Opportunities for Individual Members

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy consists of thousands of individual, congregational, organizational and judicatory contacts dedicated to social justice. Faith communities from across Virginia are united through the Center and work to create a more just and compassionate Commonwealth. Members come from across the state and participate in activities of the Center that appeal to their call to advocacy. Following are various opportunities for you:

LEARN.

Become more aware and educated on issues affecting the Commonwealth through frequently updated information on our web page and mailings to members, including the first look at our legislative priorities each year.

Attend any of our numerous trainings about the issues on our legislative priority list. We offer trainings on general advocacy which include information on the Virginia General Assembly, how to write letters to editors, and the best way to contact and lobby your legislators. Check out our Resources area of the Web site for new information and training materials!

Hear legislators from local House and Senate districts speak to chapters about legislative issues of interest and their personal experiences in the Virginia General Assembly and beyond. These range in structure from town hall meetings to debate panels to single speeches on policy issues.

Chapters at times co-sponsor events with other organizations in their local area that are focused on our legislative priorities. Uniting with other faith, advocacy and human service groups helps raise the volume of our social justice voices. The center also collaborates with other statewide and national organizations that maintain our priorities.

Attend “Social Justice U,” a half day advocacy and awareness program sponsored yearly by each regional chapter at a local congregational facility. Center staff, issue experts, and chapter leaders put together thirty to forty-five minute interactive programs that show all angles of the issues we advocate and offer specific ways that you can become involved.

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy holds “A Day for All People of Faith,” each year at the General Assembly in Richmond. At this event, our members participate in issue and advocacy training, meet with legislators, and share fellowship with Virginians from across the Commonwealth.

PRAY.

Get involved with an established, effective and organized group of faithful Virginians who have similar goals for social justice.

Procure materials that will help you spread the word to your own faith community. The Center provides a wide range of prayers and scripture references for social justice and advocacy from the traditions of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

Contact the office to learn more about our InterSessionry Prayers, daily prayers for elected officials during the Assembly!

Members are involved in their congregations and communities encouraging others of faith to join the Virginia Interfaith Center and help us advocate for our neighbors who are unable to speak for themselves.

Help us to develop scripture references and inspirational quotes that are distributed to all legislators every Monday, Wednesday and Friday while the General Assembly is in session. We call them Purple Papers and they are widely read by most legislators.

ACT.

Receive occasional “Action Alerts” all year long to inform you of action you may take to help with a pending policy vote by the legislators.

Participate in the structuring of the Center’s legislative priorities by responding to our yearly survey to members, distributed in the spring.

Join other members of your chapter to write letters to legislators at evening letter writing campaigns.

Contribute to our growing knowledge bank! For members who are looking for in-depth involvement on a specific issue, our Policy Wonk Network is a great opportunity. This gives our members a space to dedicate their efforts to a particular issue.

Policy Wonks are encouraged to amass research on specific issues and are encouraged to explore some of the following research questions:
Where does your faith community stand on the issue?
Where do proponents and opponents of the issue stand?
What constituencies are effected by the issue?
How do faith values align with a particular position?
What type of outreach is most effective?
Which legislative strategy promises to have the most positive impact?
What types of news articles are being written about the issue?
Which legislators have the most interest in the issue?

Outside of the multiple opportunities to advocate for social justice and participate in events and trainings, individual members make numerous connections with people in their local and statewide communities who share their passion and dedication for a more just and compassionate Commonwealth. Through these relationships, members are able to gain a diverse, faith-based perspective on issues facing Virginia. Connecting open-minded individuals from varied backgrounds creates multiple avenues for members to exercise their faith. Add to this the meeting ground, rich with resources and support, the Center offers and the potential for social justice increases dramatically.

Becoming a member affords you countless resources on how to get involved and stay involved in important happenings across the Commonwealth. This wonderful chance to invest in Virginia’s future comes with year round support from a dedicated staff, event discounts, and special web resources available only to members. Join today!