Policy choices shape what’s possible for our communities — from health care and food access to good schools, workers’ rights, and protections for our immigrant neighbors. With major changes underway and important decisions ahead, this year’s Policy Summit is a chance to understand what’s changing, build practical skills, and strategize with people shaping what comes next.
Join us for a day of conversation and connection with advocates, community members, policy experts, Virginia legislators, and keynote speaker Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry and author of the New York Times bestseller “Rest Is Resistance”! Whether you work in policy every day or are simply curious about how policy works and how we fund our shared priorities, this is a day you’ll want to make time for.
In addition to the important conversations throughout the day, participants will be able to:
- Get a free professional headshot through the Jones Media Company.
- Purchase Tricia Hersey’s “Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto” on-site through Resist Booksellers. Then get it signed by the author!
We also invite you to celebrate 20 years of The Commonwealth Institute at a separate, ticketed reception later that day. Select a combined ticket for discounted access to both events.
We look forward to hosting you at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture on November 9, 2026, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Schedule
8:30 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
9:30 a.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
10:00 a.m.
Breakout Session 1
HR 1 Case Study: The Power of Storytelling in the Fight Ahead
Thousands fought back against harmful proposals in HR1, the federal budget bill that cut health care and food assistance. Hear how advocates used the power of storytelling to defeat some of the worst proposals — and what comes next to mitigate the bill’s harms, particularly tax breaks for the wealthy.
Food is Medicine: The Link Between Hunger and Health Equity
Access to adequate, nutritious food is directly linked to good health. Yet thousands in Virginia face food insecurity and, subsequently, poor health amid rising health care costs. With H.R. 1 and changes to SNAP making that worse, learn how the Food is Medicine movement in Virginia is calling the question and demanding change.
The Right Start: Why Counsel at First Appearance Matters
No one should have to stand in front of a judge alone. Learn how providing a lawyer at a person’s first court appearance is already working in some Virginia courts, who it impacts most, and how we are working to mandate the practice in more areas of Virginia.
Public Sector Collective Bargaining: How It Works and Why It Matters for Democracy
Strong public sector unions can improve public services and help protect democratic institutions. Learn what it would look like to change Virginia’s current patchwork system, which leaves state employees out, including the details on how public sector bargaining could work under legislation like the bill introduced in 2026.
11:20 a.m.
Keynote: Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry and author of Rest Is Resistance
12:25 p.m.
Lunch
1:15 p.m.
Breakout Session 2
Making Truth Stick in a World of Misinformation
What makes information stick? Explore how trust, existing beliefs, and the way we communicate shape what people accept as true — and learn when and how to combat misinformation in real-world policy conversations.
Care in Crisis: Keeping Health Care within Reach
Federal cuts are already making health coverage harder to afford, and new paperwork requirements will push even more people in Virginia out of coverage. Hear from advocates working to help people keep their coverage, limit the harms of H.R. 1, and advance solutions that protect access to care.
Corporate Accountability: Using the Tax Code to Push Back on Corporate Greed
Corporations should contribute to the communities where they do business. Learn how large corporations use loopholes and recent federal tax changes to avoid paying what they owe and how advocates can push back on corporate greed, close loopholes, and challenge corporate tax giveaways.
2:30 p.m.
Breakout Session 3
Connecting the Dots: How We Fund What Matters
Whatever issue you work on, how we fund it shapes what’s possible. Good news: You don’t have to be a tax expert to talk about it. Learn how to connect taxes and revenue to your own policy priorities and talk about those connections in ways that resonate.
State and Local Tools to Push Back Against Federal Immigration Overreach
Federal immigration enforcement is terrorizing communities across Virginia and the country. Learn how advocates are fighting back at the state and local levels and what opportunities lie ahead to hold federal agents accountable and protect communities from costly and harmful enforcement actions.
Once in a Generation: Advancing Equity With a New K-12 Funding Formula
Virginia policymakers are considering rewriting Virginia’s k-12 funding formula. Whether, and how much, the new formula advances adequacy and equity in funding depends on the details. And you can help shape those details.
3:40 p.m.
A Conversation on Black Leadership and the Work Ahead
Virginia’s current cabinet — the governor’s top state leaders — is the most diverse in history. TCI’s president joins select cabinet members to reflect on Black leadership, the priorities they hope to advance during their tenure, and how advocates can engage and support the work ahead.