Ujima in Action: What We Built Together in 2025

As 2025 wraps up, TCI is energized for what’s ahead, thanks to our work with Collective Work,  a coalition of Black and brown leaders across Virginia. Inspired by the Kwanzaa principle of Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), we co-create solutions to community challenges together. This year, our partnership has been more powerful than ever, advancing our Collective Agenda and driving meaningful legislative change.

We started the year off strong, alongside partners in the halls of power during the 2025 legislative session. Together, Collective Workers:

• attended various legislative advocacy trainings and previews
• participated in lobby days and rallies
• met one-on-one with legislators
• assisted TCI in connecting storytellers to lift their lived experience and amplify the voices of community members during press conferences
• testified during committee meetings
• shaped news coverage of critical issues

The ability to work side by side with leaders in communities across the state has led to stronger policy and narrative change outcomes. Together, we have been working on two important strategies in Virginia. These include mitigating harm as part of the federal fight back against dangerous attacks on safety-net programs that so many people rely on, and driving progress on the priorities identified with Collective Work at the state level, including tax justice to increase revenue, which has become a key issue leading up to the 2026 legislative session.

As we made the case against the harmful impacts of H.R.1, the relationships and trust TCI built helped strengthen our advocacy. Collective Worker, Katina Moss, spoke on numerous occasions to protect Medicaid, sharing her personal story with decision-makers and leaders in Richmond and Washington, D.C.

We also launched Collective Agenda in Spanish as part of our legislative advocacy. With a focus on language justice, we’re addressing a barrier that some communities face in fully participating in our democracy and decision-making processes.

One thing that makes this coalition effective is their support of one another. From Janel co-hosting a town hall in Hopewell, to Jaunita coordinating her annual gala, to Sheba organizing the inaugural Virginia Justice Conference, to Vilma getting advisement from coalition members on her upcoming board development, Collective Workers show up for each other as panelists, volunteers, presenters, listening ears, and simply being present. 

What’s ahead? We anticipate and are looking forward to sharing in Collective Agenda wins throughout the upcoming legislative session, lending voice to issues that our neighbors care about. We will continue community education and will strengthen our collective relationships with a peer-to-peer shadowing effort. We will be gathering in Richmond for a Legislative Retreat during Presidents’ Day weekend. We’ll be growing! We are looking to add new members and are exploring areas in Northern Virginia, as well as Lynchburg, Martinsville, Wise County, and Danville. 

Collective Worker Updates and Milestones:

Crimson Solano/COSPU (Harrisonburg): Crimson and COSPU continue to provide critical support and essential resources to families navigating the immigration process during a time of uncertainty, as federal policy changes and decisions continue to impact them. Updates are intentionally limited.

Derrick Veney & Ben Blackley/The Family One (Loudon County): Family Fest 2025 redefined community engagement in Loudoun, drawing a record-breaking 1,800 attendees for a day of joy, unity, and support. With gaming trucks, live performances, and free resources for families, the event showed how creating safe spaces for connection helps the entire county thrive. More than a festival, it highlighted strong family bonds and TFO’s role as a cornerstone of community support. At the Virginia Justice Conference, TFO advanced its commitment to advocacy and restorative practices. By engaging in critical conversations on healing-centered approaches, they reinforced their mission to equip youth with the emotional tools and equitable environments needed to overcome challenges and grow as leaders. Their strategic partnership with the Theresa Sondra Jacobs Foundation has also expanded opportunities for workforce development. By connecting mentees with leaders in technology and innovation, the collaboration creates a bridge from mentorship to career pathways — helping Loudoun County youth turn aspirations into real opportunities.

Jackie Lawrence & Zenobia Bey/Community 50/50 (Hampton Roads): Jackie hosted an expungement and record-sealing clinic in partnership with Lawrence Family Tree / The Light Work, Community 50/50, Nolef Turns, Justice Forward Foundation, Paint Me Perfect, and Atlantis Apartment. The event also served as a launch pad for expanding Community 50/50 into Virginia Beach. She also began a new role as a Community Health Worker Manager, working directly with people enrolled in Medicaid to help navigate the health care system. Additionally, Jackie co-led the design of the free therapy referral process for the Trauma Healing Response Network in partnership with the Richmond Association of Black Social Workers. The network supports families impacted by firearm injury in Richmond.

Janell Sinclair/Hebron VA (Petersburg/Dinwiddie County): Professionally, Janell secured $500,000 in funding for a community recreational park project in Petersburg. Through the organization she founded, Hebron, she also began developing program systems designed to support growth and scale the organization’s impact.

Jaunita Shanks/Failsafe ERA (Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, Fredericksburg): Failsafe graduated 929 people who are incarcerated from its Courage to Change pre-release interactive journaling program and inducted seven returning citizens into its Hall of Change. This honor recognizes their personal transformation and commitment to becoming Agents of Change who serve as mentors and leaders, inspiring others on the path to rebuilding their lives. In response to rising youth violence in the region, Failsafe launched the “Sounding the Alarm on Youth Violence” community initiative following a tragic series of incidents that resulted in the loss of three young lives and four youth entering the criminal legal system. The initiative mobilizes community partners to focus on prevention, youth empowerment, and community healing.

Jay Boone/K.U.S.P. (Hampton Roads): Jay became the Food Hub Coordinator for the Community Feed (Food Bank) Berkley location, enabling her to serve not only her direct neighbors in Berkley but also the surrounding community. Through her Health Hub Initiative, community members can access fresh produce and pantry items each week to help feed themselves and their families. Jay became a Norfolk Master Gardener and joined the Urban Agriculture team, supporting plant cultivation and food production through education provided by the Virginia Cooperative Extension and collaboration with other Norfolk Master Gardeners in the community. Jay also completed the Urban Agriculture Certification program through Virginia State University to deepen her knowledge of urban agriculture and help empower others in the Hampton Roads community to become stewards of local food production.

Katina Moss/Black Hope VA (Hopewell, VA): Katina had the honor of speaking twice at the U.S. Congress — first at an event hosted by U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on the steps of the United States Capitol, and again at a hearing led by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. Black Hope VA also hosted its 2025 Juneteenth event in Brunswick County — a first for the area. Katina attended the Virginia Justice Conference as well, gaining valuable insight into building organizational structures that support progressive policy initiatives.

Lorraine Wright/I Vote for Me (Central Virginia):  Lorraine advised JLARC, the state legislature’s research agency, on its study of the effects of gun violence on communities in Virginia per House Joint Resolution 76. IVFM also brought six young people to Minneapolis, MN, to attend Data 4 Public Good’s Inaugural Youth Summit on Digital Liberation. Some of those youth later helped host IVFM’s Dignity in Schools Week of Action event at VCU’s Mary Francis Center, where they shared what they had learned in Minneapolis about youth surveillance and strategies young people can use to protect themselves. IVFM also launched its Equine Therapy Exposure Experience by bringing eight young people and adults to a Black-owned horse ranch in Charlotte, NC. The purpose of the visit was not only to explore the history of Black people in ranching, but more importantly to introduce the young people to equine therapy as a potential therapeutic intervention. Three of the youth present had an autism diagnosis, and all participants were initially hesitant about the experience. However, they quickly became comfortable with the horses, responding to their calm presence and high, soothing frequency, and ultimately had a very positive and enjoyable experience.

Sheba Williams/NolefTurns (Statewide): Because of Sheba’s extensive advocacy and organizing efforts, a constitutional amendment to end felony disenfranchisement has been placed on the November ballot. Sheba also hosted the inaugural Virginia Justice Conference & Awards Sneaker Ball, which drew more than 345 attendees. Members of the Collective Workers network participated as volunteers and panelists, further strengthening collaboration across the movement. Over the past 10 years, Virginia has maintained a recidivism rate of less than 2%. This progress can be attributed in part to the strong coalition support that Sheba and her organization have cultivated and sustained throughout the commonwealth.

Sulaymaan Alkarriem/We R Me Foundation (Central Virginia): We R Me led the fourth year of the Shirley & Me Media Mini Camp, giving youth hands-on experience in podcasting, photography, and audio recording while empowering them to tell their stories and build creative confidence. The organization also launched the Graduation Confidence Care Program to ensure every child walks across the graduation stage feeling proud, supported, and celebrated, regardless of their family’s schedule or financial situation. Karriem also spoke at The Commonwealth Institute’s Annual Policy Summit, where he shared insights on youth empowerment and community impact through the We R Me Foundation and met with Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi to strengthen connections for policy and community advocacy.

Vilma Seymour/Pa’lante Family Technology Center (Central Virginia): It’s a website! Vilma launched Pa’lante’s first website, keeping their network informed of upcoming events and ways to plug in. They also held two Conversational Spanish classes for the community, designed for adult learners focusing on practical communication skills including speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Pa’lante strengthened their programming with the addition of the Youth Entrepreneurship program: Craft to Cash, Finger Crocheting, Cricut for Beginners, Sabor y Salud and Balloon Design, Intergenerational Tech Together and Know Your Rights at Work.

Xavier Duckett/The Humble Hustle (Roanoke, VA): The Humble Hustle celebrated 10 years serving their community — a decade of sustained, community-led impact.