September 2024

In this Issue:

President's Message
2024 Voting Rights Symposium | September 16
Special General Membership Meeting | September 24
Candidate Meet and Greet | September 25
Boys to Men Symposium | September 28
House of Representatives Candidate Forum | September 30
Advertising Opportunity
Highlights from the Fairfax County Racial Covenants Event
Highlights from the Gum Springs Seasoned Senior Prom
Reclaim Our Vote Campaign
2024 Freedom Fund Gala
Member Spotlight
Maintain Your Membership

A Message From Our President

Members, Supporters, and Friends of the Branch,

The work of social justice never ends, and therefore our branch committees continue to push for needed reforms in housing, education, criminal and environmental justice, and economic policies, to name just a few.

We have some great events being 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 these young men, ages 12-18. Registration is now open and can be completed using the following link.

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. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased here.

Presidential and state elections are almost upon us, and there is still much work to do as Virginia holds elections each year. Voting is one of the most impactful things you can do for yourself, and your community. It is not uncommon to see elections with razor-thin margins. Therefore, it is imperative that your vote and voice are counted. You can find out more about Virginia elections at elections.virginia.gov. Be sure to participate in the upcoming Candidate Meet and Greet, as well as the Candidate Forum, co-sponsored by Fairfax NAACP. You can find more information on those below.

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

2024 Voting Rights Symposium

All In! 2024 Voting Rights Symposium

Virginia is a priority state for Black voters and we’re calling on all members to be ALL IN during this election season. We invite you to join our upcoming events and invite other organizations you belong to, your faith community and neighbors to join you!

All In! 2024 Voting Rights Symposium | Virtually Monday, September 16, 20 @ 7 pm

The NAACP Virginia State Conference is proud to present the All In! Voting Rights Symposium, virtually on Monday, September 16th at 7 pm. This vital gathering is 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.

Click Here to Register

General Membership Meeting

Join Us for a Special Guest at Our Next General Membership Meeting

We are excited to announce that Dawn Butorac, Chief Public Defender for Fairfax County, will be joining us as the special guest at our General Membership Meeting on September 24. As the leader of the Public Defender’s Office, Dawn oversees a team that handles a wide range of cases, from trial proceedings to appellate matters, across General District, Juvenile, and Circuit Courts.

During our meeting, we’ll dive into the challenges her office faces, including the complexities of navigating the criminal justice system, the state of public defense in Fairfax, and some of the most pressing issues within the Commonwealth's Attorney’s office. Dawn’s insights will provide a unique perspective on the justice system and the key issues impacting our community.

This promises to be an important and thought-provoking discussion, shedding light on the critical role public defenders play in our legal system and how these issues affect all of us in Fairfax County. We encourage all members to attend and be part of this meaningful conversation.

Candidate Meet and Greet

Meet Your Fairfax City 2024 Candidates!

Join us on Wednesday, September 25th, from 7:30pm-9:00pm at the Stacey C. Sherwood Community Center for a unique opportunity to meet the candidates running for Mayor, City Council, and School Board. This event is your chance to:

Listen to each candidate’s vision for Fairfax City.
Ask questions and get the answers that matter to you.
Share your ideas and concerns directly with those seeking office.
Engage in meaningful conversations during the meet and mingle session.

This is a FREE and NONPARTISAN event, proudly sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area and the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce.

Location: Stacey C. Sherwood Community Center

3740 Blenheim Boulevard,

Fairfax, VA 22030

(Overflow parking available at the Christian Science Church, 3725 Blenheim Blvd.)

Get informed and get involved—let’s make our voices heard ahead of the General Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Don’t miss out on this chance to shape the future of our community.

*This event is co-sponsored by Fairfax County NAACP*

Boys to Men Symposium

Only a Few Days Left to Secure Your Spot!

Don’t miss the chance to attend the Boys to Men Symposium, a FREE event designed to help young men navigate the challenges of growing up. If you know a young man aged 12-18, this is an experience he’ll truly benefit from. Secure a spot by registering before September 16th and ensure your child doesn’t miss out on this valuable experience!

Date: September 28, 2024

Location: Gum Springs Community Center

8100 Fordson Rd

Alexandria, VA 22306

Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Key Topics:

Mental Health and Emotional Intelligence
Substance Abuse Awareness
The Impact of Fatherhood and Fatherlessness
Managing Emotional Relationships and Responsibilities

What’s Included:

Free breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided
A Game Truck for entertainment

This symposium will equip boys with essential tools for growing into responsible, emotionally intelligent men.

Parents/Guardians: Please click the link below to register and fill out the consent form before September 16th.

Candidate Forum

Upcoming Candidate Forum for House of Representatives – Districts 10 & 11

We are proud to co-sponsor the upcoming Candidate Forum for District 11 on Monday, September 20th, at 8:00 PM, hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area. This forum will feature candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives from both District 10 and District 11. It’s a great opportunity to hear directly from the candidates on key issues affecting our community.

This event will be televised on Public Access Channel 10 and streamed live on YouTube. At the time of the event, you can watch it via the link below.

Watch Here

Advertise With Us!

Advertise in the Fairfax NAACP Freedom Fund Gala Brochure!

Align your brand with a cause that matters. By advertising in our official gala brochure, you’ll reach a dedicated audience and showcase your support for social justice and civil rights. This is a great chance to promote your church, community organization, or business.

Ad Rates:

• Full Page: $250

• Half Page: $175

• Quarter Page: $90

Submit your ad by October 9, 2024, and email your logo in jpeg, png, or pdf format to freedomfund@fairfaxnaacp.org or communications@fairfaxnaacp.org.

Thank you for standing with us!Together, we rise for justice. Be part of an unforgettable night—purchase your ad space today by scanning the QR code or click the button below.

Thank you for standing with us!

Purchase Your Ad Here!

Highlights From "A History of Fairfax County's Racial Covenants" Event

Dr. Krystyn Moon, History Professor at the University of Mary Washington, sharing her research on racial covenants and their impact on Fairfax County’s segregated neighborhoods.

Attendees engage in a thought-provoking discussion on racial covenants and housing equity in Fairfax County at our recent event.

A big thank you to everyone who attended our recent co-sponsored event, "A History of Fairfax County's Racial Covenants on Property Deeds," with Dr. Krystyn Moon! We had a standing-room-only crowd at the Sherwood Hall Library, demonstrating the community's strong interest in this important topic.

Our Housing Chair, Mary Paden, has written an article that captures key moments from the event. In her article, Mary covers Dr. Moon's discussion, which explored the federal, state, and local rules, court decisions, and actions by real estate associations and lenders that contributed to Fairfax County’s residential segregation. Dr. Moon also noted that segregation is still increasing today, as reported by the Metro DC Council of Governments. Widespread understanding of this "forgotten" history is critical as we work to incorporate equity principles into the county's land use planning policy.

Because of the new historical materials being developed and this unique opportunity to shape future land use policy, the Housing Committee will make equitable development a major focus for the next few years. You can read Mary’s full article below.

Racial land covenants helped shape residential segregation in Fairfax County over decades

Racial covenants — now-illegal restrictions on property deeds in many Northern Virginia subdivisions that limited ownership to Whites — are being uncovered in Mount Vernon District and elsewhere by Dr. Krystyn Moon, professor of history and American studies at the University of Mary Washington, and a team at Marymount University.

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.

More Information Here

Tickets Now on Sale!

Tickets are now on sale for the Fairfax County NAACP's 2024 Freedom Fund Gala, Together We Rise, on November 2, 2024, at the Tysons Marriott in Tysons Corner, Virginia, from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. This annual event is our largest fundraiser, bringing together members, friends, and supporters for a powerful evening of celebration and recognition.

The funds raised support key initiatives, including:

Economic Development and Empowerment: Promoting racial equity and supporting small business growth.

Education and Scholarships: Ensuring equal educational opportunities and awarding scholarships to local students.

Health Awareness: Addressing healthcare disparities among people of color.

Political Action: Empowering voters through education, registration, and electoral participation programs.

Keynote Speaker

Tezlyn Figaro

Tezlyn Figaro, founder of the award-winning Tezlyn Figaro Communications Group, specializes in communications solutions, political strategy, and crisis management for top leaders. As a certified Florida Supreme Court Civil Mediator and trainer, she designs customized training programs and is the creator of the 'Push the Line' nonpartisan political training program. Tezlyn hosts the *Straight Shot, No Chaser* podcast on Charlamagne Tha God's Black Effect Podcast Network and regularly appears on major platforms like The Breakfast Club, Fox News, and MSNBC. She has contributed to high-profile cases such as George Floyd and the Flint water crisis and has received numerous accolades, including the 2023 'Champion of Change' award from UCLA's Black Law Students Association.

Master of Ceremony

Bryan Hill, Fairfax County Executive

Event Highlights

Spoken word by Ms. Clevette C Roberts
DJ Jose
Recognition of Veterans
Community Award Winners
Vendors
Silent Auction
60/40 Raffle

Ticket Pricing

Non-member adults: $125
NAACP members: $90
Children (10 and under): $50

Your participation helps fund our efforts to create a stronger, more inclusive community. For more information, contact Evelyn Spain at freedomfund@fairfaxnaacp.org.

Click the link below to purchase your tickets today and join us for an unforgettable evening!

Purchase Tickets Here!

*Member Spotlight*

Welcome to our Member Spotlight! Each month, we’ll be shining a light on one of our amazing members who embodies the spirit of our community.

Lenior Simmons

Lenior Simmons has been a member of the NAACP Fairfax County Branch for many years, where she has served on the Communications, Freedom Fund, Political Action, Women in NAACP, and Legal Redress committees. Lenior first took on a leadership role in the Branch when she was appointed by Past President Michelle Leete as the Branch Parliamentarian in Fall 2022. President Leete later appointed her as the Political Action Co-Chair in December 2023, a role she enjoys.

Lenior believes her responsibility as the Branch Political Action Chair is to engage and inform the community about elections and legislation that affect our community. An active member of the Fairfax County community, Lenior also serves as a member of the Fairfax County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, where she is the immediate Past President. In addition, she mentors for Fairfax County Public Schools and serves as a Fairfax County Election Assistant Chief, where she encourages others to serve the community in this vital role.

Maintain Your Membership

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 Fairf ax 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 .