Dear ,

As the first official day of the 2025 General Assembly draws closer (Jan. 8), our staff has been working hard and participating in multiple committee and commission meetings including: 
 
Corrections Oversight Committee: THANK YOU for sending more than 400 emails about conditions at Red Onion State Prison to Ombudsman Andrea Sapone whose office is tasked with providing oversight to the Department of Corrections. As a result of your advocacy and the help of other passionate people across the Commonwealth, Red Onion was discussed during the first public hearing of the Corrections Oversight Committee. At the meeting, the Ombudsman shared some of her tasks since she started in this role two months ago including work on establishing a grievance hotline for incarcerated individuals and their families and building a team to assist in facility inspections.  

Public Safety Committee: The House Public Safety Committee convened this week to discuss the challenges at Red Onion State Prison. VICCP’s Higher Education in Prison Organizer, Kenneth Hunter, was invited to provide testimony. Please take a moment to watch his testimony HERE.  

School Health Services Committee: VICPP has been attending School Health Services Committee meetings to advocate access to a nurse in every school and for support for the LPN to RN pathway to increase access and resources for all students. At Tuesday's meeting, Senator Barbara Favola announced that she is carrying a budget amendment for a scholarship for LPNs to pursue their RN.   

Joint Commission on Healthcare: During the meeting, VICPP was acknowledged as having provided testimony to support the recommendation to require unconscious bias and cultural competency training for health care providers. 

Governor Youngkin will reveal his budget proposal Wed. Dec. 18, 9:30 am during the Joint Finance Committee. Click HERE to watch it LIVE or watch the recording. You can attend the hearing in person at: the General Assembly Building, 201 N 9th St, House Appropriations and Finance Committee Room #A008, lower level.

Happy Holidays, 

Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook 
Co-Executive Director 

Kenneth Hunter, an Organizer for the Virginia Interfaith Center's Higher Education in Prison Consensus, testified at the Virginia House Public Safety Committee about conditions at Red Onion Prison and the importance of Higher Education in Prisons. Hunter said, "The practice of solitary confinement raises significant ethical and human rights concerns, highlighting the need for more human alternatives in the correctional system."

Join VICPP’s Social Media team during the General Assembly

YOU can make a difference in just a few minutes a day. Join our social media team and share one VICPP Facebook or Instagram post a day (Mon.-Fri.) on your social media during the General Assembly (Jan. 8-Feb.)

Posts will highlight legislation VICPP is supporting, action alerts, and events. Sharing posts will help grow our network and educate the public about our fight for health equity, affordable housing, criminal justice reform, economic justice, and higher education in prisons.

Please email Roberta (Roberta@virginiainterfaithcenter.org) if you'd like to help or have any questions.

VICPP Facebook and Instagram  

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy advocates economic, racial, and social justice in Virginia’s policies and practices
through education, prayer, and action.