LO County Board of Supervisors Chair, Phyllis Randall Visits Loudoun Campus

As part of International Education Week, and in collaboration with the Loudoun Campus Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, the NOVA Loudoun Campus hosted an event entitled: “Think Globally, Act Locally”- How Loudoun County is Preparing Students to Become Global Citizens, Future Leaders, and Lifelong Learners in a Diverse Society. The event featured Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair, Phyllis Randall who spoke on the demographics of Loudoun County’s residents, the current experiences of the LatinX and Afghan refugee communities, and the opportunities and challenges students from diverse backgrounds face in becoming future global citizens and community leaders. Key items from the discussion included:

1. The difference between “median income” and “wealth” when understanding the disparities that might exist in the local community, and how that impacts students and their needs within the County. For example, 11% of Loudoun County residents live below the poverty line and 22% are considered economically disadvantaged, even though Loudoun County has the highest median income in the United States.  
2. The variation and frequency of languages spoken in the county including Spanish, Hindi, Telegu, and Korean. According to Chair Randall, approximately 18% of Loudoun County residents are non-English Language Speakers.
3. The impacts of Covid on dropout rates for online classes, and which communities of color were hardest hit.
4. The need to make long-term investments in families of diverse communities to ensure the emergence of leaders with varying perspectives.    

Beyond her speech, Chair Randall engaged in a 20-minute question and answer session with students. NOVA Loudoun students asked the Chair about her perspectives on future directions for the county, and the ways in which they could get involved to ensure diverse communities are fully served. Chair Randall provided sage advice in noting that even more than policy, relationships matter, “You can put all of the policies in place that you want, but it doesn’t change hearts.”

At the conclusion of the event, Chair Randall advised students “As you walk through your lives in your skin, and with your experiences, nothing will be given to you. However, the fight to advocate for yourself is worth it. Take the baton and remember all the good intentions don’t mean a thing if you don’t check in with others to see what you don’t know.”

Submitted by:
Saleha Bholat, LO-Prof. of Comm & Human Studies, SBholat@nvcc.edu