Advocacy Days

The 405th Virginia General Assembly session will meet between January 10 and March 9, 2024. Advocates, community leaders, and passionate citizens are making their case virtually with legislators this year. You can help support a cause or policy by joining one of these organizations on their advocacy days. This below list includes all known advocacy opportunities during the upcoming Virginia General Assembly as of January 5, 2024. If you know of other advocacy opportunities to add to our list, please contact Sasha Hollister at shollist@richmond.edu.

Students may apply to the CCE's Student Engagement Fund for support in covering registration costs related to an advocacy opportunity. Learn more here.

New Virginia Majority; General Assembly Updates & Opportunities for Action
January 10-March 9
“Sign up to be emailed updates on New Virginia Majority’s legislative priorities and ways to get involved during the 2024 General Assembly session! We will be sending out periodic updates on legislation that we are following and ways to take immediate action over the course of the legislative session.”
Learn more here.

Virginia Interfaith Power and Light; Weekly Policy Briefings
Mondays, January 15-March 4 at 6 p.m.
“VIPL's Policy Director, Benjamin Hoyne, will provide weekly briefings every Monday at 6 p.m. These briefings will empower each of us to effectively engage with legislators around key policy issues.”
Learn more here. 

Repro Rising; 2024 Legislative Rapid Response Team
“We’re building political power and working to ensure every Virginian can make the personal reproductive decisions that are best for themselves and their family, without stigma or political interference. This includes preventing unintended pregnancy, having healthy pregnancies and births, and choosing safe, legal abortion. We distill all the complex, often-confusing political happenings during Virginia’s General Assembly Session into short, digestible action alerts straight to your inbox.”
Learn more here.

Justice Forward Virginia; Justice Reform Lobby Day
Thursday, January 11
“We’ll be advocating to repeal felony assault on law enforcement, to treat substance use as a public health issue and not a criminal legal one, to put guardrails on mass surveillance technology, to eliminate plea bargain waivers for Fourth Amendment rights, to increase compensation for court appointment counsel, to protect and expand the progress made to reform Virginia’s criminal legal system since 2020, and much more.”
Learn more here. 

The Virginia Center for Public Safety; Virginia Vigil & Advocacy Day to Prevent Gun Violence
Monday, January 15
Join us “as we honor the memory and teachings of a great vicil rights leader who was killed by gun fire. We will also honor the lives of all Virginians killed by gun violence and invite you to commit to reducing gun violence by raising your voice for responsible gun laws.”
Learn more here.

Virginia Citizens Defense League; Lobby Day
Monday, January 15
“VCDL is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental human right of all Virginians to keep and bear arms.”
Learn more here.

ACLU Virginia; Second Look Advocacy Day
Tuesday, January 16
“Other states have Second Look laws that let judges take a second look at people they've given long sentences to. It's time to change that. Many of those people have done hard work to transform themselves, but they're stuck behind bars for years - or even decades - on taxpayers' tabs."
Learn more here.

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy; Day for All People
Wednesday, January 17
“We will be back in-person for inspirational presentations, informative workshops, and effective advocacy. If you are unable to attend in-person, there will be a virtual option to participate in the plenary sessions. All are invited to join with other motivated Virginians to make your voices heard on economic, racial, and social justice issues."
Learn more here.

 Virginia Interfaith Power & Light; Day for All People
Wednesday, January 17
“Join us for an opportunity to meet with your State Senator and State Delegate, receive training on legislative visits, and more"!”
Learn more here.
 
The Arc Virginia; 2024 DD Rally and Advocacy Days
January 17 (rally), January 23, 24, and 30; and February 1, 6, 8, 13, and 15
“The Arc of Virginia is made up of, and led by, people with developmental disabilities, their families and allies. It is time to advocate for a robust agenda that seeks to build a better Virginia’s System into a more effective and efficient system by building provider capacity, funding Priority 1 DD Waivers, ensuring that regulations protect Legally Responsible Adults, and by building long-term sustainability into our system.”
Learn more here.
 
Sierra Club Virginia Community Lobby Day
Thursday, January 18
“Join us on January 18th to learn the tricks and tips of direct lobbying and put them into practice by lobbying on Sierra Club’s Priority Bills. RSVP by Monday, January 8th to hold your spot!”
Learn more here.

Virginia NORML; 2024 Virginia Cannabis Conference
January 19-22
“By day, attendees will hear from national experts, state legislators, and local industry leaders. At night, mix and mingle with attendees at exclusive after-hours events…Together, we are building a viable and strategic roadmap to fair, just, and evidence-based cannabis regulation in Virginia.”
Learn more here.
 
NAMI Virginia, Mental Health America of Virginia, Vocal Virginia and Voices for Virginia’s Children; Mental Health Advocacy Days
Monday, January 22
“Address legislators with fellow mental health advocates to ensure our state budget and policies support mental health. This year, we will have an in-person event and virtual event taking place on the same day.”
Learn more here.
 
Virginia Democracy Day; Rally for Democracy
Tuesday, January 23
“Virginia’s government needs an update. Join us on January 23 in Richmond, Virginia to support legislation that make our government more responsive to and reflective of everyday Virginians.”
Learn more here.
 
Voices for Virginia’s Children & ChildSaversRVA; Healing for the Healers
Tuesday, January 23
Join us for “an advocacy day to uplift youth mental health and healers who support them. Join us for a two-day event that includes advocacy training (hybrid options available) on day 1 and an in-person advocacy day during the General Assembly on day 2.”
Learn more here.

Families Forward; Advocacy Days
Wednesday, January 23 & Tuesday, January 30
“Virginia’s home visiting programs are at risk of losing funding because of the decline in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families balance over the next two fiscal years.” Join us to visit your “Delegates and State Senators and share the dire need that our systems better serve all parents and kids.”
Learn more here.
 
MENTOR Capitol Hill Day
Wednesday, January 24 in Washington, D.C.
“Advocates participating in Capitol Hill Day travel to DC a day early to attend an in-person training and meeting and networking with peers from across the country. This year, advocates will hear from young people, elected leaders and a panel of Congressional staff about the impact they can have.”
Learn more here.
 
Birth in Color Legislative Day of Action
Wednesday, January 24
“The annual Birth in Color Legislative Day of Action is a day for our community members (doulas, supporters, RJ advocates, and more) to visit with legislators and express why we, the civilians they represent, want to see certain policies or changes happen in our state.”
Learn more here.
 
ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation; Virginia Childhood Cancer Advocacy Day
Wednesday, January 24
“Last year, your advocacy helped secure dedicated state funding for childhood cancer patients and survivors in Virginia for the first time EVER. We need your help again on January 24th to continue this work, share your stories with legislators and thank them for ensuring this vital funding…”
Learn more here.
 
Virginia Conservation Network; Water Lobby Day & Conservation Lobby Day
January 30 & 31
This is “your chance to lobby with fellow advocates in your district for environmental action that matters most to you…We encourage you to register for both days, but if you’re passionate about Clean Water & Flood Resilience, you don’t want to miss Water Lobby Day on January 30th.”
Learn more here.
 
Autism Society of Central Virginia; Autism Advocacy Day
Tuesday, January 30
“All are invited to join us for this invaluable opportunity to visit our legislators and advocate for enhances services and supports for autistic individuals across Virginia!”
Learn more here.
 
Children’s Home Society of Virginia; Foster Care Advocacy Days
Wednesday, January 31
We “lead groups of advocates, families, and youth through the General Assembly to meet with legislators and lift the voices of those with foster care experience."“
Learn more here.
 
Equality Virginia; 2024 Lobby Days
January 15 (full), January 29, February 12, February 26, & March 4
“At our Lobby Days, you can expect to receive an in-depth look at the legislative process in Virginia, information about the proposed bills affecting queer and trans Virginians during the 2024 legislative session, and training on key talking points to help guide your conversation with your legislators.”
Learn more here.
 
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance; Day of Action
Thursday, February 1
“Each winter, advocates, survivors, and activists from around the state gather in Richmond, VA to speak up for survivor rights and policies that support healthy and thriving relationships and communities…We encourage you to join us in person or advocate by email, phone, and social media as we inform legislators about the issues that matter most to survivors and advocates statewide!”
Learn more here.
 
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy; Student Day of Action
Friday, February 9
“Join us for our annual gathering at the state capitol for students and young professionals - a STUDENT DAY OF ACTION! Early morning appointments with legislators and their staff will kick off our day. You will have an opportunity to advocate on important politics affecting thousands of Virginians. Afterwards, we will gather to debrief, sharing and analyzing what we heard from our current elected ofificals. After lunch, we’ll hold workshops on key issues facing the commonwealth in the coming year.”
Learn more here.
 
Fund Our Schools Coalition Lobby Day
Monday, February 19
“Coalition members are invited to join us for a lobby day! We’ll be visiting our elected officials to urge them to fight for public school funding.”
Learn more here.

Virginia Housing Alliance; Housing Advocacy Day
Tuesday, February 20
“Be a part of the movement to expand housing opportunities and end homelessness across Virginia. Your voice holds immense power in ensuring that every resident has a safe and affordable place to call home.”
Learn more here.
 
Virginia Pro-Life Day
Wednesday, February 21
“Boldly stand for life in post-Roe America. Meet lawmakers in the morning; March for Life in the afternoon.”
Learn more here.

Tools for Organizing

Legislative Advocacy Guide
Developed by: Voices for Virginia's Children

Justice Advocacy Training Recording
Developed by: Voices for Virginia's Children

Tools for Advocates
Developed by: Voices for Virginia's Children

Resources About Virginia Government

Virginia's Legislative Information System
Includes status of individual bills and resolutions, member sponsored legislation, legislation referred to committee, state budget, daily floor calendars and more.

Virginia General Assembly
Website for the Virginia General Assembly. Includes meeting schedules, list of newly elected House Members, House and Senate Member listing, House and Senate committees, Session Calendar, information on the Virginia Legislature, and more. 

Virginia Public Access Project
VPAP connect Virginias to nonpartisan information about Virginia politics in easily understood ways. 

Richmond Sunlight
Richmond Sunlight has been tracking Virginia's General Assembly since 2007.

Who's My Legislator
Tool to find your Virginia legislators.