Community Role Model's Anniversary

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was highlighted in an article on the one-year anniversary of the county's Community Role Models program in The Connection. Tejada has championed the program since he was elected to the County Board.

"The program's aim: to get 20- and 30-something adults involved in the local community, and it has worked, creating what County Board member Walter Tejada has called "the next wave of civic activists in Arlington." Since its inception, the program has conducted several meet-ups connecting adults with the volunteer opportunities that interest them. Local organizations credit the program for enlisting new recruits."

Others cited in the article include Miles Grant who volunteers on stream cleanups and other projects with Arlingtonians for a Cleaner Environment; and Sara Girovasi-Marron who volunteers at Doorways for Women Temporary Shelter, a safe haven for battered and homeless women.

"The program is partnered with more than 50 local volunteer groups focused on issues like environmental conservation, affordable housing, youth mentoring, public health and homelessness. And according to a 2004 report from the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families, the help is much needed."

See Also:

• Tejada's CRM Program in Action (June 2, 2005)
• Tejada and Community Role Models (June 2, 2004)

Tejada Gives Democratic Hispanic Radio Address

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada delivered the Democratic Hispanic Radio Address today in which he discussed the Supreme Court vacancy suggesting possible candidates, what's at stake for Hispanics and civil rights, and declared that President Bush had a unique opportunity to unite the country. Tejada's address was heard nationwide through local Univision Radio, Latino Broadcasting Company, Radio Formula, Radiovisa, Radio Bilingue, and CNN en Espanol Radio.

You can listen to the 3-minute Spanish audio as an .mp3 file or read it in La Tribuna Hispana. (Tejada last delivered the Democratic Hispanic Radio address on March 15, 2003.)

Below is the text of the address in English:

"Good morning, this is Walter Tejada, Arlington County Board Member and member of Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary. This week the terrorist attacks in London took place while the leaders of the world's most developed countries met to find ways to make the world a better place. The terrorist attacks in London, as those in Madrid and here in America, were senseless and vicious. Our prayers are with the victims, their friends and family. As Democrats we continue to stand with our allies around the world to defeat terrorism and to protect our liberty.

Here in America, our country faces a critical decision for the protection of civil rights and liberties for which so many have fought. President Bush faces a historic opportunity to make good on his promise to unite the country in choosing the best candidate to fill the seat being vacated by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. The President can work with Democrats to nominate a fair-minded, common sense jurist in the mold of Justice O'Connor, or he can appease his hard-right constituency and put forward a nominee who will further tear the country apart based on partisan leanings.

There is no more important decision in terms of protecting the rights and liberties of all Americans, than choosing a Supreme Court justice. For Hispanics, there is much at stake. The Supreme Court has made historical decisions that deeply affect all minorities with regards to affirmative action, civil rights and immigration.

It was the Supreme Court that ended the segregation of Hispanic school children in Orange County, California 7 years before the famed Brown v. Board of Education decision. And it was the Supreme Court that required schools to help students with limited English skills, making bilingual education available to millions of students over the past three decades. President Bush has the historic opportunity to choose a Hispanic nominee for the Court, but should look beyond personal friendships and consider the Hispanics who would make great Justices, including Edward Prado and Sonia Sotomayor.

President Bush has allowed the extremist right wing of his Party to dominate the agenda on everything from immigration to Social Security. The far right has already launched deplorable attacks designed to get an extremist nominee for the Supreme Court who would alter the balance of the Court and roll back constitutional rights.

Americans deserve a dignified process, one that puts our democracy and the rights of all Americans ahead of partisanship and ideology. President Bush should use this opportunity to unite the country, and work with members of both parties to nominate a Supreme Court Justice that all Americans can be proud of.

This is Walter Tejada for the Democratic Party, thank you for listening."

Tejada on BRAC

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada will be offering a briefing in Spanish on the Base Realignment and Closure 2005, or BRAC, on Friday, July 8, according to a notice in The Connection. Accompanying Tejada will be Congressman Jim Moran. The event will be at 10 a.m. at Courthouse Plaza, on 2100 Clarendon Blvd.