Lily Hungarland began her journey with Virginia Organizing in high school. She recently graduated and started at UVA this month.

“I started learning about social justice issues and Virginia Organizing through church in middle school,” said Lily. Her youth minister was also the local organizer for Danville.

Lily got involved by making phone bank calls in 2014 and 2015 to talk to people about Medicaid expansion. “I got to talk to people who were affected by not having health care and it was really powerful to hear their stories,” she said.

Lily also worked on restoration of rights campaigns over the last two years and has seen the progression of helping people fill out longer applications to more simplified processes implemented by Governor Terry McAuliffe.

She also got to work with another woman in the Chapter last year to lead a women’s roundtable discussion for directly affected women about issues that concern them in Danville.

“I could have volunteered to do some other community work, maybe at my school,” said Lily. “But I would be subject to whatever someone told me to do. With Virginia Organizing, I got to take a leadership role, work with people who are actually experiencing the issues, and see real change happen.”

Lily is currently working with the Chapter to end opportunity gaps in education and serves on the State Governing Board of Virginia Organizing. Thank you, Lily, for your service!