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In this Issue:
- President's Message
- 2024 Recipient of the NAACP Ella Jo Baker Award
- 2024 Voting Rights Symposium | August 24
- Special General Membership Meeting | August 27
- Uncovering Fairfax County's Racial Covenants on Property Deeds | August 27
- Advertising Opportunity
- Reclaim Our Vote Campaign
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Highlights From the NAACP National Convention
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Highlights From Our Thalheimer Celebration
- Highlights From Our Voter Registration Drive
- Boys to Men Symposium
- 2024 Freedom Fund Gala
- Member Spotlight
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Maintain Your Membership
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A Message From Our President | |
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Members, Supporters, and Friends of the Branch,
Summer is almost ending, and we at the Fairfax County NAACP hope you had a great one! While you were vacationing and hopefully getting some much-needed rest, the Fairfax County NAACP continued to serve diligently. The work of social justice never ends, even in the summer. Our branch committees continue to push for needed reforms in housing, education, criminal and environmental justice, and economic policies, just to name a few.
We are thrilled to share some exciting news from the NAACP's national convention! In addition to receiving the prestigious Thalheimer Award, we were surprised and honored to be awarded the NAACP Ella Jo Baker Award for the highest membership increase. You can read all the details below.
We have some great events planned for the community, starting with our first “Boys to Men” Symposium. The symposium will take place on Saturday, September 28th, at 10:00 AM at the Gum Springs Community Center. This event aims to inspire and empower young boys by providing them with valuable resources, insights, and additional mentorship opportunities. This event is completely free, and we are excited to host young men ages 12-18. Registration is now open and can be completed by clicking the following link: Boys to Men Symposium Registration.
Our annual Freedom Fund event is coming up on November 2nd. Join us for an evening of networking, music, food, and fun, all for a good cause. We are currently seeking sponsors for this majestic event. If you are interested in sponsoring, please click the link for the Sponsorship Packet. You can find more information below in the newsletter.
If you haven't heard, Virginia has an election each year. Voting is one of the most impactful things you can do for yourself and your community. It is not uncommon to see many elections with razor-thin margins. Therefore, it is imperative that your vote and voice are counted. You can also find out more about Virginia elections at elections.virginia.gov.
Donations to the Fairfax County NAACP: We rely on the support of individuals and businesses in our community to continue our fight for racial justice. Your gift will be used 100% in support of our advocacy on behalf of Black people and people of color in Fairfax County. For donation information, please click here.
We continue to need YOUR engagement and involvement in EVERY advocacy effort. Please JOIN or RENEW your membership today. If you haven't joined a committee, please SIGN UP today.
Together In Service,
Niki Zimmerman
Proud President, Fairfax County NAACP
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NAACP Ella Jo Baker Award Winner | |
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We are excited to announce that the Fairfax County NAACP has won yet another prestigious award—the NAACP’s Ella Jo Baker Award!! This honor recognizes the top three units with the highest membership percent increase between May 1, 2023, and June 17, 2024.
Ella Baker's legacy is a testament to tireless advocacy and dedication to civil rights. From her work with the NAACP starting in 1940 to co-founding organizations to combat Jim Crow laws and organizing voter registration campaigns, her impact is profound.
We are proud to continue her mission through our ongoing efforts in advocacy, community engagement, and the fight for racial equality. This award reflects the dedication and hard work of our incredible members and supporters. Thank you for standing with us!
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2024 Voting Rights Symposium | |
All In! 2024 Voting Rights Symposium
Saturday | August 24, 2024 | 10 - 4 pm
Hampton University
The NAACP Virginia State Conference is proud to present the All In! Voting Rights Symposium, a vital gathering dedicated to addressing the critical issues surrounding voting rights and the future of our democracy. As we approach a consequential election, this symposium seeks to highlight the challenges and opportunities facing Black communities, who have been historically marginalized and impacted by voter suppression. Through insightful discussions and expert panelists, we will explore the importance of civic engagement, the dangers posed by initiatives like Project 2025, and the essential role of voting in shaping a just and equitable society.
Join us on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Hampton University, as we come together, united in the belief that every voice matters and every vote counts. Let's be "All In" for democracy!
Registration for All In! Virginia Voting Rights Symposium is $10.
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About All In! Voting Rights Symposium
Keynote Address
Announcement coming soon!
Voting Rights – All In! The Fight for Our Vote
This panel will explore the ongoing challenges and systemic barriers to voting access, with a focus on how Black and Brown communities have been historically disenfranchised. Our expert panelists will discuss the latest developments in voting rights legislation, the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions, and the critical importance of voter turnout in the November election. They will also highlight successful grassroots efforts to combat voter suppression and share strategies for ensuring that every voice is heard. As we approach a pivotal election, this conversation is more urgent than ever.
The Detriment of Project 2025 – All In! Protecting Our Future
Project 2025 presents a clear and present danger to the democratic values we hold dear. This panel will dissect the potential impacts of this initiative on key aspects of governance, civil rights, and social justice. Focusing on the adverse effects on voting rights, education, healthcare, and more, our panelists will comprehensively analyze how Project 2025 threatens to roll back decades of progress, especially in marginalized communities. We will discuss the strategies to resist and counteract these threats, emphasizing the urgency of mobilizing for the upcoming election to safeguard our democracy and protect future generations.
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We're recruiting 22K NAACP Members to be ALL IN. Show us you're All In by signing up TODAY.
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To get involved and get the most up to date information about volunteer opportunities, and more, join our VA Civic Engagement Group Me
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The Virginia NAACP is fighting the fight and working towards mobilizing volunteers to get every voter to the polls in November. Your donation will help us to reach more voters.
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General Membership Meeting | |
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Join Us for a Special Guest at Our Next General Membership Meeting
We are honored to welcome Deborah March as our guest speaker for our upcoming General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, August 27.
Ms. March, the Senior Manager of the John Lewis Leadership Program, will be presenting all the exciting things happening at John R. Lewis High School as part of this impactful initiative. The Leadership Program connects students to Congressman Lewis’s legacy through real-world learning in leadership, justice, service, and advocacy.
This presentation is particularly significant, as our branch was instrumental in fighting to bring this important project to fruition. Deborah’s dedication to education is evident in her previous role as a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy Specialist with FCPS, where she worked to create a curriculum that affirms diverse identities and empowers students to take informed action. Her extensive experience spans teaching at various levels, from middle school to college, and holding leadership positions in both public and private schools.
Originally from Queens, New York, Deborah holds a B.A. in English Literature from City College of New York and an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in African American Studies and American Studies from Yale University.
We look forward to hearing from her and celebrating the successes of a program that holds special meaning for our branch and the broader community!
Register Below!
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Fairfax County's Racial Covenants History | |
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Join Dr. Krystyn Moon, History Professor at the University of Mary Washington, for an insightful discussion on racial covenants and their role in creating segregated neighborhoods in Fairfax County from the early 1900s until 1968. Dr. Moon will share her research, focusing on a subdivision in Hybla Valley and its lasting impact.
Date: August 27, 2024
Time: 7pm-8:30pm
Location: Sherwood Hall Library
First Floor Community Room
2501 Sherwood Hall Ln
Alexandria, VA 22306
*Light snacks and drinks provided*
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about and reflect on this significant part of our local history.
Cosponsored by: Fairfax County NAACP, Nature Forward, South County Task Force, Gum Springs Historical Society & Museum, and Mount Vernon Regional Historical Society
RSVP using the QR code or follow the link below!
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Advertise in the Fairfax NAACP Freedom Fund Gala Brochure!
We invite you to make a difference by advertising in the Fairfax NAACP Freedom Fund Gala brochure! This is your chance to show your support for civil rights and social justice while gaining visibility among a dedicated audience. By placing an ad, you not only enhance your brand but also contribute to our vital work in promoting equality and fighting discrimination.
Join us in this important cause and help create lasting change. For more information, contact us at: Freedomfund@fairfaxnaacp.org
Purchase your ad by scanning the QR code or click the button below.
Thank you for standing with us!
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Reclaim Our Vote Campaign | |
Help us reach Black voters in Florida and Georgia!
After the events of the past couple of weeks, it's more important than ever that we get out the vote, and we could really use your help! We have launched postcarding to Georgia for the general election—and we still have plenty of addresses for Florida.
In Georgia, we are part of Team Unity Georgia, a coalition of groups working to fight voter suppression in that state. We aim to reach at l east 600,000 Black voters with our postcards, encouraging them to vote early and to use ActiVote to educate themselves about who will be on the ballot.
In Florida, we are writing to 900,000 plus Black women who are registered voters. In addition to voting for federal, state, and local offices, Floridians will be voting on six ballot initiatives, including a state constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights.
Important reminders:
– Please hold onto the postcards that you've written until October. The mailing window for all of our general election campaigns except for Virginia is Oct. 1-15.
– All of the files that you need to postcard are included in the e-mail that you receive from Sincere after you submit an address request. This includes the addresses, the script, a sample postcard, general guidelines, and sticker templates. In addition, you can always find these files by looking up the address request in your Sincere account.
– Please write to only one campaign at a time to prevent mixing up addresses and stickers. After finishing an address list for a city or county, destroy the list, the script and any remaining printed stickers before requesting addresses from another campaign.
– You must follow our script exactly and you must handwrite the script (except for the sticker text) and address.
– Use only ROV postcards. ROV postcards must not be used for any other organization's postcard campaigns.
COMING SOON: we plan to start postcarding to Texas by July 19. In August, we'll launch Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. To see current plans for all of our postcard campaigns, go here, and keep checking Sincere for new postcard campaigns.
We hope you'll continue writing with us throughout the summer and into the fall. We have a lot of voters to reach, which is why we're starting our campaigns so early.
Additional resources can be found on our Volunteer Dashboard. Recordings of past webinars can be found on our YouTube channel. And our Annual Report is here.
For more information on this initiative, please follow the link below..
THE CENTER FOR COMMON GROUND
The Center for Common Ground of Virginia is a 501(c)3 organization. Since late 2017, our nonpartisan Reclaim Our Vote Campaign has reached millions of voters of color in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. For the 2020 election including the primaries, the General Election, and the January 5 runoff, Reclaim Our Vote reached out to 14 million voters. We distributed 9.4 million postcard addresses, sent 2.9 million text messages, and made 1.7 million phone calls.
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NAACP National Convention Highlights! | |
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The Fairfax County NAACP sent three delegates to the national convention in Las Vegas to participate in the democratic process of the organization (voting for national board members and passing resolutions that guide the association’s work), to network with representatives of other branches nationwide, and to engage in top-quality advocacy and educational activities. While there, 2nd Vice President Karen Campblin, Secretary Mike O’Brien, and Religious Affairs Committee member Pat Jackson attended an Environmental Justice rally with EPA Administrator Michael Regan, heard a rousing speech by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and participated in a Q&A sit-down with NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson. They also heard from power couple Michael and Gillian White, who presented the branch with its second Thalheimer Award (for civic activism and community engagement) in six years.
“Every member should have a chance to see their national association at work, passing resolutions and electing leaders to meet the current moment,” said Secretary O’Brien. One highlight of the week was the appearance of President Joe Biden, who gave a rousing defense of his four years in office, ticking off his administration’s many accomplishments, including the Infrastructure & Jobs Act, the Child Tax Credit, and the alleviation of student debt. It ended up being the final major speech of his 2024 campaign before turning the reins over to Vice President Kamala Harris just days later. Approximately 2,500 members and guests were in attendance. “Next year’s convention will be held in Charlotte, NC—a little closer to home,” said O’Brien, “so perhaps more members will be able to participate and get inspired.” View some highlight photos of the convention below!
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Region 7 (DMV–DC, Maryland and Virginia) breakfast gathering. Keynote Speaker Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland (center) joined by NAACP Board Chairman Leon Russell (left) and NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson (at podium). | |
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Branch Secretary Michael O'Brien (left) and 2nd Vice-President Karen Campblin (right). | |
Religious Affairs member Pat Jackson (left) pictured with NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson. | |
Thalheimer Celebration Highlights! | |
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A big thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate our Thalheimer Award win! Your support made the day truly special. We are grateful to have such a wonderful community. Take a look at the event photos below.
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Some of our lovely guests. | |
Housing Chair, Mary Paden (left), one of our supportive members, Mr. Leon (center), and Branch president, Niki Zimmerman (right). | | |
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(Seated left to right) WIN and Freedom Fund Chair Evelyn Spain, Branch President, Niki Zimmerman, Secretary, Michael O'Brien, and Housing Chair, Mary Paden. (Standing left to right) Membership Co-chair Jasmine Carr, Membership Co-chair Jesse Ernest, and Political Action Chair, Lenior Simmons. | |
Voter Registration Highlights! | |
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The Fairfax County NAACP Political Action Committee, led by its Chair, Lenior Simmons, participated in Mt. Vernon's 2nd Annual Back to School Community Day on Saturday, August 3rd, at the Lorton Community Center in Lorton, VA. Their team registered voters, distributed school supplies, and provided crucial information about the upcoming General Election. It was a successful day of community engagement, ensuring that our neighbors are prepared and informed for the future.
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Mt. Vernon's Back to School Community Day. | |
Connecting with our community. | |
Political Action Chair, Lenior Simmons. | |
Political Action Chair, Lenior Simmons (left) with Branch President, Niki Zimmerman. | |
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Join Us for the Boys to Men Symposium!
We’re excited to announce the Boys to Men Symposium! Sponsored by Fairfax County NAACP and Dominion Energy, this special event is dedicated to helping boys navigate the journey to adulthood. If you know a young man aged 12-18, this is an opportunity you don’t want him to miss!
Date: September 28, 2024
Location: Gum Springs Community Center
8100 Fordson Rd
Alexandria, VA 22306
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Topics:
- Mental Health and Emotional Intelligence
- Substance Abuse
- Fatherhood and Fatherlessness
- Emotional Relations and Responsibilities
What’s Included:
- Breakfast, lunch, and snacks
- A Game Truck for entertainment
This symposium is designed to provide valuable insights and support, helping boys develop into responsible, emotionally intelligent men. Let’s come together to nurture and guide our future leaders!
Parents/Guardians: Please click the button below to register and fill out the consent form for your child’s participation.
Register Below!
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Save the date and mark your calendars for November 2, 2024 for our much-anticipated Fairfax County NAACP Freedom Fund Gala. It's just around the corner, and we need YOUR help to make it a success!
Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Tysons Marriott in Tysons Corner, Virginia, from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM. This signature event is our most significant fundraiser of the year, bringing together members, friends, and supporters for an inspiring night of celebration and recognition. With your help, we're confident we can exceed our goals and make a real impact in our Fairfax County community!
For more details about this event and how you can help, follow this link. You can also reach out to our Freedom Fund Committee Chair, Evelyn Spain, on how you can play a role in making this gala a success. She can be reached at Evelynss328@yahoo.com or Freedomfund@naacp.org.
Stay tuned for ticket information coming soon, and get ready to be part of this special event!
Thank you for your continued support!
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Welcome to our newest feature, the Member Spotlight! Each month, we’ll be shining a light on one of our amazing members who embodies the spirit of our community. | |
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Mike Woltz
Mike Woltz is married with two sons and has lived in Fairfax County since 2009. He graduated from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Concentration in African-American Studies, and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center. Following law school, he clerked for a civil trial judge, worked as an associate with a civil litigation firm, and eventually joined the federal government, where he has been for nearly 20 years. At the federal level, Mr. Woltz has counseled employees with workplace grievances based on allegations of discrimination and has briefed the highest levels of agency leadership on these matters.
Mr. Woltz began to combat racism in Fairfax County through advocating for his children in the public school system, which led him to additional opportunities to do such work, including advising elected officials and school division leadership, and training parents and educational leaders. As Chair of the NAACP Legal Redress Committee since January 2024, he started as its lone member, but under his leadership, it has grown to over 10 members, including college interns each of the past three summers. The Legal Redress Committee members handle discrimination complaints from citizens who work and/or live in Fairfax County.
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A friendly reminder to those who pay annual membership dues to belong to the NAACP:
We rely on those dues payments to help us meet our financial obligations, both at the local, state, and national level. Your contributions and engagement are important to us. Please take a moment to check your membership card and see if it’s time to make your dues contribution.
Payment is simple. The following link will bring you to our Fairfax County NAACP web site, where you can update your membership information and then pay via PayPal. Please also consider making a donation when you remit your dues payment.
We very much appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to engaging with you.
For questions about your membership dues, please contact our Branch Secretary Mike O'Brien at secretary@fairfaxnaacp.org.
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Your Support of Fairfax County NAACP makes a direct and positive impact in our community!
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Fairfax NAACP Executive Committee | | | | |
