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Civic Dialogues & Education
A blog highlighting insightful perspectives and education on political, social, and community issues. These views do not necessarily reflect those of DWCNV leadership or the membership.


The League of Women Voters Fairfax Area
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
Aug 21 min read


Join the NOVA Network
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.
Aug 21 min read


Virginia Democrats Freedom Summer VA 2.0
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.
Aug 21 min read


Help Fairfax County Democratic Committee Protect the Vote During the 2026 CD-8 Primary Election!
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
Aug 21 min read


August 4th Primary Elections Become Focus for Trump Intimidation Tactics
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
Aug 21 min read


It’s Not Too Early to Talk up the Ballot Issues for November!
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:
Aug 21 min read


Laughter, Tears, and Justice: The Power of SUFFS
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
Jun 213 min read


The Data Center Boom: Why Your Local Supervisor Needs to Hear from You Now
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
Jun 211 min read


Warrantless Wheels: The Dark Side of Virginia's New License Plate Tracking
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
Jun 212 min read


Make Your Voice Count: Things to Consider Before Voting in the Upcoming Primary
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
Jun 213 min read


Virginia's Redistricting Map Denied by U.S. Supreme Court
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
May 222 min read


Caroline Gergel's presentation 4/18/2026 including link to fun Make Good Water Choices video (slide 19)
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
Apr 281 min read


Who are the true April Fools? Trump and his Crooked Cabinet or his Faked-out Followers?
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
Apr 252 min read


Not all the News is Depressing
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/
Apr 191 min read


How You Can Help Stop Invasive Plants in Fairfax County
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
Apr 181 min read


Environmental Impacts in Our Region: Data Centers and More
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
Apr 181 min read


Protecting Our Environment: Understanding the Impact of Regional Data Center Growth
Below is a link to the presentation by Julie Bolthouse, AICP, Director of Land Use at the Piedmont Environmental Council. If you were unable to attend, we invite you to review the presentation for an overview of these important issues. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HVnpwNJSLrJhrDagt3S9Z1R_jjbqUEtpVWjjQ4kBcks/edit?usp=drivesdk
Apr 181 min read


From the Senate to the Cinema: Real Talk on the AI Threat
I just received a nice update from Senator Warner on his efforts around AI, where he said the following: “ We’ve seen the warning signs – big companies are announcing massive layoffs, citing increases in productivity due to AI… and it’s not just the layoffs, I fear. I’m also worried that more and more employers will quietly fail to post new jobs in the first place, pulling the rug out from young adults struggling to find their first job. And it’s not just white-collar work or
Apr 82 min read


Civics Working Group
On April 9th in Lorton, VA, Indivisible Turning the Tables is launching a working group focused on: Civics 101 – making civic education more accessible Just the Facts – providing clear, factual resources to counter misinformation Adopt a Bill – helping people understand and engage with the legislative process Our goal is to build a community-driven effort that helps move people from feeling overwhelmed to becoming informed and actively engaged. Sign UP Here
Apr 81 min read


Earth Day 2026: Protecting Our Local Environment with the DWCNV
Please join the DWCNV on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Pohick Regional Library from 3:30 - 5:30 pm in Meeting Room 1. In the spirit of Earth Day, our discussions this month will focus on environmental issues. Guest speakers will include Margaret Fisher, winner of Fairfax’s 2025 Individual Resident Environmental Excellence Award, Dr. Robert Kitchen, retired physician turned environmental advocate, and Julie Bolthouse, co-chair of the Data Center Reform Coalition and me
Apr 11 min read
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