The Virginia Volunteerism Summit, May 4-5, is ready to welcome Virginia's volunteerism and service industry professionals for two days of exciting content and experiences. The official virtual Summit event site is now open! Log in to your accout to explore the event space, update your profile, finalize your schedule, and see who else is attending! Not registered yet? You can still attend if you hurry! The Summit is nearly full! Register today!

Do you know an amazing kid who is already making the world a better place? How about a neighborhood business always involved in helping out when times are tough? For more than 20 years the Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards have honored the incredible achievements of volunteers. One award will be presented in each of 10 categories: Seniors, Adults, Young Adult, Youth, Independent Group, Community Organization, Faith-Based Organization, Educational Organization, Corporation, and Small Business. The deadline for nominations is June 17, 2022. Honorees will be celebrated at a special event in September.

As part of the new Virginia State Service Plan, the Virginia Service Commission has committed to assessing the culture of nonprofit and volunteer serving organizations across the state in order to better understand the landscape. The Commission is now surveying individuals about their experiences participating in Virginia’s volunteer sector (as volunteers, staff, board members etc.) as it relates to issues surrounding equity and inclusion. This survey is intended for anyone who has experience volunteering or working in Virginia’s nonprofit sector. The data and insights from this survey will be used to inform the Virginia Service Commission’s strategy, practices, and policies as it relates to advancing equity in our volunteer and service ecosystem. We appreciate your input!

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, April 17-23, individuals and groups across Virginia paused to thank their volunteers and national service members. Rep. Rob Wittman traveled to York River State Park to spend time working in the new pollinator garden with some of Virginia's amazing AmeriCorps members serving with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. In Newport News, Virginia Delegate Shelly Simonds and Senator Monty Mason visited Hiddenwood Elementary School to get a firsthand look at how AmeriCorps members serving with The Literacy Lab - Virginia Reading Corps are helping students improve their reading skills. How did you spend Volunteer Week? Let us know at at VirginiaService.virginia.gov.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the U.S. As of 2019, there were nearly 23 million AAPI individuals in the U.S. Looking for resources as you create events and lesson plans for the month? Both the Smithsonian's Asian Pacific American Center and the Library of Congress offer a wealth of information as you plan events or lessons in honor of the special month. Additionally, reach out to your local AAPI community organizations for ways to celebrate.

The 30th Annual Fairfax County Volunteer Awards were announced last month at a special ceremony. Awards were presented to individuals and groups in the following categories: Education & Literacy, Hunger Hero, Environmental Sustainability, Quality of LIfe, Social Justice, Volunteer Group, RSVP of Northern Virginia, Youth Leadership, Lifetime Achievement, and Stronger Together. You can read the stories of all the incredible honorees on the Volunteer Fairfax website linked below.