Welcome to The Coat Room
The information to navigate our political systems isn't secret - it's just not openly discussed. Until now. Welcome - pull up a chair!
As 2025 comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on a 12-month whirlwind. Where I was this time last year, let alone in December of 2023, are all wildly different places. We live and grow throughout the years; this is no doubt a natural part of our lives. In 2025, much like the years before it, so many wonderful people and adventures have been a part of my personal and professional journey and the experts say, the best way to learn is to reflect on your experiences - so here we are.
Before I introduce myself, I want you to know why I’m writing this. By sharing what I’m learning about our political systems - how they actually work and how to navigate them - I hope to help bring transparency to processes that aren’t secret, just not openly discussed. When shared, this information can empower us to engage more effectively with our government and elected representatives at all levels.
So, welcome to The Coat Room - yes a series, but also a gathering place to talk about everything from life lessons and Civics 101 to the happenings of Virginia politics and beyond. My goal is simple: add clarity to our political systems so that you too are informed and feel empowered to get involved in a way that works for you. And I invite you to participate in these conversations, share your questions, ideas, challenges, and triumphs as we learn to navigate this world together.
Why The Coat Room?
Much of what I have learned has simply been because I had the privilege of being in the room to listen, observe, and ask questions. However, the majority of this information isn’t proprietary; it’s just not explained or discussed openly. This knowledge gap is what I want to bridge.
For a little fun fact, my dear friend helped me name this series (which will also be on socials as we take civics beyond what’s taught in classrooms), and I learned that in Congress there are narrow rooms off of the Senate and House chambers for each party called cloakrooms. Today they are no longer filled with coats and hats, but are the locations where our representatives gather to strategize, discuss, and prepare. So in this spirit, yet with a modern and bipartisan twist, we landed on The Coat Room - a space for all of us to gather, learn, and engage with how our systems actually work and keep up on Virginia happenings.
So who’s behind The Coat Room?
My name is Lena Weisman; I’m an organizer and community builder working across the greater Williamsburg, Hampton Roads, and Gloucester area. My community, friends, and family are everything to me - they underpin and influence my professional life more than anything else. I’m a proud Virginian by choice (though my mom says I manifested this move when I was 12 years old), and choosing Hampton Roads as my forever home was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Over the last several years I’ve built a life here surrounded by my people, favorite places, and go-to activities that shape my day-to-day work.
Currently, I’m a political and legislative staffer working on both the campaign and official side, hoping through both elections and governing we can do good work to enhance the lives of Virginians. But my path here has been anything but linear.
The Journey
In college, I was the type of student that loved everything - I could never pick just one thing. I eventually settled (well, kind of) on History, Museum Studies, Computer Science, and Graphic Design at Lehigh University. What surprises me today is that I use all of it on a daily basis. I then received a master’s in Digital Society and Social Change from the University of Glasgow, a sociology discipline that studies digitalization through the lens of social inequities - mapping data to people’s patterns and vice versa. The curriculum, just as much as the abroad experience, shaped my perspective on how politics is not just local, but also extremely personal.
Following my time in academia (thus far), my young professional journey began. After working in higher education, an experience I will forever be grateful for as it brought me to Virginia and introduced me to lifelong friends, I received an opportunity that would change everything. Just shy of a year into working as an Executive Assistant, I was offered a position to be the Executive Director of three nonprofit organizations in Gloucester, Virginia - essentially going from Executive Assistant to Executive Director overnight.
My mom calls this job offer “A Golden Ticket;” I call it “The Jump.” The Jump happened in the fall of 2024, and the time since has been phenomenally beautiful and transformative, all of the joys and tears included. This journey hasn’t been mine alone - my family, friends, and community have been instrumental, and I remain immensely grateful for their support. I’ve learned first hand that you never know who you are going to meet so being kind and recognizing the good work of others can take you far. That’s how I ended up meeting and working with my first mentor. Everyone always says mentors are essential, and they are; however, finding the right mentor can be life changing, and at a time when I needed it most I found mine.
As Executive Director of Gloucester Main Street, I led downtown revitalization spanning economic development, historic preservation, and small business advocacy. As a daughter of entrepreneurs - my family founded and runs Mulay’s Sausage, a women-owned company - I’ve seen firsthand what it takes for small businesses to succeed. Across everything I did my favorite part was collaborating across sectors and seeing how our systems and communities interconnect.
When the opportunity presented itself to gain experience with political campaigns, I took it. The decision to step back from an executive-level role doing work I loved to gain foundational campaign experience was not easy, but essential. Working as a field organizer for the Virginia Democrats Coordinated campaign, attending Sorensen Institute’s Emerging Leader Program, and preparing to work as a legislative staffer during this upcoming General Assembly session has taught me so much about how our Virginia political system actually works, how we organize, and what our communities need.
Looking back, going from Executive Assistant to Executive Director to organizer to staffer in such a short time feels surreal. The stakes have been high, the learning curve steep, the pace relentless. But that’s exactly why I’m writing The Coat Room - because navigating these systems shouldn’t require luck or connections. The knowledge I’ve gained through this wild journey shouldn’t stay behind closed doors.
What to Expect
Writing this series is a challenge to myself; yes, you can think of it as a New Year’s resolution, but my goal is to gain confidence and get more comfortable sharing my thoughts and opinions openly and proudly. The world, especially our digital society, is an intimidating and grueling place. However, for better or worse it has become the fabric of our interpersonal interactions, where we share, learn from each other, and connect. So instead of looking in from the outside, my goal is to be part of the conversation - adding a voice that aims to speak authentically about the realities of our world, political system, and the needs of our communities.
Through this channel, I’ll demystify how the government works, what’s happening behind the scenes, and practical ways you can navigate these systems. As voters and constituents, we deserve to effectively engage with our elected representatives and the institutions meant to serve us.
What’s Coming to The Coat Room & How to Join
Starting in January, I’ll be here every week (or two - let’s be realistic about session season) breaking down what’s actually happening in Virginia politics and beyond. Some posts will respond to what’s unfolding at the General Assembly - redistricting debates, legislation that matters, Hill Day strategy, and the stark differences between campaigning and governing. Others will explore the broader civic landscape: Main Street revitalization, economic development, community organizing, volunteerism, and how tourism shapes our local economies.
The format will vary - sometimes deep dives, sometimes quick explainers, sometimes lessons from the field. But the goal stays the same: making civic engagement accessible, transparent, and actionable.
First up: Understanding the campaign-to-governing transition - what the General Assembly session schedule actually looks like, how to track what’s happening, and the most effective ways to engage with your representatives.
Subscribe to The Coat Room for posts delivered to your inbox, and follow along on Instagram & Facebook for real-time civics conversations. Whether you’re a Virginia voter, political staffer, community organizer, or just curious - this room has a chair for you.
I’m excited to have you here, and I can’t wait to share this journey with you. Welcome to the room, pull up a chair. And with that - let The Coat Room chatter begin.
