Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Throws Down; Alexis Herman; Real ID Deadline; New BJ Roberts Health Center Opens

Apr 26, 2025

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Above: Community leaders cut the ribbon at the new B.J. Roberts Behavioral Health Center in Hampton

On April 25, the ribbon was cut for the official opening of the B.J. Roberts Behavioral Health Center. The state-of-the-art facility is named after the former Hampton sheriff who centered mental health.

The facility, spanning over 20,000 square feet, will focus on assessing and treating individuals experiencing urgent mental health crises. Services will include medication management, suicide prevention, counseling, and therapy. Designed to be a calming alternative to the bright lights and noise of traditional emergency rooms, the center aims to provide a supportive and soothing environment for those in need.

Video: Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Shuts Down Partisan Attacks During Budget Discussion

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Deshundra Jefferson goes after partisan attacks from Republicans who refused to work on a compromise budget.

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Virginia Education Dept. Extends Grading System Deadline

By Nathaniel Cline for the Virginia Mercury. On Thursday, Virginia’s largest teachers organization cautioned that the Department of Education could be short of teachers to sit on the agency’s committees tasked with adjusting the state’s grading system. State education leaders pushed back, asserting that teachers would still be pivotal participants on the committees and extended the period they could apply to participate to May 2. Read entire.

Young Americans Losing Faith in the System

By Stacy Brown for Black Press USA. A new national survey from the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School finds young Americans facing financial uncertainty, deteriorating mental health, and a growing lack of trust in institutions. The 50th edition of the Harvard Youth Poll offers a comprehensive look at the attitudes of Americans aged 18 to 29—particularly young Black individuals—who feel increasingly left out of national conversations and underserved by political leadership.

Conducted March 14–25, 2025, the poll surveyed 2,096 respondents across the country. More than four in 10 say they are “barely getting by” financially. Young Black Americans continue to face deep financial stress, with 45% reporting hardship. Read more at Black Press USA

Real ID Deadline Approaches on May 7, 2025

As summer approaches and travel plans take shape, it’s important to be ready for upcoming changes that could impact your journey. Starting May 7, 2025, the federal government will require a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card for certain activities, including boarding domestic flights and entering federal facilities.

What is a REAL ID? Created in response to the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the REAL ID Act of 2005 sets nationwide standards for state-issued IDs to enhance security. A REAL ID is a more secure, optional upgrade to your current license or ID—easily identified by a star in the upper right corner.

Now’s the perfect time to check your ID and make sure you’re ready to travel with confidence. Virginia began issuing REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards as an option to the standard driver’s license or ID card in 2018. However, beginning May 7, 2025, a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or ID card will be required to:

board a domestic flight;
enter a secure federal facility;
enter a military base (some military bases may already require REAL ID or a federally approved form of ID).

Since REAL ID is optional in Virginia, you may not need one if you already have another federally accepted form of ID, like a valid U.S. passport or military ID, or don’t travel by plane. However, if you do want one and do not have another federal accepted form of ID, I encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

How to apply for REAL ID? Step 1: Application

Start the application online before visiting a Virginia DMV customer service center or
Fill out a paper application at a Virginia DMV customer service center.
Step 2: Bring required documents to the DMV. These include:

One proof of identity, 2. Two proofs of Virginia residency, 3. One proof of legal presence, 4. Proof of your Social Security number (SSN), if you have been issued one. If you know your SSN, DMV can verify it electronically, 5. If your name appears differently on your proof documents: Proof of name change, 6. $10 fee, plus the cost of the driver’s license or ID card you’re applying for. See fee chart. Note: For example, a standard driver's license renewal costs $32, while a standard driver's license replacement costs $20.

See acceptable documents guide. Virginia does not require you to get a REAL ID compliant license or ID card. If you stick with a standard license or ID, it will display "Federal Limits Apply" the next time you renew. However, be mindful if you need to travel via domestic airlines, enter a federal facility, or enter a military base, you will require some form of federal accepted identification. If you have more questions, you can check out the Virginia DMV’s webpage for REAL ID FAQs. Please contact my office if you have any other questions.

Remembering Alexis Herman (1947-2025)

After the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1992, Alexis Herman made history as the first African American woman appointed Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. In 1997, Herman again shattered barriers when she was sworn in as the first African American to be appointed and confirmed as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.

“Secretary Herman’s dedication to advancing labor rights, uplifting women in the workforce, and empowering marginalized voices has left an indelible legacy. She showed us what’s possible when Black women lead with vision, compassion, and unwavering determination,” the group Higher Heights, led by CEO Glynda Car, said in a statement on April 25.

Below: A Don Baker photo of Alexis Herman, Congressman Bobby Scott and Ernest Glenn, a member of the Little Rock Nine.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my friend Alexis Herman. In 1977, President Carter appointed her director of the Women’s Bureau at the age of 29 – the youngest director in the history of the Department of Labor,” wrote Rep. Bobby Scott in a statement on April 25.

“After the Carter Administration, she founded her own consulting firm to work to advance diversity and inclusion in corporate America, working with such large companies as Proctor & Gamble and AT&T.

She returned to government service after President Clinton’s election, serving as the first African American woman Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. In 1997, President Clinton appointed her as the 23rd Secretary of Labor – the first African American to hold that position. Alexis was a trailblazer whose commitment to equity and justice transformed the American workplace,” Rep. Scott pointed out about Herman.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

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March on Wall Street on August 28, 2025

From the National Action Network: On August 28, we’re taking it to Wall Street not just to protest, but to apply economic pressure where it counts. DEI is under attack. What started years ago has now become a full-scale rollback, backed by the Trump administration. Federal funding slashed. Corporate commitments fading. Diversity treated like a dirty word.

At our Convention on April 5, I made the call. We will not sit back while progress is reversed. Since then, we’ve met with PepsiCo, Target, and Google. Our focus is now on PepsiCo. We gave them a 21-day notice to act. That deadline ends soon. We reconvene on Monday, April 28 to decide next steps including whether to escalate with a boycott. This is an economic fight and we must answer with economic strength.

August 28. Wall Street. Bring your family, your church, your org. Let’s show them we mean business. Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network, Founder & President. For More Information Visit MarchOnWallStreet2025.com