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Hampton proclaims October observances, highlights national engagement award and community programs
Summary
At its legislative session, the Hampton City Council proclaimed October observances including Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, recognized the city’s IAP2 Core Values Award for school engagement, and presented proclamations for Lights On After School and local domestic violence services.
Mayor James A. Gray Jr. used the council’s legislative session to proclaim several October observances, present local proclamations and announce a national award for the city’s public engagement work.
The council proclaimed October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Cybersecurity Awareness Month and proclaimed Oct. 11, 2025, as Lights On After School Day in Hampton. The mayor read a Lights On proclamation and invited program representatives to receive it at the dais.
The mayor also announced that Hampton received the 2025 International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Core Values Award for the Virginia School Engagement Project in the category of respect for diversity, inclusion and culture. The mayor said the project “elevated community voices, incorporated ASL interpretation, and honored the legacy of the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind.”
Mayor Gray spoke about personal gratitude to the community earlier in the meeting after the council observed a moment of silence for his late wife. “My family and I are extremely grateful for the outpouring of, you know, support that we received during this difficult time for us…we thank you for all that you’ve done,” he said.
The council also invited representatives from the Transitions Family Violence Center to the podium as part of the domestic violence awareness proclamation. The mayor called attention to regional efforts and data cited during the reading: the transcript referenced more than 68,000 calls to the Virginia domestic violence hotline in 2024.
The proclamations acknowledged local after-school efforts — the Hampton Community Education Enrichment Program, Read Across America Program, Kiddie STEM and Community Mentorship program — and encouraged public participation in Lights On After School activities and in awareness observances for domestic violence prevention and breast cancer screening.
No motions or formal votes were recorded specifically on the proclamations; they were presented as part of the evening’s proclamations and awards portion of the agenda.
