As some of you may have read, Speaker Scott and Senate President Lucas released the proposed redistricting maps for Virginia’s House of Representatives districts. This has been in the works for quite some time and will be voted on in a referendum on April 21, 2026 (more information to come). To read more about what the maps say, how it affects Charlottesville, and what a referendum will look like, this article by the New York Times provides a good overview.
Community
Email Legislators — Sensible Gun Reform
There is a slate of sensible gun reforms up for a vote in the House of Delegates. To ensure that they get passed and protect our community, we are being called on to reach out to our state representatives and encourage them to vote ‘yes’ on this set of bills. At the bottom of this email, you can find contact information for Delegate Callsen and Senator Deeds. Below is an email template you can use:
“Dear Del. (or) Sen. XXX,
I’m a constituent in zip code #####. [Add a sentence about why gun violence protection is important to you.] I ask that you please vote for these bills as they come to the floor:
- HB19: Close the Boyfriend Loophole
- HB21: Industry Accountability
- HB40: Ban Ghost Guns
- HB93: Protect DV Survivors
- HB110: Preventing Gun Thefts from Cars
- HB229: Prohibiting Weapons in Hospitals & Mental Health Facilities
- HB626: No Guns on Campus
- HB702: Establishing a Statewide Give-Back Program
- HB871: Safe Child Access Prevention
- HB1096: ERPO Reporting
- HB1359: Firearm Purchaser Licensing
Thank you for your time and consideration,
NAME
ADDRESS (not necessary, up to you if you would like to include).”
MLK Day Activities
Don’t miss a FULL LIST of community MLKJr-related events and activities compiled by UVA:
https://mlk.virginia.edu/
These events will take place today through next Monday, Jan. 26.
Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church Community MLK Service
Next Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 5pm, Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church
Here are some past MLK Day events from Monday, Jan. 19:
- Join volunteers at Ivy Creek Nature Center, 9:30am to noon, for our Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service! Activities will include removing invasive plant species and performing trail maintenance at this African American Civil Rights Network site. Sign up: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/
ivycreekfoundation/event/ 11926martinlutherkingjrdayofse rvice/
- United Way is partnering with Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital to host a community kit-building project 10am-noon at Jackson P. Burley Middle School. They plan to compile about 1,000 kits of warm clothes and hygiene products for people in need. Registration online has closed, but you can Donate to help assemble even more kits. ALSO, UVA’s Multicultural Student Services will be assembling warmth kits at noon at Multicultural Student Center, Newcomb Hall, 2nd Floor.
- Come celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. at a full program of speakers, readers, and musicians at the Carver Recreation Center, 233 4th Street, NW Charlottesville, VA 22902, 1-3pm (produced by Mr. Alex-Zan).
Jan. 10, 2026 IMPORTANT Volunteer Appreciation and Biennial Reorganizational Meeting
All Democratic voters are invited to can attend our important meeting in January (location details to come). The entire Volunteer Appreciation and Biennial Reorganization Meeting will be Saturday, Jan. 10 at Carver Rec Center. Here’s the program:
4:30pm — Doors open and Caucus Registration Begins
5:00pm — Pizza served. There will be some remarks from several VA-05 candidates, we think also from some US Senate candidates, and some Volunteer Appreciation remarks.
6:00pm — Caucus Registration closes
6:30pm — Caucus Meeting followed immediately by 1st Full Committee Meeting
7:30pm — End of program
Please come out and show your support and interest in Charlottesville Democrats!
Saturday Dec. 6, Cookies and Conversation with Katrina and Creigh
Come chat with Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Katrina Callsen on Saturday, Dec. 6, for “Cookies and Conversation” from 10am to noon in the Swanson Room of the downtown Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. Bring your questions – and cookies for a holiday exchange (don’t forget an empty container!) – and to enjoy a relaxed conversation with your representatives!
If you missed our food and toiletries drive last month, feel free to bring donations on Saturday; Katrina and Creigh will take anything collected to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.
“Hands Off UVA!!” Rally at the Rotunda on Friday July at 1pm
The public is invited to gather in urgent interdependence on the 4th of July at 1pm, at the University of Virginia Rotunda Jefferson statue (University Avenue side) for a peaceful rally demonstrating our collective dismay at the forced resignation of UVA President Jim Ryan.
His ousting was an attempted hostile takeover of the University by the federal government that flies in the face of historically struggled-for ideals, values, and civil rights that began 250 years ago.
A range of University and community stakeholders will speak briefly. The rally’s second part will feature an open mic for public expression (2-minute limit per person). The rally was organized by UPRISE! Creative Collective C’ville and co-sponsored by Indivisible Charlottesville.
