New Members Who We Are Presentation

Welcome to SERV

SERV (Students for Equity and Reform in Virginia) is an organization dedicated to advocating for equity and reform through legislative action.

Introduction

Leadership of SERV includes:

  • President: Tessa Danehy

  • Vice President: Hayden Ratliff

  • Head of Administration: Dhruv Rungta

  • Head of Partnerships: Kristin O’Donoghue

  • Head of Legislation: Lydia McVeigh

  • Head of Research: Alexandra Hartman

Mission Statement

SERV aims to:

  • Identify and collaborate with activist organizations for legislative solutions.

  • Plan and conduct lobbying on significant issues for partner organizations.

  • Advocate for policy reform and equity in Virginia.

Our Model

During the January 2021 legislative session, SERV focuses on supporting ongoing legislative efforts through research, coalition-building, and lobbying. Future sessions will involve proposing legislation based on the priorities of community organizations.

Current Priorities

Key legislative priorities include:

  1. Farmworkers' Rights

  2. Equity in Marijuana legalization

  3. Human Trafficking training for casino employees

  4. Expungement of criminal records

  5. Reducing fines and fees in the criminal justice system

  6. Environmental justice standards

Past Work

SERV successfully campaigned to ban rubber bullets used by police in Virginia, collaborating with various organizations and gathering over 3,000 petition signatures. Their advocacy also involved direct engagement with legislators.

Membership

SERV welcomes members who are passionate about activism, willing to commit time, and interested in legislative processes.

Member Expectations

Members should:

  • Attend meetings and engage in legislative work

  • Vote in elections

  • Adhere to Standards of Conduct

Organization Structure

The organizational structure consists of project teams focused on specific legislation/research topics, with designated team leads:

  • Fines and Fees: Hayden

  • Farmworkers: Kristin

  • Pretrial/Marihuana: Patrick

  • Expungement: Tessa

  • Human Trafficking: Lydia & Alexandra

  • Environmental Justice: Madeleine

Benefits of Joining SERV

Engagement provides:

  • Learning Opportunities: Involvement in Virginia politics

  • Professional Experience: Legislative experience enhances resumes

  • Social Events: Opportunity to meet new peers

Next Steps

Those interested in joining SERV will receive an email with instructions on:

  • Joining the Slack group

  • Filling out the When2Meet form

  • Choosing project teams

  • Providing contact information in the membership spreadsheet

  • Attending the next general meeting

Questions?

For any queries or further information, members can reach out during meetings or through email.