L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

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The Commonwealth Poll featured landline and mobile telephone interviews from June 30 through July 9, 2022, with a representative sample of 813 adult Virginia residents.
News / July 26, 2022

Commonwealth Poll: Gov. Youngkin’s approval at 49%; Virginians support tax relief policies, funding for HBCUs and innovation lab schools

Youngkin’s approval is split by party and region, but support for gas tax holiday, ending grocery tax, funding HBCUs and new lab schools is strong across all demographics.

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Basil Gooden, Ph.D., Director of State Operations for USDA Rural Development
News / July 21, 2022

"Exploring the Resurgence of Rural America" with Basil Gooden

One in five Americans now lives in a small town. An unexpected result of the pandemic has been a steady increase in talent moving to rural areas as people reexamine their values, connections to family and work-life balance. What is next in this resurgence of rural America? 

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In recent years, Keener’s own research has focused on the structural barriers to re-entry for previously incarcerated parents and the intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system.
News / July 14, 2022

Wilder School Alumni Changemaker: Steven Keener

Criminal justice scholar Steven Keener shares his passion for the transformational power of education.

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Following the Supreme Court's ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson, Americans in a number of states are expected to face changes in access to reproductive health resources. VCU experts share what impacts they expect from this Supreme Court decision. (Getty Images)
News / June 30, 2022

Exploring the impact of Dobbs v. Jackson with Sarah Jane Brubaker

Brubaker, a professor of criminal justice and public policy and administration and director of VCU’s certificate in gender violence intervention at the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, studies sexual and domestic violence, gender violence and reproductive and sexual health in connection with criminal justice and public policy.

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Wilder School alumna Sesha Joi Moon has been named the new director of the House of Representatives Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
News / June 28, 2022

Pelosi names Wilder School Alumna Sesha Joi Moon to House Diversity Office

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced the appointment of Wilder School alumna Sesha Joi Moon as the new director of the House of Representatives Office of Diversity and Inclusion on Monday. Congress established the nonpartisan, independent office Moon will head in 2019 to improve the recruitment, retention and development of a diverse House workforce, to act as a resource for House offices, and to increase awareness of diversity issues among House staff.

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Katharine Bond, vice-president for public policy and state affairs at Dominion Energy, will discuss the economic trends shaping our future.
News / June 28, 2022

Wilder School Lunch and Learn recap - Rising Costs, Rising Inflation: Making Sense of the Economy

Across the country, Americans are struggling with rising prices and inflation on everyday goods, from gas to groceries. What are the economic factors contributing to this situation and how can we make sense of it?  These are topics Katharine Bond, vice-president for public policy and state affairs at Dominion Energy, addressed during a timely discussion on navigating the trends that are shaping our pocketbooks and future plans.

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Basil Gooden, Ph.D., Director of State Operations for USDA Rural Development
News / June 28, 2022

Wilder School Lunch and Learn “The Resurgence of Rural America” with Basil Gooden

One in five Americans now lives in a small town. An unexpected result of the pandemic has been a steady increase in talent moving to rural areas as people reexamine their values, connections to family and work-life balance. What is next in this resurgence of rural America? Join Basil Gooden, Ph.D., director of State Operations for USDA Rural Development, for a virtual discussion exploring rural America.

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News / June 27, 2022

Why do school shootings keep happening in the United States?

Will Pelfrey fields questions to address America's gun violence.

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Wilder School Dean Susan T. Gooden and Distinguished Professor and 66th Governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder, co-founders of the Research Institute for Social Equity, attend a graduation recording at VPM studios on April 21, 2021.
News / June 22, 2022

Research Institute for Social Equity receives $3 million to become thought leader and connector for advancing social justice

The Research Institute for Social Equity in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU, an institute that has contributed to the equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Virginia among other efforts, will receive $3 million over the course of two years to continue efforts toward advancing equity to inform public policy, governance and practice to improve conditions for marginalized voices in society.

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Seeking out professional help and resources is a key recommendation for anyone facing eviction.
News / June 15, 2022

Expiration of renters’ protections sparks fear of increased evictions

The RVA Eviction Lab at the VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, which analyzes eviction data across Virginia, forecasts an increase in evictions in coming months.

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