Women+girls (W+g)
Encouraging Women+girls to Strengthen the Spirit of Virginiae
| |
Uplifting Women+girls across the Commonwealth | |
Pictured: The First Lady speaking at her W+g Sisterhood gathering in Virginia Beach | |
|
On her tour of the Commonwealth, the First Lady was joined at her Virginia Beach, Roanoke, and Richmond Women+girls (W+g) Sisterhood gatherings by friends from the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) and Serve Virginia (ServeVA) to discuss how W+g can flourish through well-being and the workforce.
Coming alongside local nonprofits, the First Lady encouraged volunteerism with local nonprofits to increase childhood literacy and wellbeing – featured partners include Communities in Schools (CIS) Petersburg, Richmond’s Kiwanis Club and Carver Elementary School, The West End Center in Roanoke, and the Life Enrichment Center (LEC) in Hampton Roads and Northern VA.
Hundreds of Women+girls from across the Commonwealth gathered for these nights of fellowship and professional networking together. Because of the distinct and important impact of women, the Spirit of Virginia is growing stronger and more connected.
Interested in attending? Email FirstLady@governor.virginia.gov
| |
Pictured: The First Lady with speakers at her W+g Sisterhood gathering in Richmond | Pictured: The First Lady speaking with guests at her W+g Sisterhood gathering in Roanoke | |
Visiting Equi-kids Therapeutic Riding Program | |
Pictured: First Lady with an Equi-kids therapeutic horse | |
Pictured: First Lady with Equi-kids staff | |
The First Lady recently stopped by Equi-kids to learn more about how the therapeutic riding center is giving back to the Tidewater community. Equi-kids works hard to connect children and adults with special abilities, military service members and first responders to the life-giving impacts of equine-assisted therapeutic services. Learn more about how Equi-kids is "changing lives one stride at a time" at www.equikids.org | |
Greeting the Dairy Princess and Her Court | |
Pictured: The First Lady with Ayla Janney and her court of Dairy Maids | |
This month the First Lady was visited by 2024 Dairy Princess, Ayla Janney, and her court of Dairy Maids, as well as members of the Virginia Dairymen's Association in honor of Virginia's Dairy Month. Joined by Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry, Matt Lohr, the First Lady led the group in a ‘toast to milk’ while discussing the impact that the dairy industry has on Virginia’s economy – some 168 million gallons of milk products produced and sold each year. Here’s to the newly crowned Dairy Princess, dairy maids and all of the Women+girls who support the Commonwealth's dairy industry. | |
Pictured: The First Lady with a young Virginian | |
Addressing the Scourge of Fentanyl in Virginia | |
Pictured: The First Lady on stage with Attorney General Miyares, DEA Special Agent Shane Todd, Lt. Colonel Chris Sawyer and Jen Breaux | |
Pictured: The First Lady with Attorney General Miyares, Pastor Whitlow, DEA Special Agent Shane Todd, Lt. Colonel Chris Sawyer | |
|
The First Lady joined Attorney General Miyares, DEA Special Agent Shane Todd, Lt. Colonel Chris Sawyer of the Loudoun County Sherriff's Office and Jen Breaux, a mother who lost her son to fentanyl, to discuss the ongoing danger of the illicit drug and what actions community members can take to curb the crisis.
The First Lady has come alongside Attorney General Miyares' One Pill Can Kill campaign with the It Only Takes One fentanyl awareness program to provide resources to Virginians struggling with substance use disorder and to shed light on the severity of the fentanyl epidemic. Learn more at itonlytakesoneva.com and onepillcankillva.org
| |
|
‘It Only Takes One’ Fentanyl Awareness Pilot Program going Statewide After Success in Roanoke
The First Lady was joined by Attorney General Miyares, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth and stakeholders from the Roanoke community to present the success of their grassroot efforts to further fentanyl awareness messaging. Presenters included Roanoke City Public Schools, the Partnership for Community Wellness, the Health Department, Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition and the Roanoke City Sheriff’s and Mayor’s Office.
Together they discussed the impact of the It Only Takes One program and celebrated the success of the ad campaign's initial six-month pilot:
...The campaign's ad content has reached around 240,000 Roanoke adults with a teen or child in their lives. Familiarity with fentanyl increased by 12% among parents who saw ad content, and they reported being 55% more likely to initiate a conversation with their children about the deadly opioid. Over 500 adults signed the It Only Takes One pledge to talk to a teen about fentanyl before summer...
Read the full report, here.
|  | | | |
Honoring Juneteenth at the Black History Museum | |
Pictured: The First Lady and Governor Youngkin with Cabinet members and BHM leadership. | |
Pictured: The First Lady and Governor Youngkin with Lieutenant Governor Sears. | |
The First Lady joined Governor Youngkin on an engaging tour of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia to honor Juneteenth. Alongside Virginia's first Black and female Lieutenant Governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, Chief Diversity Officer Martin Brown, Deputy Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Joyce Reed, and Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera, the First Lady learned more about the profound impact of Black Americans in the Commonwealth. | |
Visiting the Lampstand Safe House in Roanoke | |
Pictured: The First Lady with the Lampstand team | |
On her recent trip to Roanoke, the First Lady visited The Lampstand, a residential safe house for Women+girls in southwest Virginia who have been victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The Lampstand provides holistic, trauma-informed support to victims and survivors through prevention education, wraparound services and residential treatment. Learn more at thelampstandva.org. | |
Celebrating STEAM-H Winners | |
Pictured: The First Lady with STEAM-H winners at the Executive Mansion | |
Pictured: The First Lady with STEAM-H winners at the Executive Mansion | |
|
Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Steam-H Essay Contest! In following their dreams, these remarkable young women are forging a path to a bright future for themselves and the Commonwealth.
The Governor and First Lady welcomed winners and their families to the Executive Mansion for a day of fellowship and celebration.
Learn more about the contest hosted by the Virginia Council on Women at women.virginia.gov.
| |
Pictured: The First Lady with STEAM-H winners at the Executive Mansion | |
An Evening with Miss Virginia's Women+girls | |
Pictured: The First Lady with Miss Virginia pageant contestants | |
|
This month the First Lady had the chance to meet with the Women+girls competing in the 2024 Miss Virginia Pageant and bid a farewell to the 2023-2024 Miss Virginia and Miss Teen Virginia, Katie Rose and Addison Rhudy.
Together they discussed their dreams, passions and motivations while acknowledging the importance of uplifting female voices and talents across the Commonwealth.
To learn more about Miss Virginia visit missvirginia.org
| |
Pictured: The First Lady with Miss Virginia pageant contestants | |
School Art Featured at the Executive Mansion | |
Pictured: The First Lady with a Molly, Virginia and Avery | |
Pictured: The First Lady with a Molly, Virginia and Avery | |
|
Maintaining her focus on uplifting our next generation and particularly the Commonwealth's Women+girls, the First Lady was thrilled to celebrate our youngest learners at work in the Executive Mansion recently.
With a keen eye for detail and decorative excellence, Molly, Virginia and Avery presented their mock "Governor's Mansion" to the First Lady where it remains on display for all visitors to see and enjoy.
| Pictured: The mock Executive Mansion project | |
Bolstering Healthcare Workforce Opportunities in the Commonwealth | |
Pictured: The First Lady with Bon Secours leadership. | |
This month the First Lady was thrilled to speak at the Bon Secours Southside College of Health Sciences (SCHS) Clinical Simulation Lab ribbon cutting. At SCHS, students will have the opportunity to thrive in a medical setting where advanced technology and experiential learning come together. The completion of the SCHS expansion will significantly increase enrollment, thus bolstering the healthcare workforce in the Tri-Cities area. The First Lady applauds the leadership from Bon Secours, Petersburg and Colonial Heights for this tremendous success. | |
Pictured: The First Lady with a Bon Secours learning mannequin | |
Celebrating Behavioral Health Transformation in Virginia | |
Pictured: The First Lady speaking at the Right Help, Right Now Bill signing | |
Pictured: The First Lady with Caroline Ouko at the Right Help, Right Now bill signing | |
This month the First Lady celebrated the Governor's signing of a comprehensive set of bills passed this legislative session to support Virginia’s Right Help, Right Now behavioral health transformation plan. These bipartisan legislative initiatives expand enhancements to the behavioral health workforce and support for individuals in crisis. Read more, here. | |
ICYMI: Va. ranked No. 1 in customized workforce training by Business Facilities | |
|
"The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program has taken the top spot in site selection industry publication Business Facilities’ ranking of states’ customized workforce training for the second year in a row. Business Facilities is a magazine geared toward corporate site selectors and site selection consultants...
The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program is a discretionary incentive program that provides free customizable workforce recruiting and training services for eligible businesses locating or expanding in Virginia. Launched in 2019, the program is a collaboration between the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Community College System. With company input, VCCS develops credential and industry certification programs to create a talent pipeline aimed at meeting future workforce needs after the VEDP program ends."
| |
Richmond Ranked Best Town to Visit | |
|
Richmond, Virginia was ranked No. 1 on CNN's America's Best Towns to Visit 2024 thanks to its rich arts, culinary, and historic experiences.
"This dynamic city on the James River deserves more of the tourist attention enjoyed by the nation’s capital two hours to the north.
Richmond, Virginia — or “RVA,” as locals call it — has top-notch museums and intriguing neighborhoods, and it’s a great spot for dining, drinking and getting outdoors. There’s an impressive arts scene and a nearly year-round lineup of festivals..."
Read the full article, here.
Learn more about the Commonwealth's robust tourism industry at www.virginia.org
| |
Supporting Virginians with Developmental Disabilities | |
Pictured: First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin with two Virginians with a developmental disability | |
Pictured: First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin with a Virginian with a developmental disability | |
|
The First Lady came alongside Governor Youngkin and families across the Commonwealth to celebrate the signing of 18 bipartisan pieces of legislation that support Virginians with developmental disabilities.
The bills passed this session work to improve accessibility for children and adults with special abilities in education, recreation, law enforcement, and transitional services.
Read the full report, here.
| |
Pictured: Governor and First Lady Youngkin with a guest at the Executive Mansion fatherhood reception | |
The First Lady was thrilled to join the Governor and members of the nonprofit, faith, business and government communities in a morning of celebration for fathers throughout the Commonwealth this week. Knowing that fathers play a critical role in every stage of their child's life, the First Lady is committed to supporting each one along the way.
Read the Governor's Fatherhood Week proclamation celebrating and promoting responsible fatherhood, here.
| | | |
Boards and Commissions Openings | |
To explore and apply for opportunities to serve on one of Virginia's Boards or Commissions, please visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website. | |
|
Miss Virginia 2023
As Miss Virginia 2023, Katie Rose has used her role to advocate for domestic violence prevention by empowering women with education and encouraging reform. Katie’s mission to instill the importance self-worth in young girls and equip them with the tools they need to break free from abusive situations has left a lasting impact on Women+girls throughout the Commonwealth.
Learn more about Katie, here.
| |
First Lady Focus on Petersburg
In celebration of the grand opening of Regenesis Market St. Coffee in Petersburg, the First Lady stopped in for a cup of coffee and fellowship on her recent visit to the Tri-Cities region.
Market St. Coffee is "Coffee with a Cause," where proceeds go to help support faith-based addiction recovery homes for men and women, 'Hannah's Home' for mothers with children in need, as well as various community outreach programs. Learn more about the impact Regenesis is having on the Petersburg community, here.
| Pictured: The First Lady with Regenesis leadership at Market St. Cafe. | | | |
|
The First Lady routinely engages with nonprofits serving the needs of Virginians across the Commonwealth. Check out some of the organizations she has connected with recently!
If you are interested in volunteering to serve others, or would like more information on how these nonprofits might be able to provide you with assistance, click on their logos to learn more!
| | |
|
Friends of the Virginia Beach Mounted Police |
|
|
Pictured: The First Lady with officers of the Virginia Beach Mounted Patrol | |
This month the First Lady visited the Virginia Beach Mounted Patrol to thank our men and women in blue and their four-legged partners for maintaining safety in our communities.
Supported by the 501c3, Friends of the Virginia Beach Mounted Police, the patrol unit works to engage youth in educational activities, bring together community members in outreach endeavors and maintains excellent standards of care for the equines in service.
| |
Pictured: Painting of the Natural Brdge by Sallie Aubrey Wse | |
Celebrate Virginia's outdoor recreation industry this June during Great Outdoors Month! With 42 stunning state parks, including Natural Bridge, praised by Thomas Jefferson as "the most sublime of nature’s works," Virginia has a long #homehistory of being for outdoor lovers.
This recently restored, 1887 painting of the 200-foot-tall natural wonder by Sallie Aubrey Wise is available to view through Art Experience at the Executive Mansion. Head to executivemansion.virginia.gov to plan your visit and learn more!
| |
If you haven't signed up to receive this newsletter: CLICK HERE | |
Enjoying Women+girls (W+g)? Share this email with 10 friends! Click below. | | | | |
