2025 Advocates in Action

We heard from three candidates for seats on the Roanoke County School Board in 2025: Winter Schassberger, Ryan White, and Amber Reed. Important questions were raised and informative answers given. "Go to link" will take you to a recording of this event on our Facebook page.

Our dialogue with Peter Beinart, author of Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning, offered an amazing, wise, compassionate, and open discussion of one of the most critical issues of our day. Justice Advocates is deeply grateful to Peter and to Ben Sax of ICJS who served as our moderator. "Go to link" will take you to a recording of this event on our Facebook page.

We heard from Candidate Donna Littlepage (VA House District 40) and Incumbent Delegate Sam Rasoul (VA House District 38). Candidate Lily Franklin (VA House District 41) shared a video prepared for this event. Substantive questions about the significance and impact of this election were asked and answered. "Go to link" will take you to a recording of this event on our Facebook page.

As a follow-up to our series on income inequality, this session offers a focused look at issues related to living in manufactured housing in Virginia. It features Daniel Rezai, housing attorney from the Virginia Poverty Law Center. "Go to link" will take you to a recording of this event on our Facebook page.

This Zoom event attempted to answer questions about what happened in the 2025 Virginia General Assembly and what ongoing issues will be impacted by the outcome of the 2025 statewide elections. We heard from representatives of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and from Dwayne Yancey, founding editor of Cardinal News. "Go to link" will take you to a recording of this event on our Facebook page.

We welcomed Jim Bohland, retired professor emeritus, School of Public and International Affairs (VA Tech) who addressed the topic: "Plutocracy plus Patrimonialism: A Dangerous Combination for Social Justice and Democracy." "Go to link" will take you to a recording of this event on our Facebook page.

Our national and state tax systems favor the ultra-wealthy, leaving working people and families struggling to afford basic needs like health care, education, and housing. But it doesn't have to be this way. Learn about tangible ways for making Virginia's tax code more equitable. Presentations from Emily Moore (Voices for Virginia's Children) and Megan Davis (The Commonwealth Institute). "Go to link" will take you to a recording of this event on our Facebook page.

While working families struggle with rising costs and stagnant wages, billionaires funnel dark money into elections, weaken regulations, and carve out tax loopholes that allow them to accumulate even more wealth. This isn't just an economic issue – it's a crisis of democracy. How did we get here and what can we do to fight back? Presentation from Nancy Morgan, from BigMoneyOutVA. "Go to link" will take you to a recording of this event on our Facebook page.

We welcomed Rev. Noel Andersen from Church World Service, Rabbi Kathy Cohen of Temple Emanuel, and Elizabeth Schmelzel (immigration attorney) from the Legal Aid Justice Center. Conversation focused on the how to respond compassionately to current mass deportation efforts. "Go to link" will take you to a recording of this event on our Facebook page.