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Dear Friend,
This week’s newsletter discusses a new shadowing opportunity offered through my office, provides recent updates from commission meetings, welcomes students and staff back to school, and highlights select community events and meetings from this past week. Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter and for staying informed.
“Shadowing the Senator”: A New Way to Engage with State Government
Too often, the day-to-day work of government and legislators is obscure, and it may seem inaccessible. In a thriving democracy, this work should be the opposite: visible and participatory. Every interested citizen should be able to understand the roles of government and know how to engage with agencies, legislators, and staff. Civic engagement and experiences are especially important for our young people.
With this thought in mind, my office is offering a new program: “Shadowing the Senator.” This day-long program is designed to allow a variety of constituents the opportunity to experience a typical day as an elected member of the General Assembly. A shadowing day may include the chance to attend meetings with other elected officials, state agencies, non-profits, and/or community organizations; the day may also include attending community events. Participants will certainly have the chance to ask me and my staff questions.
This program is open to high school and college students, as well as adult community members. Priority will be given to Senate District constituents; opportunities are limited and are dependent on scheduling details. Completion of an interest form does not guarantee an immediate chance to participate in the program.
Interested individuals should complete this interest form [[link removed]] . Questions can be directed to [email protected] [[email protected]] .
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Commission Meetings This Week
Several of the Commissions to which I am appointed held meetings in Richmond this week.
First was the Joint Commission on Science and Technology. Commission members received three presentations at our Monday meeting. The first highlighted the Global Internet Hub [[link removed]] , and the emerging opportunities for the I-64 Innovation Corridor. The second discussion focused on the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA) which was signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam, making Virginia the second state in the country to pass such a law. The CDPA primarily provides consumers with greater control over their personal data. The final sets of presentations (three in total) discussed on Content Authenticity. These presentations stressed the increasing dangers to democracy as technologies become so sophisticated that it is difficult to distinguish between real and unreal. The presenters shared concerns about altered media, the ease by which misinformation spreads rapidly and globally, and the efforts on the part of industry to counteract the work of bad players. While state governments do have a role to play in this effort, the real work depends on national and international consensus on regulating the abuses of technologies and protecting consumers.
At Tuesday’s Joint Commission on Housing , we focused largely on demographic and housing market trends we are seeing across the Commonwealth and the nation [[link removed]] : a limited housing stock and a competitive housing market have placed many Virginians in precarious housing conditions. Commission members and a variety of stakeholders are continuing to engage on this issue, seeking economic and legislative solutions to improve housing affordability and housing stock.
During Wednesday’s Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) , staff presented updates on the health care dashboard [[link removed]] , tracking the accessibility, affordability, and quality of health care across the Commonwealth for all communities. Later, our Departments for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) [[link removed]] and Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) [[link removed]] provided overviews of services available to Virginians with brain injuries through their respective agencies. Through the DARS state-funded Brain Injury Services Programs, nearly 2300 unique individuals are served; DMAS serves nearly 100,000 Virginians living with either a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or non-Traumatic Brain Injury. We still have a great deal of work to do to fill service gaps and provide quality care for individuals with brain injury.
Welcome Back to School
School divisions across the Commonwealth welcomed students back into classrooms this week. Our teachers, support staff, and administrators work tirelessly to provide our students with quality education in a welcoming, supportive environment and, by extension, their families. I wish everyone a successful academic year ahead.
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The 2024 Senate Page Program
The application form for the 2024 Senate Page Program [[link removed]] is now live. The Senate Page Program offers a unique opportunity for young Virginians to learn about policy making and state government processes. Applicants must be residents of the Commonwealth and either 13 or 14 years old on January 10, 2024, the first day of the new session.
Pages perform administrative duties, participate in team building, undergo rigorous civics education, and help with day-to-day operations of the General Assembly. While immersed in the program, Pages live in Richmond throughout the duration of the General Assembly, visiting home on the weekends. The well-structured program provides time for Pages to keep up with schoolwork while also engaging in General Assembly activities.
All applications will be done using this online Form [[link removed]] ; no paper applications should be mailed to Senate offices or to the Senate Clerk’s Office. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 20, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Questions may be directed to [email protected].
Highlights from Community Events & Meetings
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Last Friday, I toured the Sheltering Arms Institute [[link removed]] . This state-of-the-art facility is a collaboration between Sheltering Arms and VCU Health, bringing innovative rehabilitation services to patients across Central Virginia. Recently, Sheltering Arms Institute was recognized as one of the best in-patient rehabilitation providers in the United States [[link removed]] .
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Later that afternoon I joined Reverend F. Todd Gray, Pastor of Fifth Street Baptist Church, for a meet and greet alongside several faith leaders across Central Virginia. We had candid discussions about the issues facing our communities. Much work remains to be done, but I am hopeful we can drive forward with the continued support of these many pillars in our community.
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On Saturday morning, I joined members of SEIU Local 512 and 32BJ for the organization’s candidate forum. These Service Employees International Union (SEIU) members, the most essential of our essential workers, provide support, care, and dignity for so many people, in services ranging from home health care, childcare, janitorial, and much more. Collectively, we’ve been fighting hard for fair living wages, paid sick leave, worker protections, and more.
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Later that Saturday afternoon, I joined the New Virginia Majority’s (NVM) Peoples’ Congress to discuss the issues facing many communities across the Commonwealth. Audience members were particularly concerned about the lack of affordable housing, the uninhabitable living conditions that many face, unfair wages, and many other concerns. I look forward to working as a collaborative partner with NVM members on issues of inequity, housing concerns, and improved working conditions.
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On Saturday evening, the Virginia Young Democrats the End of Summer & Campaign Season Kickoff. It was wonderful to speak with our Young Democrats on the issues that impact their lives directly: our climate crisis, childcare access and affordable housing, reproductive rights, voting rights, and social justice. Young Dems certainly understand how critical these elections are, and they are ready to work hard this Fall to deliver majorities.
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On Tuesday evening, I attended the welcome reception for the new Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), Dr. David Doré. As Chancellor, Dr. Doré oversees the 23 community colleges that serve students all across Virginia. I look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of our VCCS institutions under Chancellor Doré’s leadership.
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On Wednesday evening, I joined the Muslim Chaplain Services of Virginia (MCSVA) as the group recognized the Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC), Harold W. Clark, and his staff for their collaboration with faith-based organizations supporting rehabilitation programs for our incarcerated populations. Several of our returning citizens also joined the gathering and spoke eloquently of the transformative gifts provided by the Chaplain Services programs in our prison system.
Connecting With My Office
Please email us at [email protected] [[email protected]] or call our office at 804-698-7510. If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here [[link removed]] [[link removed]] .
— Ghazala
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