by WebPost | Nov 22, 2025 | Activity, VICPP Working Group
The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and Virginia Interfaith Power and Light are hosting Day for All People on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. This is a great opportunity to learn about justice and make a difference in our state laws! Join faith leaders in Richmond to meet with legislators about affordable housing, maternal health, higher education in prison, and other important issues. Day for All People will start at 8:00 am and end around 2:30 pm. Early bird registration (before January 1) is $30. Then it's $40. Find out more information and register at: tinyurl.com/2026DFAP
A small group of us will be going. Would you like to join us? Contact Monica Shaw with questions.
It's a great way to make January more interesting!
by WebPost | Nov 6, 2025 | Uncategorized
Hello Friends! Perhaps you heard Rev. LaKeisha Cook, executive director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), interviewed on public radio about the need for food in Central Virginia. Richmond Friends Meeting (RFM) is a VICPP congregational partner. Yesterday, members of the RFM VICPP Working Group received an email appeal from Rev. Cook asking for VICPP congregations to collect food for a food bank.
The VICPP Working Group will collect food from the list below during November to donate to FeedMore. We will have a big box there shortly, but the collection area is in the foyer between the worship room and the education buildings. If you prefer a monetary contribution, please donate directly to FeedMore. Over 97% of your gift directly supports FeedMore's programs and mission.
We hope that you will support Virginia families who have lost jobs and food benefits, and children, persons with disabilities, and older persons who need help year-round. If you have questions, contact Diane Bowden at bowden.diane@gmail.com.
Please, no glass containers!
Nut butters like peanut butter
Canned proteins like tuna and chicken
Canned soup and vegetables
Canned fruits
Canned tomato products
Beans and lentils (cans or bags)
Cereal (hot or cold)
Pasta, rice, and whole grains
Healthy snacks, dried fruits, and nuts
Condiments, Oils & Spices
Thank you for your kindness!
by WebPost | Jun 17, 2025 | Uncategorized
Did you know that the Virginia Department of Corrections launches more people into Virginia’s workforce annually than our largest graduating university? Back in April, our Meeting agreed to be a congregational support for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) Higher Education in Prisons initiative. On July 13 at rise of Meeting, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about this initiative and what it means for incarcerated Virginians.
Our speaker will be Kenneth Hunter, VICPP organizer for the Consensus on Higher Education in Prisons and passionate advocate for more humane and productive criminal justice policies in Virginia and in the nation. Kenneth will explain his personal interest in prison reform and how he came to advocate for ways to improve opportunities for post-prison career success. Reduced recidivism, reduced violent incidents in prison, and modeling for future generations are just some of the benefits of supporting higher education opportunities in prisons.
With a statewide reputation for spoken word and rap performance, Kenneth is sure to entertain, inspire and enlighten us about this valuable program and ways we can support it. Refreshments will be available.
by WebPost | Jan 19, 2023 | AFSC, Announcement, Earthcare, FCNL, Peace and Social Concerns
There is so much happening in the realm of social justice, environment, and world emergencies.
How to keep informed and act according to our Quaker values? The following organizations can help you take timely steps to address various issues. Subscribe to get their updates.
- American Friends Service Committee: https://www.afsc.org/about-us
- Friends Committee on National Legislation: https://www.fcnl.org/
- Virginia Interfaith Center on Public Policy: https://www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org
- Virginia Interfaith Power & Light: https://vaipl.org
“The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) promotes a world free of violence, inequality, and oppression. Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light within each person, (they) nurture the seeds of change and the respect for human life to fundamentally transform our societies and institutions. (They) work with people and partners worldwide, of all faiths and backgrounds, to meet urgent community needs, challenge
injustice, and build peace.” They offer several workshops to increase our knowledge and develop skills to act.
In addition to these activities, they work directly with populations in need.
FCNL seeks a world free of war and the threat of war, a society with equity and justice for all and a community
where every person’s potential may be fulfilled. They lobby members of our national legislatures on issues
related to Middle East and Iran, Nuclear Weapons, Peacebuilding, US wars and militarism, gun violence
prevention, Just Immigration, Justice Reforms and Native Americans. They will keep you up to date on
upcoming legislation so you can communicate with your legislators most effectively.
Richmond Friends Meeting is affiliated with Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), a non- partisan coalition of 25,000 members, including 750 houses of worship, 1,000 clergy of all faiths, and people of goodwill, ten chapters (and growing!), many partner and affiliate organizations, most of the judicatory leaders in the state, and activists in every House and Senate district in Virginia, all working for a more just society.” Just as FCNL helps us make our efforts effective on a national level, VICPP helps keep us informed about current legislation initiatives.
RFM supports Virginia Interfaith Power and Light (VAIPL), a local branch of national organization which is dedicated to bringing together faith communities to “mobilize a religious response to climate changes through energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energies." Similar to the other organizations they can help keep you reliably informed on current legislation and local initiatives.