Northern Virginia Urban League 1315 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-836-2858 Fax: 703-836-8948
www.nvul.org
Civic Engagement
Founded in August 2008, the NOVA Coalition is a non-partisan effort created through a grant awarded by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and registered and empowered nearly 2000 voters for the 2008 election cycle. Led by the Northern Virginia Urban League and the Virginia Leadership Institute, the group has continued to successfully lead voter education and empowerment efforts in Northern Virginia.
2008 Get out the Vote Activities In 2008, each partner organization and the Coalition as a whole carried out multiple voter registration drives throughout the target community. The Coalition partnered with grocery stores, shopping malls, community fairs, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, DC, among others, in order to identify additional voters. The Coalition also canvassed in the target communities, specifically Prince William County, and partnered with WKYS radio station to hold a successful voter registration drive. The Coalition partnered with the National Urban League for a Voter Empowerment Rally with more than 600 attendees and highlighted with the Urban League’s National President Marc Morial and cast members from the popular HBO series, “The Wire”. The NOVA Coalition was also very active throughout the community on Election Day, appearing on urban radio stations, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer for our Video the Vote efforts, and ABC Australia. In addition to voter registration, the NOVA Coalition, under the NCBCP leadership, received signatures on over 900 pledge cards with a commitment to voter education and a pledge to VOTE.
2009 – present Restore the Vote The NOVA Coalition actively engages in restoring voting rights for formerly convicted persons in Virginia. Virginia and Kentucky are the only two states in which voting rights are not restored after completing one’s sentence, unless formerly convicted persons go through an onerous process through the governor. There are 300,000 disenfranchised in Virginia, and African-American men are disproportionately affected. On June 11, 2009 the NOVA Coalition hosted a community forum on voter restoration featuring Adisa Muse, ACLU; Delegate Charniele Herring (VA-46th); Doug Syphax (formerly convicted person); and the forum was moderated by Melanie Campbell, President of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. On December 26, 2009 Lavern Chatman wrote a letter on the importance of restoring voting rights in the Washington Post. In May 2010, Governor Bob McDonnell announced that formerly convicted persons of non-violent felonies would have to wait for two years, instead of three years, to have their rights restored. The Coalition continues to partner with organizations across the commonwealth to educate advocates and empower former felons on this issue.
2010 Census Hard To Count Communities The NOVA Coalition worked closely with several northern Virginia local governments and the U.S. Census Bureau to increase the number of people who participated in the 2010 Census, particularly hard to count communities. The Coalition held forums, set up tables in the community, and held a Census rally with over 200 attendees. The City of Alexandria had over 70% of its residents participate in the 2010 Census.
2010 Get out the Vote for the Midterm Elections “Trick or Vote” In the fall of 2010, the NOVA Coalition mobilized close to 100 volunteers to make approximately 4000 voter contacts through calls, pledge cards, and door to door canvassing in partnership with Trick or Vote. The Coalition also launched its first public service announcement encouraging our community to vote. In this time of high unemployment rates, record numbers of uninsured, and persistent minority achievement gaps, the NOVA Coalition’s participation in the 2010 mid-term election cycle was critical to ensure Northern Virginia’s voice was heard concerning the direction of our country.
"I Vote Because"
NOVA Coalition Partner Organizations
Northern Virginia Urban League www.nvul.org
Virginia Leadership Institute www.virginialead.org
Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria http://www.alfredstreet.org
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Lambda Kappa Omega, Fairfax County http://www.aka-lko.org
Omicron Chi Omega, Woodbridge http://omicronchiomega-aka.com/
Zeta Chi Omega, Arlington/Alexandria/Fairfax County http://www.aka-zco.org/
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Xi Alpha Lambda, Prince William County/Southern Fairfax County http://apaxal.com/
Zeta Upsilon Lambda, Fairfax County www.zul1906.org
Click HERE to view calendar of events sponsored by NOVA Coalition Partner Organizations.
To Join or Renew Your Membership Annual membership dues of $100 payable to The Northern Virginia Urban League, 1315 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. If your organization would like to join the coalition, please contact Krysta Jones at knjones@novacoalition.org.
