Week of 2/9/25
Note: These emails are sent weekly and include timely information and links, which may expire over time.
Resources for Civil Servants
People, organizations, and communities across the country are joining together to ensure our civil servants have resources if they are targeted or attacked. Check back as resources come online and for monitoring of threats to the civil service. And, see some of the essential available resources, centralized for the first time: https://www.civilservicestrong.org/
Welcome to What’s Up WofA! This week’s edition is LOADED with information. In an effort to help our members digest all the information, we have broken it down into a number of categories: Events, Calls to Action (Federal and State), Protests/Rallies, Resources & Information and more! *(Please note: the “Zoom Groups”, that sprung from our Membership Meeting-Indivisigather last Saturday, are in formation! Keep your eyes peeled for more information soon!)
Events
Tuesday, February 11
Lobby Days with Senator Warner’s Office (Monthly Zoom)
RSVP HERE
Friday, February 14th 12:00PM – 1:00PM
Power Lunch
RSVP
Saturday, February 22nd 12:00PM – 5:00PM
Feel the Heritage Festival
Info HERE
Monday, February 24, 2025 7:00PM – 9:00PM
NAACP – Arlington Branch February Membership Meeting Virtual on Zoom
February 26th, 5:00PM – 7:00PM
WofA Happy Hour – Courthaus Social – 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
Join WofA & Friends as we let off some steam; quench our thirst and conspire further!
Monday, March 10th 6:30 – 8:00
WofA Membership Meeting
Save the Date! We are furiously working on finding available space – details to follow shortly!
March 15, 12:00PM – Northern Virginia
Lily Franklin Luncheon
This seat is a must-win for Democrats to expand their control in the Virginia House of Delegates and will have major implications for access to abortion throughout the Commonwealth. If she wins, Lily will be the first Democratic woman to represent Southwest VA in her lifetime! RSVP Here
Saturday, March 22nd, 9:30am
RISE Summit
The annual ‘Rise To’ Summit brings together local and state leaders, organizers, activists, students, and community members to tackle the issues that stand in the way of progress and a more equitable future for our community and nation. The summit aims to engage the next generation by raising awareness, showing them how they can get involved, and instilling in them the idea that their voice matters.RSVP Here
Saturday, March 22
Abigail Spanberger for Governor Reception – Central/ N.Arlington
Please join friends and neighbors as we show our support for Abigail Spanberger’s Campaign for Virginia Governor. This November’s race is crucial to keeping Virginia safe from the ongoing assault by the current President and his posse. For more information and to RSVP or Donate, please see: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/asfg032225
June 27-29, 2025
Save the Date: 9th Annual WOMEN’S SUMMIT
Location: Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/pe3nsyb7
FEDERAL Calls to Action
Save NIH and NSF Research Funding
On February 7, the Trump administration moved to cut billions of dollars in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) by placing an immediate cap on so-called “indirect costs”. Simply Click Here to learn more and be connected to your representative. Pretty amazing to see how much funding your state receives – look up the impact of NIH funding in your state HERE.
Protect our Protectors! The CFPB has been ordered to cease all operations. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) works to strengthen safeguards on mortgages, credit cards, loans and other consumer finance. It has returned literally billions of dollars to American consumers who have been harmed by illegal practices by the financial services industry. American consumers are now unprotected from serious financial harm. CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS – Tell them to fight to save the CFPB! Find your members of Congress LEARN MORE – Federal Financial Watchdog Ordered to Cease Activity
Oppose Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence – Vote likely this week
Just a Click Away: https://5calls.org/issue/tulsi-gabbard-dni-national-intelligence/
Protect the Department of Education
Just a Click Away: https://5calls.org/issue/education-department-hr899/
STATE Calls to Action
Flood Youngkin with Calls
Youngkin is not defending Virginia’s Federal workers. Youngkin is not defending Public Education. Call the Governor & Lt. Governor, let them know you care about this.
Glenn Youngkin: 804-876-2211, [email protected]
Winsome Sears: 804-786-2078, [email protected]
Ask Senators in Commerce and Labor to support a drug affordability board to ensure families can purchase prescription drugs at reasonable cost.
HB1724 establishes a board to review increases on prescription drug price. Delegate Delaney (D-Fairfax) has join with Delegate Campbell (R-Rockbridge) to introduce HB1724. This is a bipartisan bill to address the high cost of prescription drugs. Click Here to Take Action
Tell Senators to Vote YES on HB1954 to remedy inadequate funding for public education.
This bill, HB1954, was passed by the House and now being considered by the Senate. Thank you if you answered this call to action when it was in the House. Now please write another that will go to the Senate Committee. Click Here to Take Action
Please tell your Senator to support a Restorative Schools Pilot Program and vote YES for HB2196
This bill has passed the House and is now being considered by the Senate. Thank you if you answered this call to action when it was in the House. Now please write another that will go to the Senate committee. Click Here to Take Action
Tell your Legislators to Oppose Mass Surveillance, HB2724
Virginia should end mass surveillance, but at the very least lawmakers should stop the expansion and put meaningful restrictions on the use of surveillance technology they already have. Please answer the Call to Action to urge Senate Courts of Justice members to oppose HB2724 in its current form! Click Here to Take Action
Make a Difference Right Now
PHONE CALLS MATTER! You do not need to wait to get directions!
Calls to Congress are the most effective way to use our voices and communicate with our elected reps. Below are several options you can use to easily call and leave a message, or speak with a staff member. Our representatives’ offices record all calls and consider them when casting their votes and assessing their positions. We need to keep using our voices, loudly and repeatedly! Stay engaged and influence your representatives’ actions through direct communication and by mobilizing others regularly. Below are a few simple and easy options to contact your reps.
5 Calls/ 5 Minutes/ 5 Shares – can be done daily, if so inclined!
5 Calls: Take 5 minutes to make 5 calls to your representatives through 5Calls.org . You choose your topics, 5Calls provides scripts and phone connections to your reps. Check out 5 Calls HERE.
Share the Action: After taking action, share with 5 or more friends or family members – especially those with Republican representatives or in Red (Republican) States. Ask them to act and share with 5 people in their network.
Indivisible Actions
Resistance-leading Indivisible’s website has specific messages for you to communicate with your Senators and Representatives offices, and includes scripts and a form that will automatically connect your phone with their offices. Check Indivisible out HERE
Chop Wood/Carry Water
Sign up for this daily email that includes a couple of call actions for the day, scripts, links to reps offices, as well as a great summary of developments
Protests & Rallies
Many Current Rallys/Actions can be found on https://www.mobilize.us/
Wednesday, February 12th 4:00
Protect Students-Protect Public Schools Washington, DC
Details Here
Friday, February 14th
Monthly vigil and protest at the NRA headquarters 10-11 am
11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax
Monday, February 17th 12:00PM –
President’s Day Rally
This is an organic protest seemingly started by the 50501 organizers. At this point we have no specific information for Washington, DC – The White House? US Capitol?
Tuesday, February 18th – 4:00PM – 6:00PM
HEY HEY, HO HO, ELON MUSK HAS GOT TO GO! – Tesla Dealership S. Arlington
Join fellow outraged Americans in a peaceful protest – likely recurring – against Elon Musk’s takeover of OUR government! Protest will take place on the sidewalk across from the S. Arlington Tesla dealer. We’ll spread out – NOT blocking the sidewalk – on the east side of S. Glebe Rd. just north of Four Mile Run. Bring your signs and your voice. Street parking is available in the neighborhoods behind and across from Tesla. Expect to walk a couple of blocks. By bus: Metro 10B, Metro 23B / 23T, ART 87.
Wednesday, February 19th 8:00AM – 10:PM
Save Our Services (SOS) Day of Action – Say No to Elon
Join Federal Workers and everyday Americans as we come coming together to say NO to Elon Musk’s push to gut federal services and impose mass layoffs. Sign up HERE.
Resources & Information
WofA MEMBER SURVEY We want to hear from YOU. 
This survey is your space to let us know how you want to contribute, share your ideas for new initiatives, and highlight the skills and expertise you bring to the table. Together, we’re building something extraordinary that will make our community, states and country better. It only takes a few minutes to complete this survey, and your voice is invaluable in shaping the next steps for WOFA-VA. Let’s continue to be the ones who show up! When we fight! We win! SURVEY HERE
Yard Sign Order Form (Buttons Sold Out 🙁)
Order HERE.
Must Read! Virginia Elections Overview
WofA Virginia 2025 Elections Overview.pdf
Please familiarize yourselves with the2025 Virginia Elections and the Virginia Constitutional Amendments process below. A brief overview can be found HERE and the importance of these elections in enshrining the Virginia Constitutional Amendments is directly below:
Virginia Constitutional Amendments
• Reproductive Rights
• Marriage Equality
• Voting Rights
For these amendments to become enshrined in the Virginia Constitution, we need to hold on to Democratic majorities in the house and senate. Note that all 100 house seats will be contested in the November 2025 state elections and all 40 seats in the senate are up for election in the November 2027 state elections. More Information Here.
Virginia House Forms Committee over the Regimes’ Attacks on Federal Workers
https://vadogwood.com/2025/02/05/virginia-house-forms-emergency-committee-over-musks-attacks-on-federal-workers/
Black History Month: African Americans and Labor
Information & Toolkits
CLICK HERE to access 2025-Black-History-Theme-Executive-Summary
CLICK HERE for the Black History Month website.
PFLAG Connects – Communities
Locate your LGBTQ+ community and find out how to connect to the next virtual meeting HERE.
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