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Residents, nonprofit leaders and city employees urge council to fund youth programs, arts and collective bargaining
Summary
During the public comment period, 35 speakers urged continued or increased support for local nonprofits (Virginia Living Museum, Virginia Symphony, YMCA, YVCHR), called for recurring funding for violence-intervention and community programs, and multiple city employees urged support for collective bargaining and higher wages.
Public comment at the April 14 session featured 35 speakers who raised neighborhood needs, nonprofit funding requests and workforce concerns.
Nonprofit and arts requests: Sarah Messer Smith, president of the Virginia Living Museum, thanked council for past support and described the museum's reach, saying the institution serves tens of thousands of students and families. Shannon Kelly, president and CEO of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, described the symphony's regional economic and educational contributions and said the orchestra asked the city for a larger community support agency grant allocation after…
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