Dear friends,

This week, we discuss community events, recognize the campaigns taking place in October, remind everyone about the Senate Page Program, and talk about the upcoming election. Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter and staying informed about the current happenings around Virginia Senate District 10.

R-HOME Pilot Program
This past Saturday, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, Delegate Jeff Bourne, and I hosted a community event to discuss the Restorative Home Ownership (R-HOME) Pilot Program. We had a robust discussion with members of the Metro Richmond community, all of whom brought great ideas to the meeting. Thank you to Pastor Hunter and the congregation at Wesley United Methodist Church, Richmond City Councilman Mike Jones, the staff of VPLC, and all participants for making Saturday’s event a success. In December, we will be hosting an advocacy training via Zoom to tell community members more about the program, discuss the bill that will be filed at the General Assembly, go over how to talk to legislators about the bill, and more. Additional details forthcoming.

RISC Gun Violence Prevention Community Roundtable
Tuesday, October 19, the group Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities (RISC) is hosting a roundtable with elected officials and community members to discuss gun violence prevention tactics, with an emphasis on “focused deterrence” programs. Thomas Abt, author of Bleeding Out: The Devastating Consequences of Urban Violence, and Tiffany Garner from the Giffords Law Center will be leading the discussion. The event is free and open to the public. You can register for the event here.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, when we mourn those who have lost their lives to domestic violence, celebrate and uplift those who have survived these abuses, and advocate together to prevent domestic violence. Resources are available to residents of Senate District 10 year-round. In Chesterfield County, residents can contact the Chesterfield Domestic and Sexual Violence Resouce Center. Powhatan County residents can contact the Department of Social Services Domestic Violence Program by calling 804-598-5630. City of Richmond residents can contact YWCA Richmond. You can view what resources are available across the Commonwealth by visiting the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance website. Everyone deserves healthy, safe relationships built on mutual love and respect—no matter what. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to highlight the effects of breast cancer on individuals, their families, and on communities across our nation. Nearly 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetimes, and breast cancer can also occur in men as well.  Luckily, several resources are available to those suffering from breast cancer and those who wish to learn more. The National Breast Cancer Foundation website provides a database of free mammogram screening providers, support groups, and educational articles. You can also visit the Chesterfield, Powhatan, and Richmond Health Departments for additional assistance.

Last Call: Apply to the Senate Page Program
The deadline to apply to the Senate Page Program is quickly approaching. 

Senate Pages have served the upper chamber of the legislature since at least 1850. This time-honored tradition gives 13 and 14 year-olds across the Commonwealth the opportunity to engage with elected officials, learn about the legislative process, and begin growing into the civic leaders of tomorrow. Those selected for this program will stay in Richmond for the entire legislative session (visiting home on the weekends), giving them an in-depth and hands-on learning experience as Virginia’s State Senators engage in the work of the General Assembly.

If your child is interested, the deadline for online application submissions is Monday, October 18, at 5:00 pm. You can find the application here, and more information about the Senate Page Program is here at the Capitol Classroom website.

Countdown to Election Day
We are less than 20 days away from Election Day! Many options are available for casting ballots: in-person on Election Day (Nov. 2), by mail, or early in-person voting. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Friday, October 22. The request must be received by the local voter registration office by 5:00 pm. Mail-in absentee ballots must have a witness signature. 

District 10 residents can vote early in-person until Saturday, October 30, at the following locations:

• Chesterfield County: General Registrar’s Office located at 9848 Lori Road

• Powhatan County: Early Voting Drive-Thru Tent located in the rear parking lot of the Village Building at 3910 Old Buckingham Road

• City of Richmond: Office of the General Registrar located at 2134 West Laburnum Avenue or City Hall located at 900 East Broad Street or Hickory Hill Community Center located at 3000 East Belt Boulevard

You can learn more about the upcoming election by visiting the Virginia Department of Elections website.

Contacting My Office
I continue to have one-on-one meetings with constituents and organizations. If you want to schedule a meeting, on Zoom or in person, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. As a reminder, email is the best way to contact us. We can be reached at [email protected]. You can also schedule a meeting through our easy scheduling app.

— Ghazala