AFSC's Kenny Matthews speaks at the West Virginia state legislature Photo: Perry Bennett
At some point during a rather hellish legislative session that finally ended this past Saturday, our dear comrade Rick Wilson, AFSC's Economic Justice Director reminded me of the Walt Whitman poem written in 1891. Here is a snippet but you can click to read it's entirety (recommended!):
TO A FOIL'D EUROPEAN REVOLUTIONAIRE.
COURAGE yet, my brother or my sister! Keep on—Liberty is to be subserv'd whatever occurs; That is nothing that is quell'd by one or two failures, or any num-
ber of failures,
Or by the indifference or ingratitude of the people, or by any
unfaithfulness,
Or the show of the tushes of power, soldiers, cannon, penal statutes.
What we believe in waits latent forever through all the continents, Invites no one, promises nothing, sits in calmness and light, is
positive and composed, knows no discouragement,
Waiting patiently, waiting its time.
Reading it is like a balm in these harrowing times, helping screw my courage for the fight in front of us and also helping calm my worried mind, by putting today's struggle for justice and fairness along the arc of history. These days we are often asking ourselves, what the heck can we do in the face of so many attacks on so many people's lives and health and livelihoods? I can't say I have answers but I have ideas and I of course believe that we have no other choice but to act when we can. We cannot predict what single action or set of actions will work to stem this horrible tide. Which brings to mind the query Paolo Freire raised in Pedagogy of the Oppressed: “What can we do now in order to be able to do tomorrow what we are unable to do today?”
Below is a brief legislative overview, but before we get to all that, I wanted to share how thrilled we are that Molly Born has joined the AFSC-WV team as a youth leadership coach with Appalachian Center for Equality. I first got to know Molly when she was reporting on SNAP in her role as journalist with WV Public Broadcasting. We are really lucky to have Molly—you can reach her at MBorn@afsc.org.
The Appalachian Center for Equality is also hiring! ACE is searching for a new program coordinator. Visit AFSC's careers center for more details.
Read on for opportunities and events that hopefully make what feels impossible today, more possible tomorrow!
Town Hall Meeting - April 17th
We are hosting along with allies a federal town hall event in Charleston at Unitarian Universalist April 17th at 5:30 PM—hope to see some of you there!
Summer Policy Institute 2025 - This year's theme is Public Education: Plus celebrating 10 years of SPI!!
SPI is a convening focused on policy, where participants learn the ins and outs of policy change through a research and data lens, as well as crucial skills rooted in community engagement and grassroots mobilization.
Watch this cool video created by Kat Curry, Summer Policy Institute intern working with Liz and the SPI planning team. And share with anyone you know who is interested in making a ruckus via media, research, coalition building, policy, and storytelling.
Registration deadline April 25th >>
Save Our Farms - This Saturday!
For those closer to my neck of the woods in Greenbrier County, come on out Saturday at the Save Our Farm Rally and Food Drive in downtown Lewisburg at 12:30 PM to support local farmers, school food programs, and food pantries.
Restorative Justice at NASW Conference - Next Friday
I get to team up again with Sister Rosie Hefner, our long time co-conspirator on all things restorative justice for a presentation at the NASW conference in Charleston. Come say hi or join us!
Skill-Building Institute - Circle Keeping and Victim Offender Dialogues
Friday, June 13, 2025
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
As part of our work with the WV Restorative Justice Project, we heard loud and clear the need for more skill building in restorative justice. On June 13, 2025, join us at WVU College of Law for a full day of building skills!
Each participant will be engaged in a half-day session to build their skills in Circle Keeping and a second half-day session to build skills in Victim-Offender Dialogue. Circle keeping session will be led by Judge Wesley Saint Clair and Tracey Battle will be leading the session on victim-offender dialogue.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2025
Without a doubt, a lot of really terrible bills passed and below is by no means a comprehensive overview but I’ll mention a few particularly bad ones. Many thanks are due to Kenny Matthews and our allies with the WV Criminal Law Reform coalition for vigilance at the capitol this year doing what was possible to minimize impact of a really terrible penalty enhancement bill, and fending off again a death penalty bill.
Liz and Molly alongside Summer Policy Institute alums and social workers did heroic damage control on the school discipline bill SB 199, which passed in an improved and less harmful form.
Some of the bad:
- Earmarking nearly $100 million for Hope Scholarship (i.e. defunding public schools) while not funding teacher raises nor fixing PEIA
- SB 474 eliminating DEI programs and related positions across the state’s executive branch, public schools and higher education institutions
- SB 299 halting the medical care for nearly 100 trans kids in the state are receiving; and SB 154 prohibiting instruction on sexual orientation and compelling teachers to report to parent if kids say their gay or are questioning their gender identity. Fairness WV is rallying people to contact Governor Morrisey to VETO these mean bills.
Here’s a great summary of the terrible legislative session from Mountain State Spotlight.
TAKE HEART, there were glorious moments too when evil forces were thwarted:
- Protection of Medicaid with a GLORIOUS smackdown of effort to gut funding for healthcare—read more here
- Defeat of the third attempt (this year it was SB 249) to kick people off SNAP by making the SNAP Employment and Training program mandatory
- SB 592 giving industry freer rein to pollute water sources was stopped thanks to huge efforts by WV Environmental Council, WV Rivers Coalition, among others
- Bill to further criminalize houseless people via a camping ban HB 2382 stalled out on 2nd reading in the Senate
- HB 2834 which would have created stiff penalties for anyone who transports a person who is undocumented—DIED in Senate, hooray!
SB 196 did ultimately pass which enhances penalties for people convicted of selling/distributing fentanyl and any substance that includes fentanyl, but the final version did not include a sweeping provision that tripled penalties and mandated incarceration for possession with intent to deliver, the most common drug felony. You can read my little diatribe here about the worst version of the bill which passed out of the senate and we were able to amend in the house. West Virginia Watch reported about the bill's passage with commentary from Kenny.
That's all for now. As always thanks for reading and I sure hope our paths will cross soon!
In solidarity,
Lida Shepherd
Learn more about the West Virginia Economic Justice Project and sign up for updates.