Spanberger: “When We Are Talking About Opportunity, It Means We Have to Recognize the Strengths of What Makes Virginia Unique”
RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger on Saturday joined a crowded restaurant of community members in Virginia Beach to celebrate Black History Month and reflect on the work still ahead to create a stronger Commonwealth for all Virginians.
During a breakfast hosted by the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee, Spanberger spoke about the importance of expanding the opportunities available to Virginians and recognizing the Commonwealth’s full history — during Black History Month and always.
“I believe in a country where we celebrate our history. Where we recognize that our successes are more powerful because of the failures that we have also experienced. Where the success of community members and small business owners and kids in our community is what we all should collectively strive to achieve,” said Spanberger during Saturday’s event. “And as I am now traveling across Virginia listening to people, the stories are so similar. Families who want to ensure that their kids’ education is as good as it can be — that the opportunities that present themselves, that the opportunities they have are theirs to seize. And they recognize, people recognize — I’ve got three school-aged kids, I recognize the challenges our kids are facing in schools — teacher retention and teacher recruitment and the underfunding of schools — these are real challenges.”
Spanberger continued, “We need a Governor who is focused on ensuring that every kid in every corner of this Commonwealth has the chance at success that they deserve. And when we are talking about opportunity, it means we have to recognize the strengths of what makes Virginia unique. It’s our strong educational system — and our HBCUs are integral to that. The number of legislators who are serving in the General Assembly who attended HBCUs — it’s enormous, because they are universities that are foundational both to the history of Virginia, but to the success that so many of our neighbors and community members have achieved.”
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