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In this Issue:
- Fairfax NAACP Hosted Candidates Forum
- Membership Meeting - June 10
- Study Finds Discrimination Against Black Teacher Applicants
- Diversity in FCPS Panel Discussion - June 10 (during Membership Meeting)
- Father's Day Jazz Brunch - June 18
- Change the Name Advocacy
- NAACP National Convention - July 22-26
- Cops Vs. Kids Basketball Game - July 29
- Criminal Justice Panel Discussion - September 9
- Veterans Affairs Committee Spotlight
- Veterans Affairs Panel Discussion - September 30
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Fairfax NAACP Hosted
Candidates Forum
Virginia’s primary elections will be held on June 13th. Voting is always important, but this year is even more so as many of the issues we care about are being threatened. Fewer than 30% of registered Virginia voters participated in the 2015 election, compared to 72% of registered voters participating in the 2016 election.
But there is a lot more energy in the air this time around, and we believe this is the year that trend of low off-year election turnout will be reversed. The issues are simply too important to sit this one out. Redistricting, immigration, healthcare, climate change and criminal justice reform are just some of the critical issues up for debate.
On May 27th Fairfax County NAACP hosted a forum for the candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, and local House of Delegate vacancies. The event was attended by over 150 members and supporters who seized the opportunity to scrutinize the participating candidates’ agendas. Thank you to all the candidates who participated, and thank you to all of you who attended. We hope the forum helped to make you more informed for June 13th.
Check out videos of the VA Governor and
Lt. Governor Candidates below
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General Membership Meeting
June 10th
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Join us for our monthly meeting on Saturday, June 10th from 10AM-Noon at the Kings Park Library (in Supervisor Cook's meeting room) located at 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA.
School Board Vice Chair, Ms. Jane Strauss and FCPS Chief of Staff, Mr. Marty Smith, will be our special guests.
Join us next Saturday and learn more about Fairfax County Public Schools and your community.
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Study Finds Discrimination
Against Black Teacher Applicants
A few weeks ago, the Harvard Education Review published the findings of a study that demonstrated that black teacher applicants were being discriminated against by Fairfax County School Board (FCPS).
Fairfax County NAACP responded immediately by issuing a letter to the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Sharon Bulova, the members of the school board including the Chairman of the School Board, Ms. Sandy Evans, and the acting superintendent, Dr. Lockard. The letter voiced our concerns about the report’s findings; but also reflected related complaints we’ve received about teacher retention, and racially-based bullying targeting students of color.
On June 1st, President Annan along with the representatives of the Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committees and the Alliance of Black Educators met with Ms. Evans, Ms. Strauss, and Dr. Lockard to discuss our concerns in greater detail, and attempt to map out a way forward. At the conclusion of the meeting, the FCPS representatives agreed to consider our proposal to solicit an outside organization to oversee teacher hiring and retention policies and practices. We also agreed to meet again in the near future.
Vice Chair, Ms. Jane Strauss and FCPS Chief of Staff, Mr. Marty Smith, have both agreed to participate in a panel discussion during our next membership meeting on June 10th at Kings Park Community Library at 10am. Come out to take advantage of the opportunity to engage your FCPS leadership to learn more about what plans the they are considering to address teacher discrimination and racially-based bullying, or any other issue you would like to learn more about.
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Unable to attend the Jazz Brunch?
Please consider purchasing an ad or making a donation.
Your support is greatly appreciated!
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Advocacy Alert:
Change the Name
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Dear Members and Supporters,
We need your help more than ever! The Fairfax County Public Schools School Board has set June 22, 2017 as the date on which they will discuss and take action regarding the question of changing the name of the high school. We need you to express your support for changing the name to the School Board. Here is how you can help:
• Join us at one or both of School Board Meetings on June 8 or June 22 to show your support.
• Speak at a School Board Meeting on June 8 or June 22 in support of changing the name.
• Email or mail a statement of your support for changing the name to the School Board Members
If you wish to speak or show a video at a School Board Meeting you can find the details for signing up at FCPS School Board Citizen Participation Signup
Here are links to the email addresses of the School Board Members and our talking points in support of changing the name of the school.
• FCPS Board Member Info
• Change the Name Talking Points
If you wish to sign up to speak at a School Board meeting, submit a video for a School Board meeting, have questions, OR need more information, please contact George Alber at georgealber46@yahoo.com or 703.628.0377.
Thank you for your continued support!
READ MORE
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108th NAACP National Convention
Baltimore, MD
July 22-26, 2017
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The 108th Annual Convention of the NAACP will be held in Baltimore, Maryland at the Baltimore Convention Center from July 22-26th.
Purpose of the National Convention:
The Annual Convention of the Association shall establish policies and programs of action for the ensuing year. All actions of the Convention on questions of policy and programs, which are not contrary to the Constitution, shall be binding on the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Officers and all Units, except as hereinafter provided.
No resolution for change of policy or program of action shall be in order unless it shall have been favorably voted upon at regular legislative meetings of a Unit in good standing, or has been submitted by the President and CEO. The resolutions for policy or program change must be certified by the President and Secretary of the Unit, and received by the President and CEO in the National Office by May 1st annually. The Convention shall act on all such proposed program or policy changes during its Legislative Sessions.
LEARN MORE
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Veterans Committee Spotlight
Committee Chair, Niki Zimmerman was born and raised in Miami, FL. After high school, she attended Florida Memorial University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). After the 9/11 attacks, Niki was compelled to act in defense of our nation, and joined the U.S. Army. After 12 years serving on Active Duty she transitioned to the National Guard where she currently serves full-time. Niki holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. She has been married for 13 years, and has a son, Tony, who is also member of the NAACP Youth Council.
The mission of the Fairfax County NAACP Armed Services and Veterans Committee is to seek to establish a working relationship with national, state and local government agencies tasked with taking care of service members and Veterans, and to see that their programs are administered in an equitable manner to members of the minority community.
If you are interested in volunteering some of your time to help those who have risked their lives for to ensure our freedoms, we urge you to join the Fairfax County NAACP, Armed Services and Veterans Committee. Our first official event will be on September 30th, where we will host a panel discussion on the issues affecting local veterans and provide information on the available resources.
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Have you joined the movement?
Supporting Fairfax County NAACP makes a direct and positive impact in our community.
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Membership in the NAACP is just $30 a year. With so many issues facing our children and our community, we need your support. Your donations support our branch's advocacy, community programs, and operations. Our members spend countless hours fighting injustices. We could do so much more with your assistance. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to join along with donating to our branch.
Please Join and Donate TODAY!
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Fairfax NAACP Officers and Committee Chairs
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