Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA

A diverse, welcoming community of open hearts and minds since 1948

VOICE

Information

VOICE, Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement, is a broad-based, non-partisan citizens' power organization of 50 diverse faith congregations. The group organizes people and money around social justice issues such as immigration, affordable housing and healthcare for the benefit of disadvantaged residents in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William and counties as well as the City of Alexandria.

Archives or Add'l Group Website: http://www.voice-iaf.org/
State Northern Virginia
Members: 68
Latest Activity: Jul 29, 2012

"Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement" (VOICE)

VOICE at UUCA

UUCA was instrumental in the founding of VOICE in 2008 and continues to be one of the most active member institutions. UUCA hosts many VOICE activities and UUCA representation at a public action is typically 10% of the total attendance.

Rev. Dr. Linda Olson Peebles is a member of the Executive Committee of the VOICE Strategy Team. Robert Buckman and Jacomina de Regt are also members of the Strategy Team and Robert leads the Arlington Action Team.

Strong UUCA support for VOICE expresses the congregation’s commitment to social justice ministry and for engaging hand-in-hand, heart-to-heart with racial, religious and multi-cultural diversity.

VOICE is funded by dues paid by member institutions (congregations, temples, mosques, union local, business groups, schools, health centers, etc.) and grants from foundations.

For more information on VOICE, visit the organization's website at http://www.voice-iaf.org/ . For a specific question, please contact Jacomina de Regt at jacominaderegt@gmail.com or (703) 525-7358.

Current Issues

Affordable housing is a major issue in Arlington and Alexandria as rising land prices and re-development forces erode the limited stock of low-income housing. This affects not only the service workers who cannot afford to live in Arlington and must commute long distances from outlying counties, but also long-time resident families who want their working children and aging parents to be able to continue to live in their home communities. Environmentalists are concerned over the congestion and greenhouse gases generated by commuter traffic. Business owners must contend with productivity issues without a stable, local base of employees. Thus, the stakeholders for affordable housing include the powerless as well as the powerful, a broad coalition of victims with a common cause.

Other VOICE action issues include: the housing foreclosure crisis in Prince William County, investing in youth in the Fairfax County Route #1 corridor, improvements for seniors in McLean and Falls Church, and low-income dental care.

Learn more of how VOICE is organizing around all of these issues at: http://www.voice-iaf.org/what-we-do

Past Accomplishments

VOICE, with the strong leadership support of UUCA, has accomplished much since its founding acton in 2008. Read and learn the details at: http://www.voice-iaf.org/whatwedo-accomplishments

Put These Dates on Your Calendar

Monday, 1 October 2012: 700-person VOICE Foreclosure & Bank Accountability Action in Prince William County (Senator Warner & Top Bank Executives have confirmed to attend)

Friday, 26 October 2012: Registration deadline to attend VOICE 3-day Training at BWI near Baltimore, Thursday evening November 15 through Saturday noon November 17.

Fall 2012: 600-person Affordable Housing Action in Arlington, date and venue pending

Discussion Forum

Affordable Housing in Arlington, County Board Meeting July 23, 2012

The Arlington County Board Room was full on the evening of July 23 when the Board considered comments and voted to approve development plans for Columbia Pike. Half the room stood in solidarity with VOICE when two VOICE leaders delivered powerful…Continue

Started by David McTaggart Jul 29, 2012.

Affordable housing needs the power of your presence at VOICE action this Saturday, March 24

Are you having difficulty finding affordable housing in Arlington,…Continue

Started by VOICE Mar 18, 2012.

Founder of the IAF 1 Reply

1/27/12 Wash Post, great article about Alinsky's tactics. Coming from Chicago and being of an ancient age, I can remember some of his tactics especially at O'Hare Airport and the airport authority trying to put in pay toilets. Continue

Started by Marcy Leverenz. Last reply by Rev. Linda Olson Peebles Jan 27, 2012.

On the Ramp Up to October 30th 3 Replies

Looks like a huge national movement is in progress to demand that banks make amends for the mortgage and foreclosure crisis.I think that the October 30th VOICE action can be seen in this larger context, and adding to it, to demand that the banks…Continue

Tags: VOICE, housing

Started by jill herndon. Last reply by jill herndon Sep 17, 2011.

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Comment Wall

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Comment by Jacomina de Regt on December 13, 2009 at 3:39pm: And the Virginia Garden Housemeeting is Dec. 15 in the timeslot usually dedicatated to the Parent Connection

Comment by Louise Van Horne on December 13, 2009 at 3:28pm: There will be a VOICE House Meeting for Buckingham documented and undocumented immigrants on Sun., Jan. 3 in the activity room. from 12:30 to 2:00 followed immediately after by a coat giveaway organized by the UUCA Buckingham Committee (2:00-3:00) Your donated men's coats and help will be gratefully appreciated. Light refreshments will be served and interpreters will be provided for the House Meeting.

Questions, contact Louise Van Horne

Comment by jill herndon on September 15, 2009 at 4:02pm: Members will receive messages from the Group when there are additions or group messages are sent out.

Comment by jill herndon on September 15, 2009 at 4:00pm: This Group is set up so anyone can add themselves to the Group. Welcome!

Comment by jill herndon on July 23, 2009 at 5:23pm: I thought so but then I saw others spelling it Kain and changed. Thank you for telling me before I miss-tag a whole photo album!

Comment by Sharon G. Williams on July 22, 2009 at 10:46pm: The Governor's name is spelled "Kaine" not Kain

Comment by jill herndon on July 22, 2009 at 10:06pm: See the bar up above -- the Site-wide Navigation Bar and go to Photos or to Albums. There is an album in the making from the photos. We will be adding notes to the photos. If I can figure how and where to load some short videos, I will tell you where to find them.

Comment by Lavona Grow on July 22, 2009 at 9:22pm: Congratulations to all of the VOICE core team members who worked on the action last night it was great. Bob Denniston's pictures are posted on the site if you want to take a look.
Cheers, Lavona

Comment by Sharon G. Williams on July 9, 2009 at 11:33am: This is a great website - I am so happy it is up and running!!

Comment by jill herndon on July 8, 2009 at 8:41am: Yes -- adding myself here did add me to the group, and sent me an email to my home email to welcome me here.