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FAIRFAX COUNTY NAACP
NEWS FOR YOU
May 2016
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NAACP Monthly Membership Meeting
Don’t forget we meet on the 2nd Saturday of every month for a two-hour update on local NAACP initiatives and statewide and national legislative developments. We’d love for you to join our growing ranks. Our next meeting will be held on Saturday, May 14th from 10 AM – Noon at the Kings Park Library in Burke (Supervisor Cook’s meeting room). Join a lively discussion of current issues and long-term goals. Let your voice be heard!
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Fairfax County NAACP Names Education Committee Chair
Dr. Florine Murphy has been appointed as the Education Chair for the Fairfax County NAACP. Dr. Murphy is a long-time Fairfax County resident whose children attended Fairfax County Schools. The Education Committee identified three initiatives they would like to immediately begin to work on – closing the academic achievement gap for minority students; identifying pre-K facilities and reducing the waiting list; and eliminating the school-to-prison pipeline.
President Ginwright on Fairfax County Criminal Justice Advisory Board
Fairfax County NAACP President, Shirley Ginwright, will serve on the Criminal Justice Advisory Board, representing the Fairfax Federation. Ginwright sees this as an excellent opportunity to help committee members understand the issues facing minorities caught in the criminal justice system and the impact some laws have on their success as citizens. Other members include the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney.
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Mark your Calendar! Change the Name Community Meeting
Please join us at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Virginia 22003 on May 9, 2016 7PM to 9 PM for a meeting of supporters for changing the name of Jeb Stuart High School, in Falls Church, Virginia.
On February 18, 2016 the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) School Board (FCSB) unanimously approved initiating community engagement on the possible renaming of Jeb Stuart High School. The School Board is expected to initiate this community engagement process soon. The process is expected to include community surveys and community meetings. We need you to actively participate in this process. There are many ways you can express your support, including:
- Responding to the survey when you receive it
- Attending the community meetings and expressing your support
- Sending a personal letter or email to the School Board
- Attending a School Board meeting and expressing support in a three minute or less talk during the "Citizen Representation" segment of the meeting
- Submitting a 3 minute or less video of you expressing your support which will be shown at a School Board meeting during the "Citizen Representation" segment of the meeting
- At the May 9th Change the Name Community Meeting we will discuss each of these ways to express your support of the name change as well as discuss other ways to rally our community in support of the name change. Please get involved and help us Change the Name! Click the 'I Want to Help" button below to sign-up to attend the Change the Name Community Meeting.
If you have questions, or need additional information contact George Alber at
[email protected]. Thank you for your continued support!
Click the 'I Want to Help" button below to sign-up to join the 'Change the Name' of J.E.B. Stuart High School advocacy group.
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Governor Terry McAuliffe Leads the Way Nationwide on Restoration of
Voting Rights to Ex-Felons
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe is leading the way on a key criminal justice reform initiative: restoring the voting rights of ex-felons. On Friday, April 22, McAuliffe authorized the granting of voting rights to more than 200,000 ex-felons who had served their jail time and completed their parole. This move, the first in the country by a state governor, is part of an array of criminal justice reforms recommended by President Obama during his impassioned plea for criminal justice reform at the 2015 NAACP Annual Convention.
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VA State NAACP President Moves Forward
Newly elected VA State NAACP President, Linda Thomas, has begun to move the State Conference forward after the recent dismissal of a VA State Conference election complaint by the National NAACP. This includes the naming of Phillip Thompson, President of the Loudoun County NAACP Branch, as the Area 15 Chair and the VA State Conference Criminal Justice Chair. As Area Chair, Thompson, will be responsible for reporting all issues and concerns of the branches within Area 15 (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Stafford, Loudoun, and Fauquier Counties). For the past year, our voices were not heard at the State level because we had no representation. We look forward to working with the new leadership.
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May is Mental Health Month
According to the
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 Americans will be affected by a mental health condition in their lifetime and every American is affected or impacted through their friends and family. In any given year, this figure includes 13.7 million children. Typically, only one third of these children get formal help or care. Given the prevalence of mental health needs — especially among our young people — prevention, early detection and intervention efforts benefit everyone in our communities through better outcomes in adulthood.
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) provides services to people with mental illness, developmental delay, intellectual disability and/or substance use disorders. The CSB vision states that "Everyone in our community has the support needed to live a healthy, fulfilling life."
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Community Survey Completed on the Fairfax County Police Department
In September 2015, the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy (CEBCP) at George Mason University, in partnership with the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD), conducted a survey of 4,250 Fairfax County households, selected at random. The survey solicited residents’ opinions about the FCPD, as well as about crime and safety in the respondents’ neighborhoods. Over a period of two months, the research team sent two reminders to respondents to increase the survey response rate. Scan the report here: Fairfax County Community Survey Report
Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce Ready to Re-Launch
Fairfax County NAACP members are invited to attend the revived Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce (NVBCC) re-lauch event to be held at the Waterford at Springfield on Tuesday, May 17 from 7-9 p.m. The cost for the event is $30. Appetizers and beverages will be served. Guest speaker Maggie Anderson will discuss her book, “Our Black Year: Our Family’s Quest to Buy Black in America’s Racially Divided Economy.”
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Will a Fair Tax System Work in Fairfax?
The Korean American Resource and Cultural Center and others have endorsed the Fair Tax as an option that reinforces the desire for no more cuts, adequate revenue, and fairness. The Fair Tax is an income tax system that has a higher rate for people with higher incomes and a lower rate for people with lower incomes. It is "fair" because it recognizes that different people have different ability to help fund the important programs of the state. A Fair Tax is not only more fair, but it is also a smart way to raise revenue adequate to support the state budget. It is an important step towards resolving chronic budget issues and producing responsible budgets every year.
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Vietnam Widowers could be Compensated
Are you a widow whose spouse served in the Vietnam War? Many Viet Nam veterans who served during the timeframe of February 28, 1961 through May 7, 1971 were exposed Agent Orange, a chemical that affects the lungs. It does not matter the length of exposure; it could have been even for one day. There is compensation for those whose spouses died of a lung condition and served in Viet Nam. The program, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), is a close hold program. If you don’t ask, they won’t tell. You can receive benefits that are tax free. Contact your local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or call them at 1-800-827-1000 to learn more about this program and see if you qualify.
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Upcoming Community Events
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May 7 -
In My Humble Opinion
On May 7, FAirfax county NAACP President will participate on radio talk show,
In My Humble Opinion. The show airs on May 7 from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. It can be streamed on
tunein.com (wvai 101.3jamz), Ginwright’s segment should commence during the 8 a.m. hour. You can also find the segment at
Facebook.com/imho101jamz
May 7 - The All Dullus American Muslim Society Fundraising Dinner Also on May 7, "Celebrating the Prophet (SAW)" with Shaykh Omar Suleiman, Comedian Dean Obeidallah, Shaykh Abdullah Waheed, Imam Mohamed Magid, and Dr. Zainab Alwani. Reception begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Adams Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg, VA 20176. Childcare will be available for ages 2 to 10, $10.00 per child. Parking is Free. Special Family Pricing for Four or More is $60.00 per person for limited time. Family Pricing does not include complete table purchase.
May 11 -- Golf Tournament to Benefit Special Olympics
Join the he Fairfax County Police Department on May 11 for their annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. This year, the tournament will be held at the Golf Club at the Landsdowne Resort on their Robert Trent Jones golf course. Cost is $120 with an 8:30 shot gun start. Find additional information and register here:
www.fcpdgolf.com. Get your team and meet us at the course.
June 10-12
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Jazz, Gospel, and Blues
Join us for the Annual Tinner Hill Blues Festival on June 10-12. Listen to great music, eat great food and purchase memorable gifts. Events will be held at different venues. Check it out
HERE and purchase your tickets early. You don’t want to miss this. Sponsored by the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.
http://tinnerhill.org/
June 25 - NAACP Partners with Girl Scouts for Fundraising Car Wash
Come support Fairfax County NAACP and Girl Scout Troop 1330 by having your car washed at the
End of 2016 School Year Car Wash Fundraising Event. Come out and get a clean car while also helping out your local NAACP branch and Girl Scout Troop. You will also be able to purchase 50/50 Raffle tickets at $1.00 for one or $5.00 for six tickets.
Location: Exxon Gas Station 5239 Rolling Road Station-Burke VA
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Cost: $6.00
Come out and support the community and take advantage of a chance to win the raffle. See you on June 25th!!!
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Membership in the NAACP makes you a part of a force of more than 500,000 people who stand for the freedoms guaranteed in our Nation’s Constitution. The fight for freedom is not free! Your membership will help fund initiatives and programs to support our mission of racial equality and equal justice. It is an opportunity to give back to the organization that has done more to change this country for the betterment of people of color, women and the disenfranchised than any other in the nation’s history.
When you join the Fairfax County NAACP
,
your membership makes a direct and positive
impact in your community
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