VIRGINIA INTERFAITH CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY

Program: Specialized Advocacy Programs

Program Description:

 A More Perfect Union: A More Perfect Union aids Virginians of all faiths in the free expression of religious traditions without fear of discrimination or reprisal. 

The Commonwealth Institute: The Commonwealth Institute fills a much-needed role in Virginia by providing analysis and education of state fiscal policies and legislative proposals with a particular focus on their impacts on low- and moderate-income Virginians. 

Virginia Interfaith Power and Light: Virginia Power and Light seeks to be faithful stewards of God’s creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and related sustainable practices. 

Program Long-Term Success:

In the last year, our communications work has earned over 20 million print impressions, over 100 print clips, over 1800 broadcast clips including three stories that were distributed nationwide to over 460 stations through the Clear Channel Network. We also have developed regular, year-round communication with our constituent members through our two newsletters, Legis-Link and Inter-Session, and are developing a growing fan and follower base through our use of social media including Facebook and Twitter.

Some signs of our success as an important voice in Virginia’s policy debates also are reflected in some “intangible” measures we have achieved. These include:

·         The Secretary of Finance commented that “within a half hour” of the release of The Commonwealth Institute’s “Balanced Approach to Balancing the Budget” report, he had received the report “from 10 different people asking if I’d read it yet.”

·         At the recent National Tax Administrator’s conference, Virginia’s Tax Commissioner praised the work of The Commonwealth Institute to Nick Johnson of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities by saying we had “single-handedly” defeated the single sales factor legislation.

·         When the Governor’s speechwriter sent along to the Department of Social Services the draft speech for the Governor’s Poverty Summit in order for the Department to fill in details on policy proposals and explain how they would reduce poverty, the Commissioner of Social Services realized they couldn’t explain any of the tax proposals and said, “Get Michael Cassidy on the phone. He’ll know the answers to all these questions.”

·         Andrew Stettner of the National Employment Law Project sent along a note to the Center on Budget after our Recovery Act unemployment insurance funding battle saying “It’s been great to work with the new SFAI groups like The Commonwealth Institute in Virginia…They are making a huge difference on UI.”

·         When Sen. Mark Warner wanted to reach out to the faith leaders in South Hampton Roads, Va. to discuss his health care-related proposal, he reached out to us. We partnered with the Episcopal Bishop of Southern Virginia and packed the room with people from socially, economically and racially diverse backgrounds and multiple faith traditions. Sen. Warner says of the events that he conducted for this legislation this was his favorite. Also at that event, a female rabbi called attention to our ongoing work on reform and a town hall event we are holding at her synagogue and telling everyone to attend.

·         As a result of the rising profile of our work, we have expanded our system of advocacy and are now working in regular partnership with Faithful Reform, Organizing for America, SEIU, League of Women Voters, AARP, AFL-CIO.

Program Short-Term Success:

Program Success Monitored by:

Program Success Examples: