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Civic Dialogues & Education
A blog highlighting insightful perspectives and education on political, social, and community issues.


Loudoun County School Board
The Loudoun County School Board welcomes comments from Loudoun County residents and believes that strong community engagement and outreach are important components of a successful school system. For information about registering to speak at a School Board or a School Board committee meeting, please visit the Citizen Participation webpage on www.lcps.org . School Board meeting dates and times are subject to change or modification. Notice of any changes will be provided in ac
Dec 8, 20251 min read


Loudon County Board of Supervisors
Business Meetings: First and third Tuesday of the month, 4:00 p.m. Public Hearing: Wednesday of the week following the first business meeting of the month, 6:00 p.m. Dates and times of Board of Supervisors meetings, including those of the Board’s Standing Committees , are posted on the Loudoun County Government Master Calendar . In general, board meetings, public hearings, board committee meetings and workshops are open to the public. However, the Board sometimes schedules ex
Dec 8, 20251 min read


Prince William School Board Meetings
Regular School Board meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month during the school year. Meetings are open to the public and begin at 7 p.m. at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center, 14715 Bristow Rd., Manassas, VA 20112. Board members and staff have dinner at 5 p.m. and hold a closed session at 6 p.m. before the public meeting. There is Citizen Comment Period during regular Board meetings. School Board agendas are available online in advance of meeting
Dec 8, 20251 min read


Prince William Board of Supervisors
The Board of County Supervisors usually meet at 2 p.m. on the first, second and third Tuesdays of each month, with meetings also at 7:00 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays Please check the Board's Meeting Schedule for the official calendar. Search archived meeting files here Visit SpeakUp! Prince William to comment on agenda items for upcoming Board Meetings. Board of County Supervisors Meeting - Work Session December 09, 2025 - 02:00 pm Agenda Agenda Packet Board of C
Dec 8, 20251 min read


Fairfax County School Board Meetings
How to Watch School Board Meetings Meetings can be viewed live: FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11), FCPS YouTube Channel , and FCPS website Recordings of School Board meetings and work sessions can be viewed: FCPS YouTube channel (English), and FCPS en Español YouTube channel (dubbed in Spanish) If you need language interpretation or American Sign Language support for any School Board meeting, please contact the Board clerk . The Board usually holds regular bu
Dec 8, 20251 min read


Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Meetings
All Board of Supervisors meetings and all committee meetings which take place in the Board Auditorium and Conference Room 11 are available to view live on Channel 16 and stream live online . Following the meeting, you may view Board of Supervisors meetings and view Board Committee meetings on demand. View the Public Meetings Calendar for a listing of all upcoming public meetings View the 2026 DRAFT Board & Committee Meetings Schedule to see the list of proposed meetings V
Dec 8, 20251 min read


The Fly-In Episode 24: Rep. James Walkinshaw
From James Walkinshaw, repwalkinshawpress@mail.house.gov : I joined Representatives Greg Landsman (OH-01) and Marc Veasey (TX-33) on the New Democrats Podcast, The Fly-In, for a thoughtful conversation about the work happening in Congress and the issues that matter to families in Fairfax. We talked about my role on the House Oversight Committee, where I focus on transparency and accountability in federal agencies, and I also shared how my service on the Homeland Security Comm
Dec 8, 20251 min read


Tim Kaine says he'll reintroduce war powers resolutions after report of attack on drug boat survivors
Tim Kaine says he’ll reintroduce war powers resolutions over the actions towards Venezuela. Read more here.
Dec 8, 20251 min read


American Conversations: Senator Mark Warner
Senator Mark Warner recently sat down with Heather Cox Richardson for a conversation on her YouTube channel, American Conversations. Here is a link to watch.
Dec 8, 20251 min read


Congratulations to Margaret E. Fisher, recipient of a 2025 Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Award
These Awards are presented annually to recognize county residents, county employees, businesses and organizations who have dedicated their time and expertise to preserving the health and beauty of Fairfax County’s natural resources. The Environmental Quality Advisory Council administers the Awards, with support from the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC). A committee of the council selects awardees from a pool of nominations. Margaret was recognized this
Nov 28, 20252 min read


Greeting from DWCNV
As we moved through this election season, we may have been inspired by the power we hold—not just as voters, but as women who lead, organize, and uplift one another. Every door knocked, every conversation started, every new voter registered, and every neighbor supported brings us closer to the future we are building together. Our voices matter. They grow stronger when we stand united. Whether you are volunteering at a polling place, making calls, encouraging neighbors to vote
Nov 28, 20251 min read


Springfield Cardies Convince Voters to Catch the Blue Wave
The Springfield “Cardies” wrote and mailed just under 14,000 postcards this election cycle, an amazing number for an off-year election! Organized by two DWCNV members, the group wrote for the entire Democratic slate, helping to elect Abigail Spanberger, the first woman governor in Virginia; making Ghazala Hashmi the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office and assisting Jay Jones win his seat as the first Black to serve as Attorney General in the Commonwealth. AND the
Nov 28, 20251 min read


When Stories Speak Louder Than Statistics
On Saturday, DWCNV friends participated in the 7th Annual City of Falls Church Fall Festival, where our Gun Violence Prevention booth drew steady attention . We distributed 19 free trigger locks, generously provided by the Falls Church City Sheriff’s Office and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. We also helped send more than 500 postcards urging sensible gun legislation to Senators Kaine and Warner, Congressman Beyer, Governor Youngkin, and Congressman Walkinshaw. But s
Nov 28, 20252 min read


Strength in Sisterhood: It’s Not A Luxury, It’s a Lifeline.
Why Women Need Women For Resilience, Sanity & Survival In times of uncertainty and turmoil—whether personal, professional, or global—one truth remains steady: Women thrive and survive when we stand together. History has shown that when women support one another, our families, our communities, and our societies grow stronger. Yet it’s also true that pressures, competition, context and cultural influences can push us apart. But we all need each other to survive the current time
Nov 28, 20251 min read


What To Do When You’re Experiencing Emotional Vulnerability
Women are hurting right now. It’s an incredibly frightening and overwhelming time to be a woman in our culture. You don’t have to go it alone. If you’re in a storm right now, don’t isolate yourself. Reach out to a safe person. Start small. A voice note. A walk. A message that says, “Can we talk?” You don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need to be strong all the time. Let another safe woman hold space for you, just like you would for her. Remember that you are not
Nov 28, 20251 min read


Why Women Need Each Other in Hard Times
Shared Language of Survival -- Women often carry unseen burdens—emotional labor, caregiving, self-silencing, patriarchal & societal pressures. When women gather, they often don’t even need to explain the weight. Women just know. And that mutual experience can create instant connection and understanding. Emotional Co-Regulation -- Studies show that simply being with someone who is emotionally steady can regulate our nervous systems. When women support one another, they litera
Nov 28, 20251 min read


Why Women’s Support Builds Lifelong Resilience
Resilience isn’t just bouncing back. It’s about adapting, growing stronger, and staying compassionate while doing so. The presence of women supporting other women does three things that build lasting resilience: Shared Understanding -- Women often carry unique gender role challenges—balancing caregiving, career, identity, and personal growth. When we share space with one another, we find validation and understanding that fosters resilience. Amplified Voices -- A single vo
Nov 28, 20251 min read


How We Can Support Each Other Better
Practice Generosity of Spirit -- Share opportunities, resources, networking, referrals, or words of encouragement freely and openly. Don’t gatekeep or isolate yourself in the face of another woman’s good news. Other women’s success doesn’t diminish your own—it’s not pie. There’s plenty to go around. In fact, it ultimately expands what’s possible and spreads out to other female-based community interactions. Women are change-makers. Supporting fellow women strengthens the over
Nov 28, 20252 min read


Reclaiming Our Power as Women All Together
When life turns chaotic—whether from personal loss, global crisis, or quiet internal unraveling—something powerful happens when women come together. Our moments of vulnerability have the potential to bring us closer together. But we only achieve this in support of all women. Not just the women we know who are like us. Just as people all over the world are diverse and varied, so are the women we meet in our day to day lives. We all potentially come from vastly different contex
Nov 28, 20251 min read


Remembering the Fight for the Vote: October Suffragist Memorial Tour
On October 4th, members were invited to another guided tour of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial at the Occoquan Regional Park in Lorton, VA. We had a wonderful time and absolutely perfect weather! Our excellent guide provided lots of insights into the history of the suffrage movement as well as information about the Memorial itself. After the tour, members enjoyed lunch together, overlooking the Occoquan River. Another tour will be offered in the Spring of 2026, so for t
Nov 28, 20251 min read
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