Michelle4VA
Sep 25, 2022
On September 25, community members gathered in Manassas City to celebrate African Diaspora Heritage Month, established this spring by Del. Michelle Maldonado's House bill HJ 133. The event was sponsored by the Virginia African Diaspora Committee (VADC).
Maldonado presented her bill in January 2022 as its Chief Patron, and in the same month Sen. Jennifer McClellan presented companion Senate resolution SJ 34. The Virginia House and Senate adopted SJ34ER and HJ133ER in March, designating September as Virginia African Diaspora Heritage Month not only in 2022 but also "in each succeeding year." The bill was later codified and signed into law by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
The VADC's free, in-person heritage event featured dance, art, and food. Del. Glenn Davis Jr. joined McClellan and Maldonado as special guests.