Dear RJ,

Welcome to the Center for Common Ground August 2025 Newsletter!

The Virginia General election is coming up in November, with early voting starting on September 19. Virginia’s general election is poised to decide the future of democracy in the state, and getting as many folks out to vote as we can will be critical.

Here is how we are mobilizing Black voters to the polls for the June 17 Virginia Primary and how you can join in:

• Postcard: Write to over 900,000 Black voters in Virginia for the upcoming general election! Get started here.
• Phone bank*: Make calls with us starting Tuesday, August 12!

  Guided phone banks will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 5 pm PT/ 6 to 8 pm ET. Sign up for guided phone banks now.

*We are using a new platform for making calls called Impactive. Be sure to join a guided training or review these slides before you start making calls.

Effective Advocate with the Workers Circle
🗓️ August 21 at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET
Don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your advocacy skills. This month, we are focusing on a crucial aspect of creating lasting impact: building power through coalitions.

SAVE THE DATE: Center for Common Ground 2025 Virtual Gala 

🗓️ September 14 at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we raise funds that make our work at the Center for Common Ground possible! This Gala will celebrate past successes and future victories that we can achieve together, featuring a host of exciting guest speakers.

Tell Congress: block any proposal that defunds our freedom to vote

Congress just released a budget bill that provides just $15 million for election administration in 2026 – less than $300k per state. We’re calling on Congress to increase that funding to at least $825 million in FY26 – the same level allocated in 2020 – so election officials can protect our vote, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure every eligible voter can access the ballot box. Take action now.

Monica’s efforts have earned her a spot on the League of Women Voters in Georgia’s board, where she can make a bigger impact in her community. Congratulations!

Follow Cobb County Democracy Center on Instagram to stay engaged in their efforts!

“The Trump Administration’s Campaign to Undermine the Next Election” by the Brennan Center. An excellent article highlighting how the Executive Branch is interfering in our elections.

“Why Georgia Can’t Wait for Economic Justice” by the Southern Poverty Law Center is a report highlighting the state of poverty in Georgia and the far-reaching impacts it has on people’s lives.

VPAP.org is our favorite website for non-partisan information on Virginia politics and government.

Voting Rights Lab is dedicated to tracking anti- and pro-voting legislation. They offer great bill tracking tools for state and federal legislation and more in-depth analysis of key bills’ impacts. We highly recommend signing up for their monthly newsletter, the Lever.

Democracy Docket is the best news site dedicated to information, analysis, and opinion about voting rights and elections in the courts.

Finally, a big thank you to everyone who showed up for the John Lewis Day of Action in July.

In solidarity,

Andrea Miller

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