Friends,

I hope you and your family are enjoying the first few weeks of Spring. In this week’s newsletter, we highlight the opening of a new early childhood learning center, invite you to join a town hall, and recognize Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month.

Opening of the Chesterfield Early Childhood Learning Academy
I was glad to join First Lady Pam Northam, Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. James F. Lane, Chesterfield Superintendent Dr. Merv Daugherty, various members of the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors and School Board, and CECLA Principal Lesley Harris for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Chesterfield Early Childhood Learning Academy. A refurbishment of the former Harrowgate Elementary School, this new school will be a warm and welcoming place for our littlest learners, providing high-quality public preschool education and ensuring that children are supported as they prepare to enter kindergarten ready to learn.

The Chesterfield County School Board approved the creation of a new Early Childhood Academy in November, and the project has been nearly completed within six months. The hard work and commitment of many team leaders for this project has been remarkable. This unified pre-kindergarten center will serve students from 12 elementary schools in the eastern and southern portions of Chesterfield County: Bellwood, Bensley, Beulah, Marguerite Christian, Curtis, Ecoff, Enon, Gates, Harrowgate, Salem Church, Elizabeth Scott, and Wells elementary schools.

I hope to see other similar efforts move forward throughout the 10th Senatorial District and Virginia to support our youngest learners and ensure their success from the earliest age.

Central Virginia Delegation Town Hall
I and my colleagues representing Central Virginia are pleased to invite you to join us for a town hall on Wednesday, May 19, from 7-8 pm. This town hall is a unique opportunity for residents of Central Virginia to hear directly from their representatives in the statehouse, and I do hope you’ll join us. Attending will be myself, Senator Morrissey, Delegates Carr, Bourne, Adams, VanValkenburg, and Willet. Also invited are Senator McClellan, Delegates McQuinn, Bagby, and Aird. You will be able to hear directly from us on recent legislation in the General Assembly, and how we’re working to improve our constituents’ lives and the lives of all Virginians. You can RSVP here.

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month!
This month, we pay special attention to the generations of Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have enriched our communities and our country, and who are instrumental to our shared success. The month of May was chosen for this recognition because it marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869; the majority of workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. In this way, and in so many other ways since then, Asian Americans have helped build this nation and shape our future.

Contacting our office
As always, if you need assistance, or if you want to schedule a Zoom or phone call with our team, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Email is the best way to contact us. We can be reached at [email protected].

— Ghazala Hashmi