Fairfax, Virginia, USA – October 24, 2016 – Virginia International University’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) graciously hosted the Advocacy Training Conference for Social Action Linking Together (SALT) on Saturday, October 15, 2016 from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
The free training was designed for educators, students, professionals and retirees, seeking to increase their understanding and support of services for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s most vulnerable children and families. The keynote speaker, Mark Kennedy Shriver (of the Kennedy political family and former member of the Maryland House of Delegates), was a tremendous inspiration for participants to do more as all continue in their advocacy. Shriver recounted moments with his father, Sargent “Sarge” Shriver founder of the Peace Corps and architect of President Johnson’s War on Poverty, that now take on new value.
Among the fellow presenters were:
Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition for Human Needs discussing, “Making TANF Work for Poor Families”
Senator Barbara Favola, 31st Senate District, Arlington, Report on the Commission on Youth, TANF Subcommittee
Delegate Alfonso Lopez, 49th House of Delegates District, Arlington “Tools for Effective Advocacy in the State Legislature”
Michelle Krocker, Executive Director, Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance, "Addressing the Commonwealth's Unmet Housing Needs for Low-Income Households"
Kimberly Adams, President of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs, “Fairfax County's excellence is at risk”
A special highlight from the presenters included Delegate Lopez’s elevator pitch in which participants paired up, one serving as the lobbyist the other as the senator.
The organizers were excited to see strong attendance of at least 70 members of the local community and students from VIU’s Master of Public Administration program. Subsequent feedback as submitted to John Horejsi included: “Best SALT conference ever! Strong program and keynote!” VIU & SPIA welcomes and continued relationship with SALT and looks forward to hosting further events in the next upcoming year.
Below are the links to all the video clips of the
SALT Fall Advocacy Conference.
Fr. Gerry Creedon with opening prayer.
Fr. Gerry Creedon introducing Mark Shriver, the
keynote speaker.
Mark Shriver, Keynote Speaker
Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition
for Human Needs -- “Making TANF Work for Poor Families”
Virginia Senator Barbara Favola -- “Report on the Commission on Youth, TANF
Subcommittee”
Virginia Delegate Lopez—“Tools for Effective
Advocacy in the State Legislature”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEy0gc2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py0gc2iNVc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Geax7lQfI
Michelle Krocker, Executive Director, Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance -- “Addressing the Commonwealth’s Unmet Housing Needs for Low-Income Households”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3pT4LHWBeQ
Kimberly Adams, President of Fairfax County Council of PTA’s -- Fairfax County’s Excellence is at Risk”
Thanks to Bob Stewart for recording.
