Terrence Walker is running for House Delegate in Virginia’s district 81. A lot of candidates like to talk about what they’re going to accomplish when elected, and Terrence does too, I guess, though he is more likely to ask people, “What can I do for you?”
He has a platform that is focused on community — community building and safety, wellness and health, education equity, food equity. He is Pro Choice and started the Walker Fund for DACA Students.
*** Terrence is an activist who has walked his neighborhood for over 20 years. That came in handy when he and others decided to bring back National Night Out to their neighborhood.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.
Terrence got other neighborhoods involved by inviting them while he was out walking. The community came together on the block for food, safety demonstrations, and other activities to bring neighbors, and police together in a positive way.
*** Terrence Walker has a Master of Divinity Degree from Howard University, where community social outreach is important. It’s always been important to Terrence. He was concerned about Wellness, particularly of Black men; diet/lifestyle/health/cancer/hypertension.
How to reach these men? In the barber shop! Terrence and his wife made up brochures and fliers to place in barber shops around the community. One had a picture of a basketball player with a shirt saying, “Shoot for 9”, that would be 9 servings of fruit and vegetables a day.
They placed bowls of grapes and other fruits and veggies in each shop. They didn’t have much luck with that though. No one was getting up or reaching over to get the food. They ended up putting the food in individual baggies for the barbers to pass out and that was a great success!
*** Terrence Walker says his grandmother, Miss Josie, is the reason he started The Walker Fund. He wanted to honor this fine, outspoken woman, whom he had such a strong bond with.
The Walker Fund is a scholarship program Terrence started for DACA students.
“For these students, there is a significant degree of uncertainty for their future, and it’s hard when many of them are doing all they can to succeed,” Walker says. “I want to push toward having better access for immigrant students pursuing the American Dream, and that includes a college education.”
Through his contribution, Walker hopes to plant a seed for more student support in the future.
*** Terrence is without a doubt pro-choice. You can read a very touching article about he and his wife's experience here. “My wife’s decisions about her body kept her here longer with us”.
*** Terrence and his wife, Tracy, joined the parent-teacher association at their son's elementary school, even before their son was old enough to attend the school, to ensure that he obtained a quality public education. Over the years, Terrence has served on the PTA at their son's elementary, middle, and high school and is the previous Varina representative on the Henrico County Council PTA. In 2022, Terrence was honored by the Henrico PTA Council and the elected school board member for the Varina district for his leadership, civic engagement, and support of schools and educators.
One of the things they noticed early on was that in certain parts of the county, kids weren’t doing as well in school as other parts. Probably because of a lot of factors but one was certainly a lack of technology. No access to computers or broadband. (A lot of the broadband issues were helped by COVID and virtual school, they had to have broadband then.)
Terrence thought that getting kids used to working with computers so they would be exposed to technology before going to public school would help close the gap in technology.
He talked about it. A lot. One day a friend of a friend of a friend of Terrence's mother mentioned that a community college in MD had outdated computers and was getting new ones. She asked Terrence if he’d be interested. Yes, yes, he was very interested in them. Before long, he had over 200 outdated computers scattered around his house.
He rounded up friends with mad computer skills, fixed those 200 computers and donated them to day cares and families with no computers.
*** Terrence currently serves as a political appointee on the Henrico County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) as a Varina representative. He has enjoyed speaking to local media about the mental and physical health benefits of green space and the Virginia Capital Trail. Terrence is a member of the Dorey Park Farmers Market Board of Directors and is passionate about reducing food deserts in his local community. He is also the previous At-Large Member of the Henrico National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Because of his concern about environmental issues, Terrence has worked with community activists to address pollution and public health issues created by a local landfill. He petitioned the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to hold the landfill accountable for multiple environmental violations.
*** Terrence Walker was recognized by Terry McAuliffe, in 2015, for creating Ram Pantry. The pantry as we know it today is a VCU student-run pantry for students experiencing food insecurity. Terrence Walker has also been a coordinator of the Pantry. www.dailykos.com/...
So, when Terrence tells us his focus will be on community safety, health and food security, economic security and choice for women, we don’t have to wonder if he will follow through. He’s already working on those issues. He’s good at it and at working with others and inspiring people.
He’s been Vice Chair of the Henrico County Democratic Party, on the Henrico County PTA Council, a political appointee on the Henrico County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, a member of the Dorey Park Farmers Market Board of Directors, and an At-Large Member of the Henrico NAACP. He shows up and he gets the job done. Let’s send him to Virginia’s General Assembly!