Civic Dialogues & Education

Every election is a chance to shape the future, and sometimes a powerful reminder arrives unexpectedly. This week, the cast of Hamilton released a special video, "2026: Time for the Midterms," in partnership with When We All Vote and in recognition of National Voter Registration Day. The message is simple but important: our voices matter, and voting is one of the most meaningful ways we can make them heard. At DWCNV, we believe civic engagement begins long before Election Day

Perhaps now is the time for history to, if not repeat itself, begin to rhyme. Rise Up! The History of Labor Day: New unions proliferated and established unions expanded in a wave of activism during the early 1880s as the U.S. arose from the economic depression of 1873. While workers turned to unions to improve working conditions and challenge the growing power of capitalists, independent labor parties also grew across the political landscape. Two workers’ holidays, Labor Day

Every once in a while, you read something that stops you in your tracks. This CBS News feature did that for me. In a world where many of us take education, opportunity, and the freedom to dream for granted, 21 Afghan girls shared handwritten letters that reveal what life looks like when even the most basic aspirations are denied. These young women are continuing to study in secret, defying Taliban restrictions that have effectively erased educational opportunities for countle

I beg your indulgence, please, on this Labor Day. I want to share some thoughts on Hubris and Invincibility. In the last few weeks, I have learned a lot about what Rudyard Kipling (in the spirit of his famous “If” poem) would likely have called these two “imposters”. In early August, I was deeply honored by the Litigation Counsel of America, of which I am a member, with the “Order of Centurions” for LCA lawyers with 100 jury trials. The LCA itself represents the top 0.5 perce

The League of Women Voters Fairfax Area website has current information about the upcoming elections, a district look-up tool, absentee ballot information, and more. A big part of what LWV does is voter registration. They also offer training videos on registering voters. Why not add an extra skill to your repertoire so you're ready to go should the need arise? League of Women Voters Fairfax Area LWV Voter Registration Training

Network NOVA connects people across Virginia to promote democratic values of equality, justice, and human rights through civic engagement, leadership development, coalition building, and grassroots organizing. Join Network NOVA's weekly live program featuring conversations on politics, elections, culture, public policy, and the grassroots leaders making change across Virginia. Learn more here.

Virginia Democrats are launching Freedom Summer VA 2.0, a statewide effort to educate, register, and mobilize voters, particularly in congressional districts 1, 2, 5, and 6, including a substantial effort to register voters for this year's midterms and the presidential election in 2028. Interested in helping with this effort? The Virginia Department of Elections is offering one-hour classes to become a certified voter registration volunteer. Learn more here.

Sign up here https://www.signupgenius.Protect the Vote CD8 Primary to act as an inside poll observer (Authorized Representative under Virginia Law) on the August 4th CD-8 Primary Election Day. For experienced poll observers, there is also an option to sign up as a "Rover," which would require you to go to different precincts based on some need or just to ensure that things are proceeding smoothly. There are five Rover slots. Legal experience is preferred but not required to

The U.S. Department of Justice has submitted a request to monitor Fairfax and Prince William polls during the August 4 Primary. Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) views this as part of a multi-state Trump/DOJ effort to intimidate Democrats and Democratic voters. "Virginia is fortunate to have elected strong Democratic leadership, and the same is true for Fairfax County and for the team we work with in FCDC. Along with Precinct Ops and our statewide campaign leaders, t

Vote YES on all three constitutional amendments Marriage equality Reproductive freedom Restoration of voting rights Learn about the three constitutional amendments that will be on the ballot this November:

The musical, which tells the story of the women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote in the United States, is at once hilarious, heartbreaking, inspiring, and remarkably timely. It captures the personalities, rivalries, friendships, disappointments, and triumphs of women who refused to accept that equality would come on someone else's timetable. And somehow, despite telling a story more than a century old, it feels written for today. What struck me most was how univers

If you are concerned about the proliferation of data centers in Northern Virginia, share your opinion with your Board of Supervisors member now. Contact Fairfax County Board of Supervisors: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/contact/AgencyDetail.aspx?agId=500&abv=BOS Contact Loudoun County Board of Supervisors: https://www.loudoun.gov/Directory.aspx?did=4 Contact Prince William County Board of Supervisors: https://www.pwcva.gov/department/board-county-supervisors/contact-us

In 2023, the Fairfax County Police Department began using Flock Safety License Plate Readers. Unlike normal traffic cameras, automated license plate readers (ALPRs) continually monitor all traffic to uniquely profile every passing vehicle and create an easily searchable history of its movements without a warrant. Flock gained national attention for its collection of over 80,000 cameras being used to: Assist ICE’s immigration crackdown. Stalk police officers’ ex-romantic part

Review your Representative’s or Senator’s voting records on civil rights issues using this link: civilrights.org/voting-record/. Open the link, click on the 2023-2024 Congressional record, and scroll to page 25 of the document to review each individual’s voting record ranking. Use this link to review the National Environmental Scorecard at congressional-scorecard/members-of-congress/ for House and Senate members Check here if you would like data on which GOP members have kowt

Although Virginia voted YES! on the redistricting referendum, the courts interceded, so the vote has not been certified. In April, a Tazewell County judge blocked certification of the “YES” vote. The Virginia Supreme Court heard the appeal and, in a 4-3 split, ruled that the legislative process leading to the redistricting vote was procedurally flawed. On Friday, May 15th. The Supreme Court ruled that the new, popularly accepted redistricted maps cannot be used.” Setting asi

Use the link below to view Caroline Gergel's presentation from the April 18, 2026, DWCNV meeting on environmental issues. In particular, you may wish to open and watch the short video on making good water choices that is linked in slide #19. (Sometimes an ad pops up at the start of the water usage video. If one does, please ignore and then select "skip" to skip the ad. DWCNV does not support any product that may show to preface the water usage video. We do, however, endorse l

The question before us now is this: who is the bigger fool, the fool himself or someone who knowingly follows him? Perhaps Trump has pulled the wool over the eyes of his Cabinet and his MAGA followers, or perhaps the MAGA members are joyfully joining in on the deceptions deployed by the Jester-in-Chief as he tramples legal tradition, leaps into war on a whim, and discards democracy, all the while dancing in deceit, restructuring his realm just to retain power, draining his do

While staying informed about the troubling developments under the current administration is important, if you’re in the mood for something more uplifting, a member suggested taking a look at Good Good Good News at https://www.goodgoodgood.co/

Below is a link to Margaret Fisher's presentation. Please consider contacting PRISM (see last slide) to get more information on how to fight invasives and/or to volunteer to help clear invasive plants from Fairfax County. If you would like to start a PRISM program in your county, the Fairfax PRISM group could likely help direct your efforts. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1v7mcGoGzELz1TZVnO1S4054GwtTK3HSb/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108527162634774447456&rtpof=true&sd=true

If you missed the April meeting, you could review Dr. Kitchen’s presentation at the link below. If you attended and would like to revisit the material, it’s included here as well. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MbeWL0zUXyxUGffZFVFXXB6jp4Mqpgp2/edit?slide=id.p1#slide=id.p1