On Friday, June 20th, 5 Valley Interfaith Action (VIA) leaders met with Senator Mark Warner outside of Kline’s ice cream shop in downtown Harrisonburg, VA, in the Shenandoah Valley.

It was a first meeting that resulted in a commitment to meet again in August to flesh out a strategy for supporting Valley Early Education Reimagined, VIA’s initiative to launch and operate new high-quality preschools that increase access, affordability, and teacher recruitment and retention.

Senator Warner also committed to reaching out to gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger to ask her to meet with VIA. VIA is working with VA Senator Mark Obenshien to secure a meeting with gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Winsom Earle-Spears. VIA is strictly non-partisan and seeks to work with whomever is the next VA governor to address the twin crisis of childcare and rural transportation affecting families and businesses in Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County.


This is not the first time Metro IAF has called Sen Warner to the picnic table. VIA leaders pointed to the relationship and work he did with leaders in Prince William County during the foreclosure crisis that led to $500 million in loan modifications and principal reduction to support homeowners facing foreclosure due to predatory loans.

“You’ve worked with us before. Now, let’s do it again here in rural Virginia to transform childcare and model a more meaningful local politics.”