Independent Women’s Forum is delighted to have Rosie Oakley, a grassroots activist in Fairfax County, Virginia, as the latest entry in our popular series of Champion Women profiles.

While many citizens brood about what is happening in our country, Rosie Oakley and several friends joined forces to stand up for an alternative.

Stand Up Virginia, a nonprofit organization, is the result. The organization epitomizes what grassroots activists can accomplish in a short time. In June, for example, Stand Up Virginia, which was only a few months old, cosponsored a rally that attracted 1,500 people. The rally was billed as “a freedom festival.”

“People were really energized and happy,” Oakley adds. “We had a bus of folks from BLEXIT, one of our co-sponsors, which brought people in from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It was great. There was a real sense of camaraderie. We were worried about rain, but it didn’t rain. People stayed until the end, and it was a genuine celebration of patriotism, which many of us share, but which we don’t always get the opportunity to express. It was a lot of work, but so much fun.”

Oakley, who is also active in Fairfax County’s Republican Party, began her activism in a small way, passing out sample ballots in the 6 a.m. shift.

We think you will enjoy meeting Oakley and, if you a considering engaging in grassroots activities in these fraught times, learning Rosie’s story might just provide the nudge you need.