Becoming an Advocate with Cornerstones is simple!
At Cornerstones, our mission is to ensure that everyone living and working in our community has stability, empowerment, and hope to thrive in our community. Through our advocacy efforts, we support neighborhood, local, state, federal, and private sector policies that:
- Build and Preserve Affordable Housing
- Invest in Connected and Resilient Children, Youth and Families
- Create Good Jobs and Economic Security
- Advance Systems Change to Undo Racial and Social Inequity
Get Involved – Opportunities to Learn,
Engage, and Take Action
- Early voting has already begun!
- May 30 is the deadline to register to vote in the primary
- Visit Vote411 (Virginia Voting Information (vote411.org)) or the Virginia Department of Elections (Virginia Department of Elections – Home) for more information on voting
Our Advocacy Platform
Build and Preserve Affordable Homes
We support legislation and budget investments to keep all our neighbors in safe, stable, affordable homes.
Invest in Connected and Resilient Children, Youth, and Families
We support legislation and budget investments to help children and families build resiliency and stay connected to strong communities. We support legislation and investments to eliminate barriers to school success, strengthen school-community-family partnerships, and help our youngest learners.
Create Good Jobs and Economic Security
We support legislation and budget investments to create pathways to career success, pay our workers a living wage, and allow our workers to care for themselves and their families if they are sick or unable to work.
Advance Systems Change to Undo Racial and Social Inequities
We support legislation and budget investments to undo the damage done by decades of racial and social inequity. We support criminal justice reforms and strong community relationships. We support civic engagement, leadership and action in community building, policy making, and elections.
Advocacy in Action: Our Work to Create Meaningful, Enduring Change in our Community
Cornerstones hosts the Virginia House of Delegates District 7 Candidates Forum
On May 17, we partnered with the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce to host a Virginia House of Delegates District 7 Candidates Forum. Attended by over 100 members of our community, the event was an opportunity to meet candidates Mary Barthelson, Paul Berry, Shyamali Hauth, and Karen Keys-Gamarra. They answered questions from our panel of community leaders and shared their legislative priorities and how they plan to serve our community, if elected. Click here to view the forum recording.
Cornerstones testifies to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at the Public Hearing on the FY24 Budget
On April 12, Kerrie Wilson (Cornerstones CEO), Roberta Gosling (Chair, Cornerstones Board of Directors) and Terrance Stroman (Director, Cornerstones Community Connected Sites) presented testimony to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at the Public Hearing on the FY24 Budget. We urged the county to invest in affordable homes, human services, and our local network of non-profit service providers.
Click here to watch the video. Kerrie’s testimony is at 48:18, Roberta’s testimony is at 58:40, and Terrance’s testimony is at 1:09:53.
Cornerstones Advocates in Richmond:
2023 Day for All People
Last January, advocates from our Advocacy Committee, staff, Board of Directors, and community traveled to Richmond to join Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy for their 2023 Day for All People. We met with nine of our state Senators and Delegates to ask for investments in:
- affordable housing and protections for vulnerable tenants,
- resources for students and their families, including community mental health supports and access to early education,
- living wages and paid leave for our workforce, and
- solutions to the “benefits cliff” to help working families continue to access the resources and support they need to thrive.
Kerrie Wilson, our CEO, co-led a discussion on affordable housing with workshop participants. In addition, we had the opportunity to observe the Senate’s daily proceedings, including Senator Rouse’s inauguration and a shout-out for Cornerstones from Senator Boysko!
Our Advocacy Committee
Our Advocacy Committee members participate in monthly meetings to develop our advocacy strategies and opportunities for action.
Many thanks to our committee members. Want to get involved or learn more? Email advocate@cornerstonesva.org
- Andy Lacher (Chair)
- Debra Allen
- Karen Courtney
- Brian Funaki
- Sara Leonard
- Davood Sedaghatfar
- Gillian Sescoe
- Stephen Smith Cobbs
- Hannah Townsend
- Tracey White
- Sarah Casey
- Amanda Caughran
- Meredith Hovan
- Margaret Anne Lara
- Erin Loadholtz
- Sarah Newman
- Kerrie Wilson
- Chuck Lefton
- Amy Joyce
- Roberta Gosling
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