the students who are working out of our office in Richmond this morning. The ones not pictured either work a different schedule or work remotely.  

Even though we have a strong professional staff team, we are a small team with a large mission. We are grateful for the additional help during the summer and school year. And we hope and pray that the students’ time with us is as much of a blessing to them as it is to us.

Here are a few of their comments:

"VICPP was the perfect opportunity for me to get involved in advocacy / familiar with the public policy world and see whether this is the career field for me. I’ve also become better-versed in the beliefs of different religious groups on important policy issues, a major asset when networking with legislators and constituents who follow a variety of faith traditions." Nikolas Dore 

"Often my faith and the social reality of injustice feel disconnected, but VICPP not only gives me an outlet to experience how spirituality compels me to pursue justice but also shows me what it means to live out justice daily." Hollis Bannister 

"One thing that distinguishes my experience at VICPP is the level of commitment and communication that my supervisor, Jase Hatcher, showcases every day we work together. I attribute much of my confidence and professional development to the VICPP internship program." Parker Williams 

"VICPP has provided me the opportunity to immerse myself into the professional aspect of advocacy and activism. The mission of VICPP aligns directly with my desired career path, and I am eager to continue to learn more throughout my time here." Nakayla Addison
 

"My experience so far with VICPP is all I dreamed of and more. It is the most welcoming atmosphere, filled with the most amazing people. I have learned so much about criminal justice and have learned so much from everyone in the office who shares their knowledge with me. As a social worker and also a person of faith, this is the perfect mixture of social justice and faith. I love being in an environment where everyone is dedicated to bettering various justice issues but also champions and supports each other, respects different faiths and holds space for that. I cannot begin to name the benefits I am gaining and will gain through my time here. Already, I have learned so much about myself personally and professionally through sharing the space with the most amazing people and learning from them. I am learning things I will take with me for the rest of my life and I truly could not be more thankful or blessed to be a VICPP intern." Mattison Davis

Thankful for young leaders, 

Kim Bobo 
Executive Director

Join a Religious Fact-Finding Delegation on August 11 at Dulles International Airport to learn more about working conditions for airport workers. Approximately 2,000 essential airport workers at IAD (Dulles) and DCA (Reagan National) airports – including wheelchair attendants, baggage handlers, terminal cleaners, cabin cleaners, and non-TSA security – have no paid sick days or employer-provided health insurance. This creates a crisis for the largely Black, brown, and immigrant workers performing critical jobs who must choose between taking care of themselves or their children and getting paid. Workers who go to work sick endanger their co-workers, the public, and passengers. Many workers have lost their lives due to COVID-19 and/or the lack of access to health care.  

VICPP is working with SEIU 32 BJ to get these essential workers the protections they deserve. On August 11 at Dulles International Airport, we will be hosting a religious fact-finding delegation. The delegation will learn directly from impacted workers and make plans for encouraging the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to set a standard for how workers at the airport are treated.

Email VICPP Economic Justice Program Manager Jase Hatcher (Jase@virginiainterfaithcenter.org) if you are interested in joining the delegation.

Click the button below to read our Fact Sheet to learn more!

About the above photo: A delegation of VICPP members Hillary Horn and Kay Frances Dolan stand in solidarity with airport workers who are SEIU 32 BJ members (in purple shirts), demanding more equitable working conditions, paid sick leave, and fair wages. This photo was taken at the March 30, 2022 #GoodAirports national day of action, hosted by SEIU 32 BJ, who are also members of the Virginians for Paid Sick Days coalition. 

Our PSA (public service announcement) video series about the Principles of Health Care continues! This week, we premiered the third video in this very special series for our JAB Initiative project. The short videos are focused on the principles of ethics in health care as part of our initiative to build vaccine equity during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. They directly confront the connection between the medical community's history of harm towards people of color and trust in our delivery of health care.

This third video features the Reverend R. Perez Gatling, Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, delivering a message about justice in health care. 

The JAB Initiative is a project of VICPP that was made possible by a grant from Community Catalyst as part of its national Vaccine Equity and Access Program, funded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Foundation. 

Be sure to catch the other videos in this PSA series, which touch on the topics of autonomy and beneficence in health care.

For more information, visit VICPP's JAB Initiative Resources webpage at: virginiainterfaithcenter.org/health-equity/jab-initiative

Click the button below or the graphic above to watch the video! Remember, sharing is caring, so don't forget to share the videos with your family, friends, and the community!

Join VICPP next Monday for the kickoff of our July Film Series! We are focusing on racial equity on Independence Day intentionally because many do not observe the holiday due to the fact that Black people were not free on July 4, 1776. We will screen Waking in Oak Creek, a 33-minute documentary produced by the U.S. Department of Justice about the aftermath of the 2012 mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin.

Immediately following the screening, VICPP Racial Equity Program Manager Dora Muhammad will facilitate a discussion on confronting white supremacy and racialized violence. Among topics to discuss is VICPP’s Together in Faith project to combat hate crimes in Prince William County -- and getting it to serve as a model for the rest of the Commonwealth.

Register once for a Zoom link to use every Monday in July for this virtual film discussion series as we focus on priorities for our 2023 policy platform and programming. Use this easy to remember, shorter link for sharing this event with your community: www.tinyurl.com/vicpp2022films

Click the image above to watch the trailer for Waking in Oak Creek. Click the button below to register for the Film Series!

There is a shortage of affordable housing all over the commonwealth of Virginia, and many congregations are working to change that. Join us for a webinar on July 14 to hear from congregations and nonprofits on how they have built affordable housing, as well as other ways to collaborate and support people in need. Want more details? Click the button below to register! 

This past Saturday's inaugural Living Wage Summer Canvass Day was a success! We hope you'll join us for our second round taking place on July 30.

Now, you might ask -- What and when is VICPP's Living Wage Canvass Day? How can one host a canvass event? What is statewide certification and how does one get it? How can one partner up with local organizations? In case you missed our recent info session, you can find answers to the above questions and more by watching a video on our YouTube channel. Click the graphic above or CLICK HERE TO WATCH.

Then click the button below or CLICK HERE TO REGISTER to be a part of our Living Wage Canvass Days! A living wage is the wage needed for an individual or family to thrive and is inclusive of necessary costs like transportation, food, and health care. You can read more about living wages on our website: livingwagevirginia.org

On July 30, Virginia Living Wage chapters will be hosting a Canvass Day encouraging local businesses to join the Living Wage program. Join one of our four teams in Richmond, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg-Rockingham, or Northern Virginia, or convene a new team to participate in the work Statewide. (Check out livingwage.org to read more about the different chapters.)

All materials will be provided. We especially encourage folks to join with a group or bring a friend. Click the button below to register and more information will be provided to you closer to the event day! 

VICPP's 2021 annual report highlights the major legislative and programmatic work of last year with accompanying photos, financials, and includes a shout out to all of the generous and devoted supporters and advocates who make this important work possible. There is also a special tribute to the late Reverend Canon John Fletcher Lowe, Jr., who lived a life of service for the greater good, and continued that legacy even in his passing.   

Click the button below to view our 2021 annual report on our website, now viewable as a booklet, complete with turning pages, and with clickable links throughout. If you'd like to receive a printed copy, or for any comments or questions, please email VICPP Director of Communications, Ayesha Gilani Taylor, at: AyeshaGT@virginiainterfaithcenter.org