April 2022

Co President's Message

Hello all and Happy Spring!

It's official now, although the temperatures have not been the best evidence . . .

We hope that everyone is taking care and able to get outside more to enjoy the beauty of Lynchburg at this time of year. I am always so thankful for spring's flower show in Virginia!

Speaking of thanks - the League is organizing an action in April - a Thank Election Heroes celebration on April 12. 

If you have an Election Hero in mind to thank, please let Jennifer Woofter or me know - and we can get you some of our new LWV-LY note cards. We are asking folks to take a photo of their thank you note and send it to us so we can post it on our social media.

Here is some additional information about this action:

Mail Thank You Cards
Volunteers can write and mail thank you messages on a card or postcard that states how much you appreciate your election officials' hard work. You can find your election official’s contact information here: https://bit.ly/ElexOffice 
Sample message:

Hello, as a resident of {City, State}, I want to let you know that I appreciate all the hard work you, your fellow election officials, and poll workers have done and continue to do, to ensure that the voting process runs smoothly. You are the back-bone of our democracy and for that you are a true Hero. 

Thank you, {First Name}

Upcoming also: local re-districting efforts and our Annual Meeting (to be held on May 14 at 10:00 am). Thank you all for your ongoing engagement with our important work. 
 

Jennifer Gauthier on behalf of the Co-Presidents

Redistricting Public Survey is Underway
for the City of Lynchburg
Participate in this Process!  

City Redistricting

Hard copy maps of 4 proposed scenarios for new Ward boundaries are on display at the Public Library and City Hall as well as on the City’s web site: www.lynchburgva.gov! Take a look at them and give City Council your feedback before April 12!

Tentative Dates

April 12: City Council meeting: selection of Ward maps!

May 10: City Council Work Session: consideration of precincts!

May 10: City Council Meeting: public hearing on Ward boundaries!

June 14: City Council Meeting: public hearing on precinct locations!

Committee Updates

Important Dates

April 7: Deadline for candidates to file to be included in the primary

May 5: Last day to register in time to vote in the primary

May 6: Early voting begins

June 21: Primary Election

Primary for Representatives to the U.S. Congress

Virginians do not register by party! Voters are free to vote in the primary of their choice. All of Lynchburg is now in Virginia Congressional District 5. 

Fifth Congressional District

Republicans will not have a primary. They are choosing their candidate by convention. Current candidates* are Bob Good and Dan Moy. 
The Democrats will have a primary. Current candidates* are Thomas McClelland, Andy Parker and Joshua Thorneburg.

Sixth US Congressional District

Republicans will have a primary. Current candidates* are Benjamin Lee Cline and Merritt Hale.

Democrats will have a primary.! Current candidate* is Jennifer Lee.! *Candidates have

until 4/7 to file.

Lynchburg Adult Drug Treatment Court
Submitted by Molly McClenon

Achieving Equity in Addiction Services for People of Color, a conference organized by Roads to Recovery, featured several speakers from the LADTC. Everyone seemed to agree that the biggest need in our area is for more residential treatment and that fentanyl has made drug use exponentially more lethal.

Rhonda Turner has worked for Horizon Behavioral Health for 22 years overseeing and coordinating a wide variety of programs. In the LADTC she helps participants find the counseling or mental health services they need. She began with the 5-4-3-2-1 Coping Technique--we to look around the room and note 5 things we could see; 4 we could touch; 3 we could hear; 2 we could smell; 1 we could taste. This technique settled us down and created a sense of being together with others in the room. She spoke of racial disparities being systemic, not just individual: historical trauma; inter-generational trauma; racial trauma, stigma and distrust. She showed two very effective short videos. Equity removes barriers. Equity provides what is needed.

Judge Watson gave a brief history of Lynchburg's Drug Court, thanking all who participated, including LWVLY. He described how it operates, what participants go through, his commitment to the LADTC and its many benefits. Part of the recent grant will go towards an outside evaluation under the supervision of faculty at UL. In the last several months 4 people have graduated and a special ceremony and reception is being planned by the Commonwealth's Attorney. LWVLY and NAACP will help.

Chief Zuidema said addiction creates crimes and victims of crime. Drug use is becoming increasingly dangerous as it is increasingly laced with fentanyl. Since 2019, Naloxone (often referred to by first brand name, Narcon) has saved 38 lives. Currently police officers are receiving 40 hours of Crisis Intervention Training to better help them when they encounter people in crisis. Their goal is to get them to the resources for the help they need. Chief Zuidema asked each of us to help by reaching out to someone - to show they matter. Get involved politically and VOTE! GET INVOLVED. Talk to legislators and government officials. VOTE and make your voice heard.

Roads to Recovery, the organizer, is an independent nonprofit corporation led by people in and supportive of recovery from alcohol and other drug addictions. Those maintaining their recovery can be trained and become Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS). Their center is located at 3000 Langhorne Road, the former United Way Building.

Of Interest

Did you catch the lecture by Nikole Hannah Jones at the University of Lynchburg? See the story here: 

Scholarship Opportunity from ROSEL's List:
ROSEL’s List believes that better decisions are made when diverse voices are at the table. While our mission is to identify, mentor and elect women to leadership positions, we recognize that diversity goes beyond simple gender parity. It also means that we must lift up Black voices and strongly support the leadership of Black women specifically. To this end, we have created a fund specifically to support a scholarship for Black women in the Lynchburg Region.  This $4500 scholarship will provide direct financial support for a Black woman in the Lynchburg Region (City of Lynchburg, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford or Campbell County) attending an accredited non-profit institution of higher education (university, technical, graduate or professional education) in the United States. The funds may be used to pay directly for tuition, room and board, but may also be applied to other financial needs that often hold women back from achieving their educational goals, such as transportation and childcare.
Learn More by Clicking Here