Weekly Roundup - May 7, 2025 - SOS – Join Virginia Interfaith’s Summer of Service
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Dear ,

The staff of VICPP invites you to join our summer of service! We are seeking compassionate individuals who are ready to stand with us in advocating for justice. We offer several opportunities to get involved, both in person and virtually. As we prepare for the upcoming elections, we urgently need support with civic engagement efforts. Last fall, our successful Interfaith Souls to the Polls events were only possible thanks to our dedicated volunteer team. We also need assistance with essential administrative tasks in our office, and volunteers are needed to help distribute information about VICPP's work at community events. There are multiple opportunities this summer to contribute your talents, and we would be honored to welcome you to our team. To join us, please click the sign up box below.

Sign Up to Volunteer

As we confront the challenging impacts of state and federal budget cuts, we must continue to raise our collective interfaith voices to educate, mobilize, and advocate. Every Virginian deserves the opportunity to thrive in safe, healthy communities. The time for action is now. Please join us in this vital work!

In Solidarity, 
Keisha
Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, Executive Director  

Recent Happenings
Early in-person voting has begun and runs through June 14

Make a plan and spread the word! 

  • To confirm you're registered, click here before the May 27 registration deadline.

  • To vote by mail, click here to request a ballot before June 6.

  • To vote in person before June 14, click here to find your polling place and early voting hours. 

Photo: Robert Lester, VICPP's Civic Engagement Coordinator, voting in Richmond today

 
Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook attended Ministers' conference meetings

This week, the Ministers Conference of Virginia and the Baptist Ministers Conference of Richmond and Vicinity held their annual joint meeting in Williamsburg. 

 
Midwives & May Day at the Museum

Kathryn Haines, VICPP's Health Equity Manager (pictured far right), joined Lynchburg-area midwives and families to celebrate Midwives and May Day at the Lynchburg Museum this week to discuss 2025 legislative wins for moms and midwives.

Upcoming Events  
Mon., May 12, 11am Zoom - Learn how to support working families who need child care & learn about subsidy programs for faith-based child care centers 
Join us over Zoom to connect with parents, child care providers, and experts from VA Dept. of Education's Office of Early Childhood to learn how faith-based and religious-exempt child care centers can assist working families by becoming Child Care Subsidy Program Vendors.
Link to Register
 
Mon., May 19, 7:20pm
Zoom 

NoVA Chapter Meeting

Join us over Zoom to reflect on Virginia’s General Assembly, meet Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, VICPP’s new Executive Director, and hear what we can do over the summer to keep the work of justice going.

Link to Register
 
Sat., May 31, 11am - 2PM

The James River Chapter is hosting a safe surrender event for unwanted firearms. The donated guns will be safely decommissioned, and a blacksmith will demonstrate turning gun parts into garden tools. The community is invited to the anvil to beat on the gun parts. Join us as we bring healing and hope into our communities, making them safer by transforming weapons of death into tools of life. Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 500 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185

 News Stories on our Issues 
Youngkin to veto $900M in budget items to hedge against risk of federal cuts

VPM
May 2, 2025
By, Jahd Khalil

Read More
2025 Virginia Voter Guide

Cardinal News, 2025
- May 2: Early voting begins 
- June 17: Primary elections
- November 4: Elections for governor, lt. gov. att. gen., House of Delegates, and many local offices

Read More
Resources for Congregations
Congregational Guide:
Welcom
ing and Supporting
 Immigrants

VICPP has released a short toolkit offering resources for faith communities to welcome and support our immigrant members and neighbors. The guide contains scripture references for the faith roots of welcoming our neighbors, suggestions of ways to get involved, links to Know Your Rights information for individuals and for organizations, and resources for further study.  

Link to Spanish-language version 

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

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Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

1716 E. Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23223

office@virginiainterfaithcenter.org

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