VOICE for Social Justice
Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) is an organizing group whose membership comprises local, faith-based and justice-focused institutions working in solidarity to make space for issues and people at the political table that might not otherwise be there. VOICE works by first listening to the members of our community and then amplifying those voices which are not being heard or heeded.
Some of the recent issues VOICE has organized around, and St Georgians have helped to support, are:
Missing Middle Housing: Since June 2022, VOICE leaders from St. George's and other faith institutions across Arlington have organized in support of the county's Missing Middle Housing plan to remove long-standing exclusionary zoning restrictions limiting more than ¾ of residential land to single-family homes only. This “gentle” housing density will allow more people, including historically excluded people of color and families across the income spectrum, to access homes in Arlington.
Ensuring financial benefits brought by Amazon are equitably distributed in our Arlington-Alexandria community. As of September 2019, VOICE is the only organization to have put forth a concrete proposal of ways to address known challenges by seeking a commitment to the allocation of incoming tax revenue to ensure diverse and inclusive growth. We achieved a 350 person, rainy-Sunday turnout for our local June 2019 action with Arlington County board chair Christian Dorsey and Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson around these issues; attendees included representatives from current VOICE institutions, lapsed institutions, prospective members and non-affiliated community members.
Ensuring income-level is not a barrier to being able to live in Arlington. VOICE provided turnout to show community support for two APAH affordable housing projects in St. George’s own neighborhood: CUMC and the American Legion. These projects help others who would be unable to stay or unable to live close to work for financial reasons continue to make Arlington home.
Focusing on the importance of mental health and mental health resources for all ages in our community. VOICE has seen the most organic growth around mental health; from several listening sessions at St. George’s, we have seen advocacy grow around the well-being of mentally ill offenders in our local criminal justice system, are opening spaces for high-schoolers to advocate for their own mental health support in schools in Arlington and Fairfax county, and are exploring the intersection of mental health with VOICE’s other core issue areas.
Supporting criminal justice reform at the state level. In 2019, our efforts came to fruition when 627,000 Virginians, who have had their licenses suspended over court debt, became eligible for license reinstatement, which will help them keep jobs and provide for their families.
Non-partisan Get Out the Vote efforts. Each year, VOICE has organized a non-partisan Get Out the Vote effort, encouraging our neighbors to participate in the democratic process and show their political leaders that they are willing to mobilize for issues important in their communities.
Working with VOICE has not only allowed Saint Georgians to make a difference in our local community, but to grow our connections with other persons in our community, especially those of different localities, faiths, and denominations. Supporting every person in living a life of dignity and respect gives witness to God's love for every person and gives us a chance to see God's love for the world from a different angle.
VOICE welcomes all, and has opportunities for all abilities and time commitments- whether as a member of Saint George’s Core team, a one hour or one day commitment around a specific action that speaks to you, or helping to lead an issue team at the Saint George’s, Arlington, or State level.