Affiliates
The NOVA Coalition is a group of over 30 nonprofit organizations (and growing) in Northern Virginia committed to registering, educating and empowering voters, and promoting policies of interest to the African American community in Virginia. Led by the Northern Virginia Urban League and the Virginia Leadership Institute, the Coalition partnered in March 2009 with key stakeholders to launch an advocacy, education and messaging campaign, Restore the Vote, to restore voting rights for formerly convicted persons in Virginia.
For Unity '08, the NOVA Coalition, led by grant convener Lavern Chatman, CEO of the Northern Virginia Urban League, along with a team of 200 dedicated volunteers and partner organizations, targeted Fairfax, Prince William, Arlington and Alexandria counties in a Get Out the Vote campaign. NOVA activities included a “Vote to Empower Rally & Bus Tour” with the National Urban League President Marc Morial, NCBCP CEO Melanie Campbell, The Black Leadership Forum CEO and Executive Director Gary Flowers, and cast members from HBO’s “The Wire”. The Northern Virginia coordinators registered more than 800 voters, holding voter registration drives at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, area churches, the National Council for Negro Women’s Black Family Reunion, and during the Donnie Simpson Morning Show. Lastly, media outreach included radio appearances on DC television stations WJLA-7, FOX-5 and News Channel 8. Adding to local media coverage, Coordinator Lavern Chatman and family were followed on Election Day by ABC-Australia. The group also participated in the PBS Video Your Vote Campaign, helping to monitor and document Election Day activities. Field partners: NUL, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Contact:
Lavern J. Chatman, Co-Convener
703-836-2858
chatmanlj@aol.com
Nancy Finley Barbour, Co-Convener
703-227-4630
codesuccess@msn.com
