The following news stories from Virginia CARES, Inc. are updated regularly to keep you updated on news within our organization.
Virginia CARES RoR Rally Held in Capitol Square
The agency’s first Richmond rally in years was a resounding success and ushered in what Virginia CARES hopes will be a new Martin Luther King Jr. Day tradition. Featuring no fewer than four speakers from the General Assembly, and an enthusiastic crowd of supporters bussed in from all across the state, the rally served notice to participants and passersby alike that not all Virginians will suffer discrimination over such an important right as voting, and that some politicians share our anger at this injustice.
Delegate Kenneth Cooper Alexander speaking from the Bell Tower stairs
CARES was also fortunate enough to receive local media coverage of the event despite the frenzy of rallies going on. To read WDBJ 7’s write-up, click on the following link: http://www.wdbj7.com/global/story.asp?s=11840882. We’re proud of our supporters for helping us stage an event that held its own with hot-button issues like gun control and the Tea Party movement.
Much of the credit for the event’s success goes to CARES Program Director Anthony West, who was responsible for organizing the rally. Despite the time constraints facing members of the General Assembly, Anthony convinced Delegates Onzlee Ware, Algie Howell, and Kenneth Cooper Alexander, as well as Senator Mamie Locke to speak at our event. Also speaking were several good friends of Virginia CARES, including Howard Highland of Washington and Lee’s Community Law Center, Virginia CURE Executive Director Carla Peterson, and Virginia CARES Board Member Walter Fore. Thanks also go to all of the Virginia CARES statewide staff who not only attended, but brought in so many participants and supporters, and also to Step-Up Executive Director Sandra Brandt and Adisa Muse of the Virginia Black Legislative Caucus for their help.
Readers interested in furthering the cause of Rights Restoration should contact their Congressperson and ask that they support the Democracy Restoration Act (DRA), which would restore lost voting rights not just in Virginia, but each of the 35 states that disenfranchise felons following their release from prison. DRA is being passed through the House as H.R 3335 and through the Senate as S. 1516. Virginia Representatives Jim Moran and Bobby Scott are both cosponsors of the House version.
For more information on DRA, please click the following link: http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/democracy_restoration_act_of_2008/Older News 12/17/2009
People, Inc. Office Wins CARES Site of the Year
Virginia CARES is proud to announce that the People office is our Service Site of the Year. Coordinator Gary Breeding and Case Manager Todd Hawkins operate a well-managed program that features numerous innovations, and has become a model CARES site in just a short period of time. Particularly laudable has been the site’s initiative to contact large local employers about their specific needs in employees, and then acting to address those needs through appropriate participant training. In doing this, the People office learned that CPR and OSHA training were in demand among employers, then implemented CPR and OSHA-related courses and trainings in their workshops so that participants are better prepared for these sector-specific challenges.
The People site has also excelled in creating self-sustaining and mutually-beneficial partnerships with local organizations, particularly shelters, human resource departments of local businesses, youth programs, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional thanks goes to Executive Director Rob Goldsmith and Community Services Programs Director Linda Midgett for their support and contributions to this site’s excellence. Congratulations also go to CAPUP’s Audrey Taylor and Rickie Bolden for their strong runner-up performance.
Virginia CARES Executive Director Ann Fisher, Gary Breeding, and Todd Hawkins
Richmond Restoration of Rights Rally
Virginia CARES is holding a Restoration of Rights Rally on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 18, 2010) in Richmond’s Capitol Square. The rally will publicize the negative effects of automatic rights revocation, and features Delegate Onzlee Ware and Vice-Mayor of Roanoke Sherman Lea as speakers. The rally is scheduled to last between 2:30 and 3:30, and will take place by the square’s bell tower at the corner of Ninth and Franklin Street. Virginia CARES Program Director Anthony West has done a great job of making the event a reality; if you’d like to help out or attend, please contact him by e-mail at awest@vacares.org or by phone at (540) 342-9344.
AOCS Virginia CARES Hosts Fashion Show
Adding to the innovation this fall has been our AOCS office, where Program Coordinator Beaver Green wrapped up October by holding the First Annual Virginia CARES Alexandria Fashion Show. Designed to add some real world application and fun to support group discussions on proper interview and work attire, the show was attended by over thirty participants and guests. The outfits, space, and post-show dinner were provided by Alleyne A.M.E. Zion Church Massionary Auxiliary; thanks also go to Will Wilson and OAR of Arlington for their support.
Oliver Hill Community Law Center Hosts Restoration of Rights Roundtable
The Oliver Hill Community Law Center, an outreach program of the Washington and Lee University School of Law and partner of Virginia CARES, held the Virginia Restoration of Rights Roundtable in Lexington on November 14th. Included among the panelists were Virginia CARES Director of Resource Development Brandon Patterson and TAP Planner/Grant Writer Paige Hodges. The event was both educational and an excellent opportunity for RoR advocates from across the state to meet and develop a joint approach towards addressing Rights issue in both the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office. Special thanks go to Howard Highland, Oliver Hill Fellow and organizer of the roundtable.
Virginia CARES Update
9/17/09
“Voices for the Vote” Rally Held in Roanoke
TAP’s Voices for the Vote rally successfully debuted on September 13 to a large crowd. Featuring speakers Kemba Smith Pradia, Delegate Onzlee Ware, Vice Mayor Sherman Lea, and City of Roanoke Sheriff Octavia Johnson, the event drew nearly 150 spectators and ample media coverage.
The success of the event is due almost entirely to the efforts of Paige Hodges, a Planner and Grant Writer for TAP. Paige not only secured funding from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development to hold the rally, but was responsible for the vast majority of event organizing and planning. Thanks are also owed to the Roanoke Chapter of the Virginia Organizing Project, the Roanoke Branch of the NAACP, the Washington and Lee Community Law Center, the TAP Virginia CARES staff and mentors, the Roanoke Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Bojangles (Peters Creek location), and the Pepsi Cola Bottling Group of Roanoke.
Links about the event:
WSLS 10 Coverage (video): http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/local/article/rally_in_elmwood_park_raises_awareness_for_felon_voting_rights/46339/
Star City Harbinger Interview with CARES Program Director Anthony West:
http://newsroanoke.com/?p=2155
Left of the Hill Blog:
http://leftofthehill.blogspot.com/2009/09/rally-held-in-roanoke-on-restoration-of.html
WDBJ 7 Coverage:
http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=11123373
Roanoke Times Rally Coverage:
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/218903
Roanoke Times Editorial on Rights Restoration:
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/218625
Roanoke Times News Feature on Rights Restoration:
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/218048
The Mission of Virginia CARES is:
To create and maintain a statewide network of ex-offender reentry programs to provide transitional assistance, financial aid, job readiness training, temporary employment, job search and career development, human relations and self-awareness training, and ongoing support services to prisoners, ex-offenders, and their families in Virginia.
