Common Ground

A Newsletter for the Interfaith Community

Special Edition June 2025

FCIA EVENT SAVE THE DATE!!

Tuesday July 15th, 2025

7:00pm-8:30pm

This meeting will be held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (2709 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA 22124)

Please send any requests for language interpretation services to Lyndzey Elliott @ lyndzey.elliott@fairfaxcounty.gov by 7/8/25.

SAVE THE DATE!

The 4th Annual Interfaith Resiliency Conference will be hosted on Thursday, September 18th from 8:30 AM -12:30 PM at Fairfax Church.

This conference will feature a presentation from a Director of Security who will share insights and best practices for strengthening safety and emergency preparedness at Houses of Worship.

Attendees will also take part in a short, hands-on emergency preparedness exercise designed specifically for Faith Communities. This interactive activity will walk participants through a realistic scenario, helping them think through how their House of Faith would respond to a crisis.

Please register here: 4th Annual Resiliency Conference Registration

We hope to see you there!

Safety and Security

The 2026 Combating Hate Crimes Grant Program

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Combating Hate Crimes Grant Program. Local jurisdictions have until the end of July to apply for this funding opportunity aimed at preventing and addressing hate crimes in their communities.

Who can apply and what does the program support? This grant program supports local governments that have partnered with eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, particularly those that have been targeted or are at risk of being targeted by hate crimes. Funding is intended to help reduce bias-motivated incidents based on race, religion, color, gender, disability, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, or national origin.

Why does this matter? The goal of the initiative is to enhance public safety and resilience by empowering at-risk institutions through financial support. Full guidelines and application materials are available on the DCJS website, and early application is encouraged. Learn more here: 2026 Combating Hate Crimes Grant Program Funding Opportunity | Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services

TAM Symposium 2025

The Fairfax County Police Department’s TAM Unit will host its second annual two-day Threat Assessment and Management Symposium for individuals associated with threat teams. This year’s theme is Navigating Emerging Threats: Anticipate, Adapt, and Act for a Safer Tomorrow. The date is August 18-19^th, 2025 from 8am – 4pm at Capital One Hall.

Please register here: Threat Assessment and Management Symposium 2025

Community Resources

Volunteer Solutions

Please save the date, Sunday, October 5^th, 2025, for the annual Venture into Volunteering fair coordinated by Volunteer Solutions, at the Springfield Town Center from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., in partnership with The Beacon’s 50+ Expo.

Venture into Volunteering is Northern Virginia’s premier volunteer recruitment fair. If your organization is interested in participating and having a table at this event, please email Jeannine.Purdy@FairfaxCounty.gov and she will add you to the list of possible vendors. She will be emailing registration information to interested parties in July. Please note, there is a fee or in-kind donation to reserve a table.

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Help Support Older Adults – Volunteers Needed

Volunteer Solutions (Dept. of Family Services) is looking for volunteer Grocery Shoppers and Social Visitors to assist older adults in the eastern and southern regions of Fairfax County. Your time and compassion can make a big difference in someone’s life.

To learn more or sign up, visit: bit.ly/DFS-VS

Please share this in newsletters or online and follow Fairfax County Volunteer Solutions on Facebook.