Founded in August 2008, the NOVA Coalition is a nonpartisan effort created with funds from the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. Past Campaigns Include:
2008 Get out the Vote: NOVA Coalition registered empowered nearly 2000 voters for the 2008 election cycle through grassroots canvassing, media engagement, events and partnering with organizations like the Congressional Black Caucu
s Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, DC, and the National Urban League.
2009 Restore the Vote:
Virginia and Kentucky are the only two states in which voting rights are not restored after completing one’s sentence, unless formerly convicted persons go through an onerous process through the governor. There are 300,000 disenfranchised in Virginia, and African-American men are disproportionately affected. On June 11, 2009 the NOVA Coalition hosted a community forum on voter restoration featuring Adisa Muse, ACLU; Delegate Charniele Herring (VA-46th); Doug Syphax (formerly convicted person); and the forum was moderated by Melanie Campbell, President of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. On December 26, 2009 Lavern Chatman wrote a letter on the importance of restoring voting rights in the Washington Post. In May 2010, Governor Bob McDonnell announced that formerly convicted persons of non-violent felonies would have to wait for two years, instead of three years, to have their rights restored. The Coalition continues to partner with organizations across the commonwealth to educate advocates and empower former felons on this issue.
2010 Census Hard To Count Communities
The NOVA Coalition worked closely with several northern Virginia local governments and the U.S. Census Bureau to increase the number of people who participated in the 2010 Census, particularly hard to count communities. The Coalition held forums, set up tables in the community, and held a Census rally with over 200 attendees. The City of Alexandria had over 70% of its residents participate in the 2010 Census.
2010 Get out the Vote for the Midterm Elections “Trick or Vote”
In the fall of 2010, the NOVA Coalition mobilized close to 100 volunteers to make approximately 4000 voter contacts through calls, pledge cards, and door to door canvassing in partnership with Trick or Vote. The Coalition also launched its first public service announcement encouraging our community to vote.
