Likely below the radar of most, the former Vice President Mike Pence had a recent popup appearance in NOVA, Reston specifically. The town’s–and one of the nation’s–preeminent nucleus of conservative values, activities, and communication, the Young America’s Foundation (formerly known… Read More ›
EDUCATION
One Size Does Not Fit All
By Frank Blechman Unlike many of my columns for this blog, which are long, rambling, have unexpected conclusions, and challenge belief, this column is short, true, and clear. For many years, I have supported community organizing as the critical tool… Read More ›
Around the Novahood
GMU FACULTY SUPPORTS ITS CUSTODIANS Professors at George Mason University in Fairfax are expressing solidarity with the custodial workers, who say that they were exposed to poor working conditions and have faced retribution for trying to organize. More than 220 people… Read More ›
Outside the Novahood
DO NOT FEED THE CHILDREN In 2017, a parent, learned that school lunches were being taken away from childrens’ hands when they could not pay for the meal. Instead, children were given a cheese sandwich or a snack. This inspired… Read More ›
POST-CORONA: From Crisis to Opportunity
Book Review by Frank Blechman Readers have noted that I can’t seem to just say what I have to say. I seem to wander around until I get to the point of my column. For those annoyed by this, I… Read More ›
Outside the Novahood
Editors’ Note: Our feature ‘Briefly Noted’ is now renamed Outside the Novahood to reflect more geographically its content: items that arise or occur beyond Northern Virginia and, sometimes, elsewhere. KNEELING ATHLETES BROUGHT TO HEEL Bluefield College, a school that competes… Read More ›
Making Equity Universal
By Frank Blechman Over the last few years, the number of observers who have ‘discovered’ inequities in the American system has exploded. Everywhere commentators looked, they found problems in education, health care, employment, and (my goodness) law enforcement. Some highly… Read More ›
Racial Inequities Survive in Virginia
Editors’ Note: Reposted from the Associated Press, February 10, 2021. VoxFairfax deemed this short piece an insightful explanation of structural and/or systemic racism. Jim Crow has survived in many respects out of sight but not out of effect. Virginia needs sweeping… Read More ›
Colloquy: Reparations
Editors’ Note: This is the fourth in a series feature in which VF editors may join along with contributors to discuss a contemporary topic. This “real time” installment features Frank Blechman, Jim McCarthy, Michael Fruitman, Andrew Scalise, Barbara Johnson, and… Read More ›
White, Christian Extremism
Editors’ Note: Excerpted from The New York Times, Feb. 8, 2021. Often overlooked is the relationship between religion and racial animus, particularly the reliance upon religious symbolism as justification for discrimination. This interview with a historian on the subject traces… Read More ›