Women+girls (W+g)
Encouraging Women+girls to Strengthen the Spirit of Virginiae
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Pictured: The Governor and First Lady with Kate Tweedy and guests. | |
The Governor and First Lady and the Virginia Equine Alliance welcomed more than 150 guests to a “Secretariat Comes Home” reception at the Executive Mansion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown victory in 1973. Commemorated with an 11.5 foot and 3,500 pound bronze monument, created by Jocelyn Russell, this Virginia-bred horse is one of the most well-known names in racing history- still holding record times for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. The Governor presented two proclamations at the reception tapping August 11, 2023 as "Secretariat Homecoming Day" and August 12, 2023 as "Festival of Racing Day." Adding further prestige to the evening, the Governor and First Lady were joined by Kate Chenery Tweedy, the daughter of Secretariat's owner, Penny Chenery Tweedy, and guests were treated to music by choir members, some of whom sang in the Disney movie, "Secretariat." | |
Pictured: The Governor and First Lady with Jocelyn Russel for the proclamation of August 11, 2023 as "Secretariat Homecoming Day." | Pictured: The Governor and First Lady with Bill Carstanjen, the CEO of Churchill Downs. | |
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Pictured: The Governor and First Lady recognize August 12, 2023 as "Festival of Racing Day."
| Pictured: The Governor and First Lady enjoying a performance by some of the original Secretariat movie choir members. | |
Caring for the Community at CARITAS | |
Pictured: The First Lady with CARITAS leadership. | |
The First Lady visited CARITAS in Richmond to learn more about its mission of providing a safe place to those seeking shelter and to help people recover and heal from addiction. CARITAS is actively working to expand, and has created a CARITAS Works workforce development program, a furniture bank, Recovery Residences, as well as Emergency Shelters. Visit the organization's website to learn more and get involved! | |
Pictured: The First Lady alongside Secretary Aimee Guidera, Superintendent Lisa Coons, and Governor Youngkin. | Virginia Department of Education Gearing Up! | |
The Governor and First Lady visited Virginia's Department of Education with Secretary Aimee Guidera and Superintendent Lisa Coons, as students prepare for the upcoming school year.
Their discussions highlighted the importance of attendance in school from pre-K through 12th grade. Chronic Absenteeism, which is defined as missing 10%, approximately 18 days, or more of the school year is a huge concern in our schools. It is proven to be a better predictor of drop out than test scores, and it correlates with lower academic achievement.
The Virginia Department of Education has created the Parent Engagement Office to help parents stay more involved in their child's education. Click here to find the VDOE Parent Resources and find new ways to support your student's success.
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Pictured: Virginia Superintendent Lisa Coons |
Lisa Coons
Virginia Superintendent
| Governor Youngkin appointed Lisa Coons to be Virginia's 27th Superintendent of Public Instruction in March 2023. Coons comes from a family of educators and has personally served as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent in Tennessee and Ohio. While in Tennessee she held the title of Chief Academic Officer for the Tennessee Department of Education where she led all academic programming from birth to 12th grade. To see more Spotlights, please visit the website. | |
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
Last year there were 6,910 alcohol related crashes that resulted in 274 fatalities; an 11% increase compared to 2021. On August 28, Virginia launched its 2023 Dive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign to emphasize the necessity of police enforcement of DUIs and to further educate the public around the dangers of driving while impaired. If you are old enough to drink, Act Like It! Please plan ahead and get a safe ride home.
Visit the Washington Regional Alcohol Project (WRAP) website to learn more and watch the newest Act Like It campaign ad here!
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Pictured: The Governor and First Lady at the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign event. | |
Celebration of Virginia Arts at Wolf Trap | |
In a first, First Lady and Governor Youngkin hosted a "Celebration of Virginia Arts" at Vienna’s Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Featuring the Richmond Ballet and Richmond Symphony performing Carmina Burana, the evening brought together grantees and supporters of Virignia’s Commission for the Arts (VCA) and guests from across the Commonwealth. On behalf of the Richmond Ballet, Governor Youngkin and the First Lady were honored to present Carmen de Lavillade, a ballerina from the original production of Carmina Burana in 1959, with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Further, the VCA unveiled the new Arts license plate that will be available for purchase from the DMV later this fall. All proceeds will go towards the Virginia arts. | Pictured: The First Lady and Governor Youngkin alongside Wolf Trap CEO Arvind Manocha, Carmen de Lavillade, and Stoner Winslett, Ma Cong, and Brett Bonda from the Richmond Ballet. | |
Pictured: The Governor and First Lady are joined by Dr. Dena Jennings and Margaret Hancock from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and Secretary Aimee Guidera at Wolf Trap. | Pictured: The First Lady and Governor Youngkin present Carmen de Lavillade with the Lifetime Achievement Award. | |
Workforce Opportunity Grants | Governor Youngkin recently announced that nearly $2.3 million in workforce development opportunity grants were awarded to 22 projects throughout Virginia. These grant recipients will focus program efforts on boosting outreach and education for youth, providing technical and soft skill training, and increasing work-based learning opportunities. For questions regarding current and future workforce development grant opportunities, email the Secretary of Labor's office. | |
Carrie Roth
Commissioner for the Virginia Employment Commission
Carrie Roth was appointed to be the Commissioner of the VEC by Governor Youngkin in January 2022. She has an extensive career in public service, having worked in Governor Allen and Governor McDonnell's administrations and she was also appointed to serve on the Virginia Board of Workforce Development under Governor Northam's administration. Visit the website to learn more about Carrie Roth and the other Sisterhood Spotlights!
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The DMV Road to Greatness | On a visit to the Richmond DMV, the First Lady and the Governor got to reflect on the organization’s improvements, including shortening wait times, driving cost efficiencies, and new technological improvements. They also strategized on how the agency could advance the administration's efforts to prevent human trafficking along Virginia’s highways, and addressing the opioid crisis by equipping service centers with Narcan and providing emergency-response training. Visit the new and improved DMV website, designed to enhance the customer experience, if you would like to learn more! | |
Pictured: The First Lady with DMV leadership and the DMV Commissioner, Gerald Lackey.
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Toasting Virginia Craft Beer Month! | |
At the close of Virginia's Craft Beer month, the Governor and First Lady hosted a reception celebrating the Commonwealth's talented brewers and the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild. The Commonwealth is home to 344 licensed craft breweries with more on the rise every day! Visit the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild website to see the winners of the 2023 Virginia Craft Beer Cup! | |
Pictured: The First Lady poses with Secretary Lohr, Brett Vassey, the President and CEO of the Craft Brewers Guild, and Governor Glenn Youngkin. | |
Pictured: The First Lady alongside the Petersburg Women's Club and staff from Blandford Academy. | Pictured: The First Lady with the Petersburg Women's Club. | |
First Lady Focus on the Partnership for Petersburg
BLANDFORD ACADEMY
The First Lady had the distinct privilege of visiting with Blandford Academy staff and teachers over lunch to thank them for their commitment to educating Virginia's youth. With help from the Petersburg Women's Club, and the generous donations from the staff at the Patrick Henry Building, the First Lady delivered school supplies that would help the teachers prepare for the incoming 6th grade class. The visit concluded with a meeting between the First Lady and the Petersburg Women's Club, where they brainstormed new initiatives and opportunities that could be created for these students.
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Pictured: The First Lady with the Secretariat Stakes winner, Gigante. | Gigante, a Virginia bred Colt, won the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes on the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat's Triple-Crown victory! Despite being slated as the underdog with 22:1 odds against him, Gigante galloped from last to first with a miraculous show of strength and power. This was also the first time that the Secretariat Stakes have been hosted in it's namesakes home state- a memorable win for the Virginia history books! | |
Pictured: "Forgotten Fentanyl Victims of Virginia" by Virginia artist, Debbie Jo Evans. | |
August 21st was National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. The Governor and First Lady wanted to draw additional attention to this heartbreaking epidemic by sharing a piece created by Virginia artist, Debbie Jo Evans, who lost her son, Jamie Evans, to fentanyl poisoning in 2020. For more information on fentanyl and the opioid epidemic, please visit the Department of Health's website.
Debbie Jo Evans' piece will be joining dozens of other Virginia artists or Virginia-focused artwork in the Executive Mansion for the rollout of the Art Experience 2.0- coming soon in Richmond!
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