Virginia Organizing Project
Encyclopedia
Virginia Organizing, formerly known as Virginia Organizing Project, is a statewide grassroots organization in Virginia dedicated to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives. Virginia Organizing especially encourages the participation of those who have traditionally had little or no voice in our society. By building relationships with individuals and groups throughout the state, Virginia Organizing strives to get them to work together, democratically and non-violently, for change.
Prior to the formation of Virginia Organizing, no statewide organization existed in Virginia to encourage the active participation and empowerment of many different groups of people on a variety of issues. Virginia Organizing, founded in August 1995, especially encourages the participation of those who have traditionally had little or no voice in our society. By building relationships with diverse individuals and groups throughout Virginia. The overall purpose of Virginia Organizing is to create a strong political force for long-term change which has a diverse grassroots base and includes people who have not been active before.
As government policy and control shifted dramatically over the last several years, it became clear to Virginia Organizing’s founders that statewide, local and national organizing work was needed. Virginia Organizing coordinates citizen lobbying on a multitude of issues and holds elected leaders accountable at all levels from the local county Board of Supervisors to the White House.
Virginia Organizing has a joint plan of work with over 40 organizations across the state, supporting their work in the environment, education, transportation, human rights, and community support.
Under the leadership of Executive Director, Joe Szakos
, Virginia has a staff of 10 community organizers across the state of Virginia. These organizers work to build local chapters and organize local community members around making positive social change.
Virginia Organizing focuses on a diverse set of issues each year, based on a power analysis that is completed every spring. In recent years, Virginia Organizing has focused on health care reform and economic justice issues like budget and tax reform. Other notable issues include opposing predatory lending, fighting for restoration of voting rights for former-felons, immigration reform and protecting Medicare and Social Security.
Prior to the formation of Virginia Organizing, no statewide organization existed in Virginia to encourage the active participation and empowerment of many different groups of people on a variety of issues. Virginia Organizing, founded in August 1995, especially encourages the participation of those who have traditionally had little or no voice in our society. By building relationships with diverse individuals and groups throughout Virginia. The overall purpose of Virginia Organizing is to create a strong political force for long-term change which has a diverse grassroots base and includes people who have not been active before.
As government policy and control shifted dramatically over the last several years, it became clear to Virginia Organizing’s founders that statewide, local and national organizing work was needed. Virginia Organizing coordinates citizen lobbying on a multitude of issues and holds elected leaders accountable at all levels from the local county Board of Supervisors to the White House.
Virginia Organizing has a joint plan of work with over 40 organizations across the state, supporting their work in the environment, education, transportation, human rights, and community support.
Under the leadership of Executive Director, Joe Szakos
Joe Szakos
Joe Szakos is a community organizer and author. He was coordinator of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth from 1981 to 1993, and has been executive director of the Virginia Organizing Project since 1994.-Early life:...
, Virginia has a staff of 10 community organizers across the state of Virginia. These organizers work to build local chapters and organize local community members around making positive social change.
Virginia Organizing focuses on a diverse set of issues each year, based on a power analysis that is completed every spring. In recent years, Virginia Organizing has focused on health care reform and economic justice issues like budget and tax reform. Other notable issues include opposing predatory lending, fighting for restoration of voting rights for former-felons, immigration reform and protecting Medicare and Social Security.