Save the Date: VACAP Legislative Conference and Weatherization Symposium

February 2-5, 2026 | Richmond Downtown Marriott

You won't want to miss the 2026 VACAP Legislative Conference. We will have a new Governor's Administration, new General Assembly members and big state funding challenges and opportunities to discuss and share. Be there for the latest training on core topics facing the community action network.

Monday, February 2:  Weatherization, Energy, and Whole Family Pre-Conference

Tuesday, February 3: VACAP Board Meeting, Updates from Leadership on New Governor's Administration, CSBG and other Community Action Trainings, Wx Peer Group, General Assembly Update, Advocacy Training

Wednesday, February 4: VACAP Advocacy Day

Save the Date: VACAP May Regional Meetings

Join VACAP and your Community Action peers in May 2026 for regional meetings as we gather leaders in your respective subject matter area and strategic sponsors for a day of networking and training. Tentative timing for each meeting is 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM.

May 13: Join us in Williamsburg at the College of William and Mary's School of Education

May 18: Weatherization Pre-conference at Wytheville Meeting Center

May 19: Regional Meeting at Wytheville Meeting Center

Registration and additional details will be available soon. You are welcome to attend either or both meetings. Please add the date and location to your calendar and we'll see you in May!

2025 VACAP Summit a Success

We wrapped up our Annual Pathways from Poverty to Prosperity Summit this week and can’t thank our partners, sponsors and members enough for a great conference building upon strategies to uplift families across the Commonwealth.

Complete the post-event survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/S2GxRTBEU7

CAPLAW Bylaws Toolkit

CAPLAW has updated its Bylaws Toolkit to help CAAs develop bylaws that are clear, effective, and up-to-date. The toolkit outlines key concepts for an agency's bylaws, such as the authority of the Board of Directors, replacement of directors due to vacancies, quorum and voting policies, officers, conflicts of interest, and more. Updated information includes new sample language, evolving governance best practices, and CAPLAW's experience reviewing CAA bylaws over the last several years.

Learn more and access the toolkit here: https://caplaw.org/resources/bylaws-toolkit-2

Virginia Gubernatorial Candidates Make Case to Build Workforce at Chamber Conference

As Virginia seeks to strengthen communities statewide and support economic growth, gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Earle-Sears presented their cases for why they should be elected to lead these efforts at the Virginia Education & Workforce Conference in Richmond on Tuesday.

The two candidates spoke to more than 400 attendees from business, education and policy backgrounds about the challenges and their respective plans during Tuesday’s conference at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, which focused on building a more skilled and competitive workforce. 

Read the full article here: https://virginiamercury.com/2025/10/15/va-gubernatorial-candidates-make-case-to-build-workforce-at-chamber-conference/

Speaker Scott Calls for Special Advisory Board to Look into Men's and Boys' Challenges

A group of Virginia lawmakers aims to break ground with a first-in-the-nation legislative advisory board to tackle issues that keep men and boys from succeeding in life.

"Our men are struggling," said House Speaker Don Scott. He noted that 13% of young men in Virginia between 16 to 24 are not in school and are not working. He said men and boys accounted for four out of every five suicide deaths from Virginia between 2018 and 2023 and that men account for 71% of unintentional overdose deaths. 

Read the full article here (behind paywall): https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_d2a5fc46-f4e2-4fbe-9d1e-5ba8b03c6402.html

Growth4VA Resources

The Virginia Business Higher Education Council has developed a new resource and advocacy campaign on bridging the connection between higher education, business, nonprofit and government sectors. This initiative aims to reform and bring awareness to developing better learning opportunities for students in related fields, including better paid internships, apprenticeships and employer-based experience while still in school. This is to ensure better alignment of talent pathways for students who attend an institute of higher education and strengthen the connection between employers and schools in the community. We will be watching this initiative for expanded apprenticeship and internship opportunities for our clients in Community Action that enroll in an institute of higher education.

VACAP recommends all member agencies read this summary report and utilize it for the connections with your higher education and business leaders, as your efforts in Whole Family and supporting families in work align very well with this initiative.

Learn more here: https://growth4va.com/resources/