Last week, I had the opportunity to tour the Richmond Electricians’ Joint Apprenticeship Committee building with members of the environmental advocacy community and labor groups, an outgrowth of my own efforts to bring together labor and the environmental community for regular conversations. These days, there is a lot of talk about “sustainability.” For me, we can only achieve environmental sustainability if those efforts are accompanied by sustainable jobs and sustainable costs. Are we creating well-paying jobs as we transition to green energy? Are we protecting communities that are losing jobs as a result of transitions in our economy, e.g., away from coal and fossil fuels? How do we ensure that workers have a say in their labor conditions? Can we afford the basics like food, electricity, and commuting – and do it while making sure there’s at least a little bit left over to take our family on a vacation? These are critical conversations, and if we don’t get it right, we will neither have good jobs nor a good environment that keeps us healthy and safe. Getting it right is so critical, and whether visiting an apprenticeship center or discussing new approaches to policy, I’m glad to work together with environmental and labor groups to try to push Virginia toward being a leader in what sustainability actually means.
Connecting with the Community
I appreciated joining the Sully Dems to share updates from the district and discuss how we’ll keep fighting for reproductive rights at their meeting this week. Thank you for having me!
In addition, I believe that college should be an option for every Virginian, and this year, we passed legislation that helps make that reality possible for thousands. I was glad to join Sen. Barbara Favola and Del. Kenneth Plum on Inside Scoop to discuss how we can help ensure Virginians can access critical benefits.
On May 5, I, my team, and fellow General Assembly legislators had the chance to tour the Richmond Electricians’ Joint Apprenticeship Committee building. I appreciated learning about RJATC’s apprenticeship program as well as discussing ways that we can build partnerships with environmental advocates. Thank you IBEW Local 666 arranging this visit, and to the RJATC for having us!
Finally, I had the opportunity to visit and speak to Robinson Secondary School’s 8th grade Civics class. Thank you to all the 8th graders who wrote letters to me about the issues important to them and our community!
Internships
Helmer for Virginia is looking to hire and train interns this Summer.
Internship responsibilities include working with the Chief of Staff, Legislative Aide, Communications Director, and Delegate to manage constituent relations, make community check-in calls, draft communications for official and campaign uses, and other duties as they arise.
Qualifications & Requirements:
- Must own a laptop and a cell phone
- Ability with or willingness to learn Excel, NGP, and donor databases
- Ability to take initiative, anticipate issues, and problem-solve
- Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding campaign and official activities
- Ability to work and execute tasks while receiving remote instruction
If you are interested, please reach out to katherine@danhelmer.com with the subject line: First Name/Last Name, Summer 2022 Intern.
Clifton Caboose 5k Twilight Run
On Saturday June 4th at 6 PM, my team will be participating in the 25th Annual Clifton Caboose 5k Twilight Run. Not wanting to run the race? You can also walk the course. We would love to have some Team Helmer support at the race – register here if you are interested. Let us know if you will be joining by responding to this email!
Community Contests
Arts Map 2022 Arts Awards
ArtsFairfax is seeking to commission an artist or artist team to produce a limited-edition arts map of Fairfax County, City of Fairfax, and City of Falls Church that we will present to the honorees at the 2022 Arts Awards.
Description:
The selected artist/team will design a map of Fairfax County that highlights the County’s major arts venues, organizations, and events. The map must include the ArtsFairfax logo, towns in the County as well as the Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, and integrate 3-4 of the most commonly spoken languages in Fairfax. The artist will create a limited edition of 20 original prints on paper.
Important Dates:
- Deadline for Request For Qualifications (RFQ) Submissions: June 1
- Notification of Selection: June 8
- Execution of Contract: June 15
- Initial Design Meeting: Week of June 20
- Preliminary Design: Week of August 1
- Delivery of Prints to ArtsFairfax: Week of September 12
Applications must be submitted via Submittable by June 1, 2022. Please contact Emily Stone with questions about this RFQ.
Learn more and apply here.
Virginia Conservation Network Photo Contest
The Virginia Conservation Network is calling for all photographers to submit their best conservation-minded photos from Virginia for a chance to be featured as the cover photo of Our 2023 Common Agenda Briefing Book.
The Grand Prize winner will receive $150 and have their photo featured as the full cover of the Our 2023 Common Agenda Briefing Book.
Three $75 awards for the best photo representing one of our conservation themes will also be presented:
- Public Transportation, Walking, & Biking: Show us how Virginians are getting around the community!
- Civic Engagement: Civic engagement can include attending town halls, voting, testifying, volunteering, or educating on environmental practices.
- Healthy, Equitable Communities: what does a sustainable community look like to you? Whether it’s urban forests, access to green spaces, stormwater management, or agricultural best management practices, show us your best shots of the built environment.
Photo entries will be judged based on creativity, quality, originality, and overall impact. VNC is especially considering photos with a human component. Winners will be announced in late July.
Details:
All photos must be submitted between May 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022. Entrants can submit an unlimited number of photos and multiple submissions are encouraged. If your photo is not selected for the cover of the publication, it may still be used as one of the many images in the book. Images must be of high resolution and at least 3,000 pixels wide and 300 dpi.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the contest, the photo must have been shot by the entrant in Virginia. Each photo must have an accompanying caption and attribution. For a photo in which a person is recognizable, you must be prepared to provide a model release from the subject or, in the case of a minor, the subject’s parent or guardian, to VCN upon request.
Submit your photos here.
COVID-19 Updates
Third round of COVID-19 tests available: With COVID-19 cases on the rise, the Federal Government has announced that people can order a third round of COVID-19 tests for their household.
This time, eight tests will be in the order as opposed to 4 per household. The eight tests will come in two separate packages (4 per package), each with its own tracking number, and packages will ship free.
Order yours today here.
Centreville Immigration Forum reopening
The CIF will reopen on Monday, May 23, and will transition back to full in-person operation for the first time in over two years. If you are interested in volunteering, please email volunteer@thecifva.org.
Open volunteer positions include:
- Labor Center: Volunteers are welcome to help staff with daily operations, facilitate employer communication, and job placements. Most common needs: Saturday Mornings 6-11am.
- Skills training: Volunteers are needed to lead workshops in areas related to trades (e.g., carpentry, painting, drywall, landscaping), as well as financial and/or life skills.
- Holidays: Volunteers are needed to solicit donations, assemble gift baskets or bags of groceries, wrap gifts, and deliver items in the community during holidays (Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, and winter holidays).
- Accompaniment: Ongoing volunteers are needed to provide transportation to CIF members to medical, legal, and/or services appointments. Weekday, daytime availability is needed.
- Member Mondays: Volunteers are needed Mondays between 1-4pm to help meet community needs. Support is needed in accessing forms online, filling out paperwork, registering for schools, and registering for social services.
- ESOL instructors: CIF needs ongoing volunteers to teach ESOL to our members. No experience or knowledge of Spanish are required, though those are helpful.
- Centreville Commission for Labor Justice: Volunteers are needed to support our members as they work to recover unpaid wages (providing information about options for recourse and assisting them with the plan they choose, including research, completing paperwork, documenting wage theft).
- Committees: Volunteers are needed on an ongoing basis to serve on our committees, including Development, Finance, Governance and HR, as well as on our Board of Directors.
Fighting to Keep Life Affordable
May is National Foster Care Month. Approximately 200 children are in foster care at any given time in Fairfax County. Fairfax County has 140 families certified to provide foster care for these children in need. This service provided by our foster families truly represents the strength of our caring community. If you’re interested in learning more about foster care in the County, check out the Department of Family Services webpage here.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, I have provided resources below that may be helpful. In addition, you may always reach out to our office by email at DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov – and we will work to connect you with community partners.
General resources:
- Commonhelp
- FCPS Family Services:
- PWC Mutual Aid: Prince William County Mutual Aid’s Resources and Services Request Page is available to those living in the region, as well as those from Fairfax County. You can also contact them directly at pwcmutualaid@gmail.com, or find more information about the organization on their Facebook page.
Food resources:
- Food for Others
- Western Fairfax Christian Ministries: provides food and rent assistance to community members.
Labor resources:
Rent and housing resources:
- Cornerstones
- FACETS: This program serves hot meals to unhoused individuals in the Fairfax Circle area. Roughy 100 meals are cooked, and served once a month.
And, in light of the higher gas prices, to find the cheapest fuel prices, you can visit this website, which allows you to compare gas prices in your area.
Favorites of the 40th
This week’s favorite of the 40th is PWC Mutual Aid. Highlighted in Fighting to Keep Life Affordable, PWC Mutual Aid seeks to connect those in need to people who can lend a helping hand. PWC Mutual Aid was founded by a group of current and former PWCS students.
PWC Mutual Aid offers a wide range of community resources in areas such as mental health, shelters and housing assistance, food pantries, childcare, and SNAP and TANF Benefits. Learn more in depth about what their assistance includes here.
If you are in need of support, you can request it here. If you are interested in volunteering with PWC Mutual Aid, sign up here. And, if you want to become an active member, click here.
Have a wonderful weekend!