We all "know" that the arts benefits children - but just what are some of those benefits? According to a National Endowment of the Arts study done last year, it has a broad spectrum of benefits, especially for children in low-income families.
High-arts, low-SES students were 15 percent more likely to enroll in a highly or moderately selective four-year college than low-arts, low-SES students (41 percent versus 26 percent).
Students with access to the arts in high school were three times more likely than students who lacked those experiences to earn a bachelor's degree (17 percent versus five percent).
High-arts, low-SES college students had the highest rates of choosing a major that aligns with a professional career, such as accounting, education, nursing, or social sciences (30 percent), compared to low-arts, low-SES students (14 percent) and the overall SES sample (22 percent)
And music to our ears:
More civically engaged - Young adults who had intensive arts experiences in high school are more likely to show civic-minded behavior than young adults who did not, with comparatively high levels of volunteering, voting, and engagement with local or school politics. In many cases, this difference appears in both low-and high-SES groups.
With that mind, please think about enrolling your children and/or supporting these organizations that enhance childrens' lives with the arts:
Science Club, Math Honor Society, Football, Theater...there are a number of way students can learn outside of the textbook. In fact, colleges and even employers are looking more at the skills students in their after-school activities.
We've made it to the finish line! What's Next - the City's initiative collaborate with the community on improving and expanding public participation in City decision-making processes - has been a rewarding experience for us. We hope it has been for you, too! Since September 2012, What's Next has involved more than 2000 participants in 3 Community Dialogues and 3 online activities.
Come join us on June 24th for the final Community Dialogue before to kick-off the City's implementation. You will have an opportunity to:
1) review the draft elements of the Civic Engagement handbook
2) work collaboratively to develop a communications and outreach infrastructure to ensure that more residents can be meaningfully engaged in public decision-making in the City.
Among the nation's oldest continually operating markets, including local dairy, fish, fruits, vegetables and artists. Free parking in garage during market hours.
Advanced tickets to the Taste of Del Ray are $10 and can be purchased at the Greener Cleaner of Del Ray and the Del Ray Farmers Market on the Saturdays ahead of the event. Tickets will be available for $15 the day of the event.
The Del Ray Citizens Association just got a matching fund to help put the finishing touches on a pocket park on E. Del Ray Ave. and Commonwealth Ave. It's been over five years in the making and they're in the home stretch.
But what is a pocket park and is it that important?
Volunteer Alexandria has compiled the following Hotlist of local volunteer opportunities. Please contact the agency directly if you are interested in the opportunity and reference Volunteer Alexandria.
Volunteering is up among teens, but what kinds of experiences are we giving them and will it lead to long term philanthropy?
The intent is to expose our youth to poverty/hunger/illness; but sometimes that feels a little like using folks as props for a real-life Very Special Episode - some have termed this "voluntourism." Poverty, hunger, illness, abuse – these are more than that. And when we expose young people to these harsh realities, we should do it with care and conscientiousness.
It's been several years in the making, filled with delays and disappointments, but soon the students and neighbors of Cora Kelly Elementary School may be able to finally use that playground that they've only been able to look at through construction fences for over a year.
For over twenty years the Alexandria community has generously supported the annual T.C. Williams All Night Drug and Alcohol Free Graduation Celebration. Since T.C. Williams began this tradition in 1989, there have been no drug or alcohol-related graduation night fatalities.
Pork Barrel BBQ will donate 15% of your purchase to the Alexandria Police Memorial Fund on Tuesday, May 14th. They are open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and are located at 2312 Mt. Vernon Ave. (corner of Mt. Vernon Ave. and Oxford St in Del Ray)
UPDATE: We did it! We got 100 tickets in practically no time. Thanks for your help in getting this inspiring movie screened!
The Alexandria chapter of Dining for Women wants to show the amazing documentary Girl Rising at their newly-renovated Old Town theater on Wednesday May 29, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - and they can do it only if they get 100 seats reserved by May 17.
The Reading Connection (TRC) would like to invite you to attend the Community Reading Festival on May 11 and to participate in the 2nd Arlington Kids Read Read-a-Thon. TRC is holding a Community Reading Festival on May 11 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Campbell Elementary School. There will be books read aloud, a visit from Clifford, crafts and treats for all. The event is open to the public and geared towards families with children aged 3 to 12.
The Alexandria chapter of Dining for Women (I am the chapter leader) wants to show the amazing documentary Girl Rising at our newly-renovated Old Town theater on Wednesday May 29, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - and we can do it only if we get 100 seats reserved by May 17. I need each of you to help make this happen!
Your mom is classy, so take her some place to feed your intellectual curiosity this Day of the Mother. Many Old Town museums are opening their doors for free tours and events to celebrate moms.
Tuesday's What's Next Alexandria Community Dialogue was all about making sure the new Civic Engagement Framework would work for City staff and community members alike.
Pew just released their report, "Civic Engagement in the Digital Age" and it's got some interesting insights.
While much of it was dedicated to political engagement, there are insights into civic engagement as a whole.
Pew measured civic engagement in four ways:
Taking part in a civic group or activity
Recently contacted a government official or spoke out in a public forum via offline methods
Recently contacted a government official or spoke out in a public forum via online methods
Participating in political or civic activities on social networking sites
A couple intresting points:
35% of American adults have recently worked with fellow citizens to solve a problem in their community
21% of American adults have recently contacted a government official about an issue that is important to them in person, by phone, or by letter; 18% have done so online, by email, or by text message
Join 100+ of your neighbors at the 3rd What's Next Alexandria Community Dialogue! Hundreds of community
members have been collaborating to build Alexandria's Principles of Engagement since November. We'll be discussing the Principles and a new framework for implementation and we need your feedback and ideas.
Join 100+ of your neighbors at the 3rd What's Next Alexandria Community Dialogue! Hundreds of community members have been collaborating to build Alexandria's Principles of Engagement since November.
On Tuesday June 11, there will be a Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Absentee voting for the primary begins on Friday, April 26. Many Alexandria voters are eligible to vote absentee, but relatively few take advantage of this option. There are several qualifying circumstances. For example:
Friday April 12, Carpenter’s Shelter experienced a fire. We were very fortunate to identify the fire quickly thanks two of our fearless volunteers who alerted the staff immediately. Fortunately no one was injured.
We have had an amazing outpouring of concern and support from the community. While the fire damage was minimal, the shelter experienced extensive smoke and water damage. The total cost of the damage is estimated to be over $42,000. Carpenter's Shelter is fortunate to have insurance cover a portion of the cost, however, the restoration of the shelter will cost the shelter over $10,000 in out of pocket expenses.
We're still coming down from all the excitement last week during Spring2ACTion. It's still on my mind, at least. So here's an infographic on how online giving is changing the landscape for nonprofits:
In support of that mission and the City's goals outlined in the 2008 Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility Plan, BPAC Is leading efforts to improve understanding of active travel patterns, through collection and analysis of information on the number and gender of bicycl
Sadly, Spring2ACTion is officially over. But today, we get to celebrate the results and the amazing generousity of our community. With your help, we raised $659,591 from 5,872 givers in just 24 hours! Thank you, thank you, thank you! None of this would be possible without YOU!
ACT for Alexandria and ACTion staff are deeply saddened by the tragedy yesterday at the Boston Marathon and extend our deepest sympathies to all affected.
Recently named a top race by the Washington Post Express, the Parkway Classic is an area favorite for its gorgeous route, capped field size, and runner amenities.
Part of Virginia Architecture Week, the American Institute of Architects (Northern Virginia) hosts this two-hour tour through Old Town Alexandria. The tour covers the history of Alexandria as reflected through its architecture and urban design, highlighting examples from Georgian to Art Deco. The tour is free, but requires pre-registration by emailing reservations@aianova.org.
The National Symphony Orchestra will share the stage with the John Adams Elementary School Orff Ensemble under the direction of Wes McCune. The concert is sponsored by the Alexandria Kiwanis Club to benefit Alexandria community organizations, including Alexandria City Public Schools.
Admission: $15 adults, $5 children, $25 family pass
Elizabeth Pitcairn makes her Alexandria Symphony Orchestra debut in partnership with the mysterious Red Violin! She joins the ASO on Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1, with the concert also featuring Tchaikovsky’s lively Symphony No. 6.
Youth $5, Students $10, Adults starting at $40 (Senior and Group Discounts available)
Following a couple recent successful stream clean-ups and park renovations, a cadre of volunteers will be back at it again this upcoming weekend planting about 2 dozen trees in Four Mile Run Park.
Our ACTion Hero, Brooke Sydnor Curran, is a rising star!
Brooke was awarded the "Rising Star" award at the annual Salute to Women Awards. She was one of 11 incredible women who received awards on March 18.
The "Rising Star" award is given to women who have less than a total of five years of volunteer service in Alexandria who has made significant contributions to the well-being of the women in the Alexandria community, particularly through community service or other volunteer projects.
The City of Alexandria has been quietly rolling out a new issue reporting system on their website: alexandriava.gov over the last few years.
Back in March of 2011, we reported about a nifty new GIS-based system that not only allows you to help locate the problem on a map, it also offers you the ability to upload supporting documents or pictures and retains the request for you under your account so you can check back later to see the results.
Former Alexandria Small Business Facilitator Tom Fairchild makes the case for positive economic impacts of bike, pedestrian and transit facilities in a post at
We're playing with maps here at ACTion HQ and digging this data-rich map from Chris Persaud - Rich Blocks, Poor Blocks. It's an interactive map of income and rent costs for every city in America. The data are culled from the American Community Survey with city "blocks" outlined out using the Census.
Here's how to tell Alexandria City Council to "Keep Warwick Pool Open":
1. Write an Email or Letter. Please do this today. Your 10 minutes now can lead to an entire summer of enjoying Warwick Pool! Use the attached points in a brief letter and/or share your own personal reasons for keeping the Pool open. **If you do just one thing, send an email to City Council! **
2. Post on Twitter and Facebook. Tell Council members to "Keep Warwick Pool Open" by speaking up on social media. See www.WarwickVillage.org for a list of places to post.
3. Share this information with neighbors and ask them to act too!
Did you know that the arts are a major economic booster? That's what expert Randy Cohen from DC-based arts group, Americans for the Arts, presented last Tuesday. And Alexandria has a wealth of arts organizations that help keep artists and arts lovers employed and engaged. So much so that the City was named one of America's Top ArtsPlaces.
Today we celebrate the 100th International Women's Day! In fact, this whole month is dedicated to Women's History. Every year, we take time out to recognize the struggles of women in this country for the whole month. Today, we're taking time to recognize women internationally.
The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is scheduling renovation of the Hooffs Run Park playground (also known as "Blue Park") located at 99 East Rosemont Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301. The renovation will include replacement of existing play equipment, rubberized safety surfacing, new site furnishings, and plantings.
Jefferson-Houston is a school on the move. We have seen great progress since the Superintendent's Transformation was put into place in Summer 2011.
•Principal Rice-Harris has come on board with a new school leadership team and many new staff.
•We have added 90 minutes to the school day and started a new reading program.
•We have hired an outside partner, American Institutes for Research, to review and enhance our math instruction.
•Most important, we have created an environment of personalized attention for each student. And we are starting to see the benefits.
Even with our most energetic and focused efforts, some students are not where they need to be academically. To give our students the extra help they need to move forward, we are creating “All Hands on Deck,” a coordinated call to our community to support them.
Originally posted by Patrick Boyle at SparkAction.
As more community leaders around the country see the value of creating a youth master plan, many of them wonder about the critical task of getting good public input—that's why Alexandria is inspiring its residents to get involved.
Become a Mentor and Change Two LivesSOHO is an creative mentorship program that serves pre-teen girls by providing yearlong mentoring through engagement in life skills instruction, creative art activities and meaningful community service projects.
If we’re honest, we can all admit we have a “type” as far as what we find attractive—in people AND in dogs. Some of us go for big and brawny, others melt over dainty and petite. Maybe we prefer blondes, or curls are a deal-breaker. Whatever your leanings, chances are, you have a perfect “look” in mind. But like Mama always said, don’t judge a book by its cover. And that goes for dates AND dogs.
Well, it’s done! The apartment building at 612 Notabene Drive has been turned into a building that any of us would be proud to call home. Through the thorough plans of architect John Savage and the magic of Pulte Homes and their amazing vendors and sub contractors, our old building is new again. The transformation began on September 12th and the building is now completely beautiful, inside and out. The furnishings are brand new thanks to Fran and Gant Redmon, who hosted a fundraiser that helped to cover that cost.
Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market's Mission
The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provides an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strives to reflect the diversity of the community, and improves the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run Park and the surrounding neighborhood.
As part of National Mentoring Month, ACT for Alexandria is talking about their mentors. Learn more about how you can be a mentor to someone this month: 10 Things You Can Do for National Mentoring month.
John Porter - Executive Director
While a number of individuals have been instrumental to me in my life and in my career pursuits, initial credit for mentorship has to go to James Wilson. Dr. Wilson presently serves as principal of the T. C. Williams Satellite Program but my first year of teaching in 1969 found me paired with Jim as a team teacher at Parker Gray Middle School in Alexandria, Virginia. Still believing I learned more my first few months on the job than I ever learned about teaching at college, I can’t stress strongly enough the role Jim played in mentoring me through that difficult first year. He had a wealth of experience compared to me (one year of teaching in southwest Virginia) but brought a wealth of knowledge and knowhow about working with kids. Had it not been for James Wilson, there is a strong possibility I may not have stayed in education and been able to touch the lives of the many kids I was fortunate enough to work with during my forty years in the Alexandria City Public Schools. Thank you James Wilson for ALL you did for me and continue to do for others.
Hmm...what was going this weekend again? Oh, right! National Day of Service and the Inauguration!
It's going to be a cold week, but Saturday is looking good which is the perfect opportunity to volunteer and do service for National Day of Service. Monday, President Obama will be sworn in. How many of you are going?
If you don't have any plans this weekend, here are some events that'll get you out and about.
Are you a cyclist or pedestrian interested in improving the walkability and bikability of Alexandria? Volunteer to help BPAC track bicycle and pedestrian movements today.
Rebuilding Together Alexandria brings volunteers, communities, and resources together to improve the homes and lives of Alexandrians in need. Their vision for Alexandria is a vibrant community where people of all income groups and cultures live in safe and healthy homes. Their goal is to impact the overall quality of life for residents in the City of Alexandria in many ways including maintaining affordable housing, revitalizing communities, and stabilizing low- and moderate-income areas by eliminating blight in many neighborhoods. They are dedicated to repairing and rehabilitating homes free of cost for those in need, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, military veterans, and families with children.
I just wanted to remind folks that you can make charitable contributions without spending a single extra dime, and help out Cora Kelly Elementary kids all at the same time.
Grant Hellmers, Organist-Choirmaster of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, will direct the Adult Choir in Choral Evensong on the Feast of the Epiphany on Sunday, January 6, at 7:30 p.m. Music by Byrd, Wood, Mendelssohn, Ayleward will be featured. Three Magi will be receiving donations of non-perishable foods for St. Paul's Lazarus Ministry serving the needy.
Join the Alexandria Singers for our annual holidays pops concert weekend as we weave pop and jazz arrangements of traditional holiday classics with new tunes that will instantly become your holiday favorites! Buy your tickets now at shop.AlexandriaSingers.com or email tickets@alexandriasingers.com for more information!
Del Ray Artisans’ 17th annual Holiday Market offers handmade work from local artists, a children’s table where little ones can shop for family members, and handmade ornaments. Bake Sale benefits the non-profit Computer CORE. Market dates: Nov 30 - Dec 2, Dec 7-9, Dec 14-16. Fridays 6-9pm (reception), Saturdays 10am-4pm, Sundays 12-4pm.
A delicious cross between the classic Charles Dickens tale and uproarious song parodies of favorite Broadway show tunes. Laugh-out-loud, roll-in-the-aisles funny
Join us for an evening of bikes, music. art and holiday cheer! Take in works of local artists while we tally our Holiday Bike Drive. Light fare and beverages will be served.
All of the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia’s programs are geared to help adults who read below the sixth grade level. Through one-on-one and classroom instruction, LCNV-trained volunteers and paid instructors teach a personalized curriculum that helps adults improve their employment opportunities, become citizens, acquire consumer skills, and increase their involvement in their children’s education.
What Is the Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria?
The Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria has an extensive vision to create “A model community where all stakeholders contribute to student education and to the opportunity for every student to realize their individual potential.” To one day reach this vision, the CCNA works to reduce dropout rates, increase student achievement levels, change impact from a “risk” to a “promise”, develop partnerships among all communities and increase the number of students transitioning from high school into higher education or career paths in the Alexandria City Public Schools. These efforts are in part with other nonprofit organizations, local government and businesses, faith based organization and educators.
Members of the community are invited to this benefit concert in support of ANHSI, our Community Health Center that that provides affordable quality health care to many of our local citizens.
Shaun Tirrell and Friends
Jina Tirrell, Pianist * Audrey Tirrell, 11 Year-Old Violinist
Tenants and Workers United builds the power of the low-income community of color – primarily immigrants – to create changes that positively impact the quality of their (our!) lives in Northern Virginia. They organize and support people to be agents of change in their own lives, addressing the issues of most importance to them. They address, lack of quality, affordable healthcare, inequities in public education, immigrant rights, affordable housing, the rights of low-wage workers.
What is the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association?
Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association’s mission is to inspire and instill a lifelong passion for the performance of classical music in artists and audience through stimulating concerts, culturally diverse collaborations, and educational outreach.
When most of us hear the word philanthropy, we think about money--lots of money. To most Americans, philanthropy is the province of the wealthy and celebrities--Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet, the Rockefellers, and Oprah Winfrey.
But when I think of philanthropy and philanthropists, I think of you.
“When you are truly sharing with no expectation of your kindness being returned, it doesn’t matter whether you get credit. In fact, it’s better if you don’t. Your spirit is expanded by anonymous generosity.”
This quotation inspires us as we begin our outreach for the annual Holiday Sharing Program.
The MV Big Flea will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the Mount Vernon Community Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305.
Our volunteers pick up donations by appointment, or you can drop them off during one of our “Shop N Drop “ dates through the year. Yes, we sell stuff then, too!
Kick off the holiday season by making plans to attend the 2012 City of Alexandria Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 23, at 7 p.m. at Market Square, 301 King St. Admission is free, and the event will be held rain or shine.
The Theater Arts Program at Bishop Ireton High School will present James McDonald, David Vos, and Robert Gerlach's Something's Afoot Nov. 10, 16, and 17 at 7:30 pm and Nov. 11 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available at the door and cost $10 for general admission and $8 for students and senior citizens.
With regular season ended, this Sunday, 4MRMarket morphs into the Four Mile Run Holiday Market.
THIS JUST IN: C&T Produce has offered to donate 10% of sales to the Red Cross to aid Hurricane Sandy storm relief!!
Come look for us inside the Four Mile Run Park building. While smaller than the regular season, there will be plenty of produce and specialty items available to help you prepare for Thanksgiving in a couple weeks.
Books for America, a non profit based in the Washington D.C area, is hosting a one day book give away event. We want to provide free reading material in an effort to encourage home-libraries and a love of reading. There will be both adult and children’s books available. There will be a limit of books per person. Donated books are not to be used for resale purposes.
Thanks to your generosity and the RunningBrooke Fund, we were able to give 85 coats to 85 kids in need!
As temperatures drop and we reach for our coats, it’s a good time to remember that for hundreds of children in Alexandria, having a warm winter coat is not a given.
Virtual Walkers Needed! ALIVE! is thankful to everyone who participated in Sunday's East End Congregations' Community Walk and Meet and Greet at ALIVE! House. This was the last community walk to help us raise funds under this year's Fannie Mae Help the Homeless program. The bad news is ...
It's that time of year--when the leaves begin to fall, the air is grows cold and our televisions fill with political ads--Election Day is almost here! It's time to prepare to exercise your greatest civic responsibility and vote.
We've created guide to help you get your vote on! What should you expect at your polling place? How do you get help should you need it. And nowww...
The Del Ray Citizens Association is teaming with the Office of Historic Alexandria, Historic Alexandria Resources Commission and the Alexandria Historical Society to sponsor a free symposium on Nov. 10 highlighting the unique history and architecture of the city’s Del Ray neighborhood.
Sandy is still pounding her way northward into to Canada as millions here on the eastern seaboard and Carribean are still recovering. Although the DMV area had significant damage, the Carribean, New Jersey, New York, parts of Connecticut and West Virginia are devastated.
Some quick facts about the aftermath:
More than 65 people lost their lives in the Carribean
74 people were killed in the US
More than 1 million people are displaced after evacuating the area
In New York, 6,100 people stayed in shelters
More than 6.2 million people are still without power
If you've got a smart phone, you might want to download some of these apps to keep you informed on Hurricane Sandy and get alerts from local and national government.
A lot of damage can happen during a storm and we want to make sure you all stay safe. So we've compiled a list of advice for you on what to do. If you have any other tips please add them to the comments and we'll update this post.
Mark your calendars! Building on the input you provide in the poll, our next step together is a Community Dialogue on Thursday, November 15, 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Activity Center, at 2932 King Street. That night, in addition to working with your fellow Alexandrians on this important issue, we’ll hear from a terrific speaker, Dr. Carolyn J.
Be prepared this weekend as Sandy, also known as "Frankenstorm" is coming up the Eastern Seaboard
The National Capital Region has the potential for impacts from Hurricane Sandy beginning sometime late Sunday into Monday.The National Weather Service anticipates a Sunday into Monday change in weather to include some rain (1" to 2" depending) and NNW winds 15 to 20 MPH.The storm is expected to impact us overnight Sunday into early Monday, continuing into Tuesday, bringing us higher winds and rainfall.NWS forecasters note the main concerns are wind damaged trees and downed power lines. Please note: this storm has made several changes in the past 24 hours so any shift further West could bring more significant rainfall and much greater wind gusts.
The Child and Family Network Center is once again asking for help so they can provide each of their kids a new coat.
There are 136 kids that need a coat --just sign up below and a CFNC coordinator will send you a child's name, size and even what color they prefer. All you need to do is buy it and drop it off at A Show of Hands.
Invite family, friends, and neighbors to Lone Star Steakhouse (3141 Duke Street) on Saturday, October 20th, anytime for lunch or dinner and Lone Star will donate 15% from your dinner receipt to ALIVE! in memory of Ian Daughtrey. Ian had been an ALIVE!
Adopting a shelter animal is an amazing way to change lives. Not only are you rescuing a homeless animal in need, but your life and the lives of your family members are sure to change as well. Many of us want to help homeless animals in any way possible, but the reality is that adoption simply isn't an option for everyone. However, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria's foster care program is an excellent alternative for animal lovers that are able to provide temporary care.
Admission is free. Activities include moonbounces, Adrenaline Rush obstacle course, twenty-six foot rock climbing wall, spin art crafts, cake walk, face painting, craft marketplace, haunted house and BBQ Cafe from Famous Dave's.
ACTion Alexandria is proud to announce we're cosponsoring an Alexandria mayoral and City Council Candidate Forum Sponsored with the Alexandria Branch of the NAACP and Patch on Monday, October 15, 2012 at George Washington Middle School’s auditorium from 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M.
Even better than sponsoring a candidate forum, we're giving you an opportunity to be a substantial part of it.
This week we have an interactive, kid-friendly show by the Kate Moran Band from 11am-noon plus a second collection for St. Rita's Annual Clothing Drive. See below for more details on both.
The Alexandria Bar Association and Senior Services of Alexandria are partnering to present the second annual Senior Citizens Law Day on Saturday, October 13, 2012.
We each know someone who has given much of their lives--their hearts and souls--to making Alexandria a better place to live. Living Legends of Alexandria wants to recognize these folks and the good news is that you don’t have to be a Pulitzer Prize winner to write the nomination. All it takes is a one-page description outlining the activities in which the person has excelled. Nominees who meet the criteria for consideration and their nominators will each receive a complimentary invitation to the inspiring "Meet The Legends" reception on March 21, 2013.
Alexandria arts non-profit Access through the Arts (ATTA) is pleased to introduce a new children’s festival that is part of the fall Kaleidoscope arts celebration throughout the City called Kaleidoscope for Kids. The children’s festival will take place the weekend of September 29 & 30th at the Durant Center for the Arts, from 10-4 each day.
In case you or anyone you know or work with is interested in starting a business...please note that the ACPS Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Center is offering START IT UP: An Introduction to Entrepreneurship!
What's Next, Alexandria? is a City of Alexandria initiative to begin a conversation about how Alexandrians can best participate in shaping Alexandria's future.
In just 6 hours on September 13, a new playground will be built in Old Town.
More than 200 volunteers from Alexandria and surrounding communities will arrive at the site you see on the left and work together to build an amazing new playspace for Alexandria families and their children.
The mirrors, colored shapes, and beautiful symmetrical patterns of kaleidoscopes have inspired this gala celebration featuring Arts Afire Gallery, the Inventors Hall of Fame, and the musicians of Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Ulysses S. James.
On Tuesday September 4th, the transformation of one of Community Lodgings’ five apartment buildings will begin – a full-fledged renovation! When I took over as Executive Director seven years ago, I set a long-term goal to ensure all our families lived in safe, comfortable homes. Over the years, out of sheer financial necessity, I was forced to take a “band-aid” approach to building repairs. Seven years later, with help from HomeAid Northern Virginia, Pulte Homes and the City of Alexandria, our long-term goal becomes reality.
This Wednesday, bring the kids to Sunset Park for another Community at Play event sponsored by the Childhood Obesity Action Network and ACTion Alexandria. Come see the enhancements at Sunset Park, made as a result of the Project Play Spruce Up Grants contest. Enjoy free refreshments, games, bubbles and have fun with your friends and neighbors!
The ACPS Student Health and Immunization Fair will be held this Friday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Alexandria Health Department, 4480 King St., Alexandria.
Join the YMCA Alexandria in its third annual Activate! Alexandria 5k run/walk on Saturday, October 6th at 8:30 am. The race starts and finishes at Cameron Run Regional Park on Eisenhower Ave. Help us support the YMCA Alexandria in its fight against childhood obesity and have fun at the same time. For the younger kids, there is even a 50 yard dash with awards for all participants!
Alexandria’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Activities has teamed with the Arlandria-Chirilagua Business Association and Lynhaven Citizens Association, Warwick Village Citizens Association and Hume Springs Citizens Association to organize DiverseCity Alexandria Multicultural Fest.
In partnership with ARHA, KaBOOM! and the Washington Capitals, we're building a new $75,000 playground in Old Town's Hopkins-Tancil Court neighborhood on September 13, 2012.
Tonight is the "29th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW).
Citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood associations and local officials from all over the United States and Canada to:
Founded in 1945, The Campagna Center operates high-quality programs that support children in Alexandria by providing services that allow them to arrive at school ready to learn and ensure they are academically successful at each grade level. The agency provides services to adults and families in areas related to education and self-sufficiency. The agency reaches over 1,700 children and families through its various program options.
Carpenter’s Shelter partners with the city of Alexandria and the greater Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area to eliminate homelessness through respect, responsibility and results. Through its many programs, they advocate self-reliance through education and provide programs and services as needed.
The only program of its kind in Northern Virginia,Friends of Guest House has offered structure,supervision, support and assistance to women who sincerely want to improve their lives and break the cycle of incarceration for over 35 years. Residents receive the physical and emotional tools they need to begin a new life through self-sufficiency, and leave with hope and a brighter future.
For the last two years, the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria has been working to better understand key health and quality of life priorities for all those who live, work, and play in Alexandria.
ALIVE! needs 4 or 5 volunteers to help sort and distribute food on Saturday, May 26 at 8:15am for their Last Saturday Food Distribution at the Church of the Resurrection site. If you can volunteer, please send an email to volunteers@alive-inc.org or call 703-837-9300 ext. 2.
This year, ACTion Alexandria and our community has been all about Project Play, an effort to ensure that every child in Alexandria has a quality space to play. Working with our partners, Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network and Alexandria/Arlington Smart Beginnings, we've been able to accomplished a lot!
After adding on the almost $700 in cash donation made at Alexandria branches of Virginia Commerce Bank, our presenting sponsor, Spring2ACTion 2012 raised more than $320,000 for Alexandria nonprofits in just 24 hours! Spring2ACTion is the biggest Alexandria fundraising event ever thanks to you!
What your contributions mean for local nonprofits
Casa Chirilagua can now start an after-school middle school program for kids living in the Chirilagua area of Arlandria.
The Art League can build a new art facility to continue to provide affordable art education.
YMCA Alexandria can provide 21 more kids scholarships to summer camp.
Friends of Guest House can continue parenting classes for women coming out of incarceration to help them transition successfully back into community and family life.
Senior Services of Alexandria is able to extend its Meals on Wheels Program to serve seniors on more Saturdays and Sundays.
ACTion Alexandria's biggest action of the year, Spring2ACTion, begins at midnight on May 2, and we urge you to help us make it a record breaker. Last year, we all worked together to raise $104,000. This year, our goal is to help local nonprofits raise $200,000 in just 24 hours!
ACTion Alexandria's biggest action of the year, Spring2ACTion, begins at midnight on May 2, and we urge you to help us make it a record breaker. Last year, we all worked together to raise $104,000. This year, our goal is to help local nonprofits raise $200,000 in just 24 hours!
How would you make Alexandria a greener, more sustainable community?
On February 29, 2012, Eco-City Alexandria, Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission, and ACTion Alexandria teamed up to launch the Alexandria Green Ideas Challenge. We asked Alexandria to submit their ideas for making Alexandria a greener, more sustainable community. Our goal was to harness the incredible talent, intelligence and creativity of Alexandria citizens to generate and prioritize ideas for sustainability and serve as a community catalyst to move our city closer to being a true eco-city!
On Wednesday, May 2nd, our community will come together for 24 hours of unprecedented giving.
Spring2ACTion is one extraordinary day to support the organizations that make Alexandria amazing. ACT and ACTion Alexandria, in partnership with our sponsors, are offering up to $30,000 in cash and prizes to help increase fundraising efforts by participating organizations and individual fundraisers. Real-time tracking will be displayed on the leader board at www.Spring2ACTion.org on May 2.
On Wednesday, May 2nd, our community will come together for 24 hours of unprecedented giving.
Spring2ACTion is one extraordinary day to support the organizations that make Alexandria amazing. ACT and ACTion Alexandria, in partnership with our sponsors, are offering up to $30,000 in cash and prizes to help increase fundraising efforts by participating organizations and individual fundraisers. Real-time tracking will be displayed on the leader board at www.Spring2ACTion.org on May 2.
It is a nonprofit in Norhtern Virginia that teach adults techinical skills they did not learn as kids. Most of the students hold one or more low-wage jobs (usually without opportunities for advancement). Many are first-generation immigrants and two-thirds are women. Most of today's more well paying jobs require computer proficiency. Computer C.O.R.E. gives a sixth month training course and helps students learn basics including Word, Excel, Power Point, e-mail and the Internet. The best feature: after two months they will receive a free desktop to continue to practice on at home and it also gives them a chance to teach family members.
They're finally here! Below you'll find the final report on Project Play's city-wide playground assessment by Design Concepts.But first, a little background on how we got here.
The Project Play partners and taskforce have been working to learn more about how well the playgrounds in Alexandria address the play needs of Alexandria's toddlers and preschoolers. With funding from a Kaiser Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) grant, Project Play hired Design Concepts, a group of playground experts, to gain a better understanding of the
We know you've been waiting to see the Project Play Playground assessment results for a while, so have we. The good news is that the Project Play Playground Assessment results will be posted on Childhood Obesity Action Network's webpage later today. In the meantime, watch their video about play in Alexandria.
Senior Services of Alexandria(formerly Senior Citizens Employment & Services) is a full-service community organization with more than 40 years experience dedicated to helping Alexandria's seniors.
Senior Services of Alexandria's Mission:
To foster independence and self-sufficiency, enabling seniors within the City of Alexandria to age with dignity.
Starting January 9th, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School will be joining up with approximately 25,000 schools across the country in the Pennies for Patients program. Money raised from this threee week event will help those who are ill with blood cancers such as Leukemia, Lyphoma and Myeloma.
BPAC will be riding (for free) again on January 14th. It will be a ten mile loop in the east end of the city. It will be a low speed ride, only the first 30 people to RSVP can ride. Below is a list of places you'll ride by, with the milage:
Design Concepts rated 89 of Alexandria's playgrounds early in the Summer of 2011. Indoor, Outdoor, Public and Private playspaces were assessed. Each playground was rated based on a number of determining factors:
You are invited to the recreation of this famous celebration of Washington's Birthday set in the year 1799. The evening includes an 18th-century banquet, English country dancing, dessert collation, character re-enactors, and General and Mrs. George Washington. Period costume optional; “after-five” attire encouraged. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m.
En garde! Experience this unique living history program as you learn a skill all 18th-century gentlemen must know – swordplay! The program includes re-enactment of 18th-century swordplay and a display of 18th-century weapons. This popular family event will include some audience participation as you practice your newfound talents.
The City of Alexandria’s Sexual Assault Center is looking for volunteers to be hotline companions on our 24/7 crisis hotline. Duties include providing support and resources over the phone and accompanying victims of sexual assault to the hospital and police station. A 5-week, comprehensive training class will begin on Monday, February 6th.
In preparation for the Birthnight Ball on February 18, learn 18th-century English country dancing from expert dance instructors. Reservations recommended.
Enjoy an evening from the 1860s in the historic Gadsby’s Tavern ballroom at the Civil War Ball. Kick off the Sesquicentennial at this unique event, which will include live music, dance instruction, and period desserts. Period attire, either civilian or military, is encouraged. Reservations are required.
Balls were a girl’s favorite thing to do in the 18th century. Explore the tavern where famous balls like George Washington’s Birthnight Ball were held and practice the tasks involved in preparing for a ball. Includes an 18th century dance lesson and a craft to take home! Tours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ideal for Girls Scouts and families, age 5 and up.
See what Alexandria looked like during the Civil War through the eyes of photographers who documented it! Wally Owen, Assistant Director of Fort Ward Museum and co-author of "Mr.
Children learn valuable social skills and work on their developmental skills through play. Parents/caregivers have the opportunity to interact with their child in stimulating activities that reinforce physical, cognitive and social development
This Open House will be an opportunity for citizens of Alexandria to learn more about the Capital Bikeshare program, the pilot program launching in Alexandria's Old Town neighborhood and the already suggested future stations within the city limits. If you will not be able to make it to the Open House you can still be part of the discussion by Read more...
ALIVE! (ALexandrians InVolved Ecumenically) is comprised of volunteers from religious organizations throughout the city of Alexandria. Since 1968, ALIVE! has been helping the most vulnerable citizens in our community and has become the largest private safety net for those in need. ALIVE! provides shelter, low-cost early childhood education and childcare; financial help for rent, utilities, medical care and other critical needs, food and other household items.
We get questions from people all the time about how and where to donate things like food, furniture, books, and clothing, so we decided to put together a guide. We are still putting the finishing touches on the final document, but so many people are looking for ways to donate items now, we thought it was a good idea to publish what we have.
Project Playofficially launched on November 17th. Since, we have received a total of 11 playspaces for Ideas! While this is a great start, we would love to see more playgrounds submitted as an Idea for a Spruce Up Grant.
Stop by the Book Fair at the Potomac Yard Barnes&Noble and help Mount Vernon School's PTA raise some money. If you mention the school while you're checking out, a portion of the sales price will go directly to the PTA. Parents and volunteers will be on board to gift wrap any presents you purchase.
This Saturday will mark the final work day event of the year at Chinquapin Park. The park needs your help. Volunteers are welcome to come take part in the ecological restoration along sections of the park's main trail and entrance. There will be small, medium and large size planting that needs to be completed as well as the restoration of several species of Upland Oaks.
Since 1991, this organization has been dedicated to Alexandria's children of need. Throughout the year it focuses on two main projects. The organization has a close working relationship with the Alexandria Department of Human Services, public school social workers, as well as various community service organizations. This allows it to provide assistance to those most vulnerable in our community: our children.
This will be the 14th Annual Women Artists Show, and it will be just in time for the Holidays. On December 4th, join artists of the Alexandria area for fun, art and wine. You will be able to find perfect gifts for yourself and others. Come out and support local female artists. Proceeds will go to the Alexandria Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs.
Explore the Civil War in Alexandria with Civil War Sundays, a showcase of an original May 26, 1861, edition New-York Tribune detailing Colonel Elmer Ellsworth’s death in Alexandria, a Peeps diorama illustrating Ellsworth’s death, a TimeTravelers Passport exhibit featuring the Civil War drummer boy, diorama of a heating system constructed in Alexandria to warm Civil War hospital tents
Get ready for Kwanzaa in time to celebrate it this year! The museum’s annual program explores the history and significance of Kwanzaa. Learn about the principles of Kwanzaa, a seven-day cultural celebration that begins December 26 and ends January 1, and find out how to incorporate it into your holiday season.
Gen Silent is the critically-acclaimed documentary from filmmaker Stu Maddux that asks six LGBT seniors if they will hide their friends, their spouses- their entire lives in order to survive in the care system.
Performances by the Alexandria Singers, featuring choral holiday music and performance by Ein Lanu Z'man, a band featuring Hanukkah and other Jewish music.
For more information, please contact the Special Events Office at 703.746.5592.
Teens will have the opportunity to create gift baskets for seniors at a local Alexandria senior center. Teens will also have the opportunity to present the seniors with the gift baskets before the Holidays and engage in activities with the seniors.
For more information, please contact Dawud Rawlings or Angela Redfearn at 703.746.5554
Your playground could win a Project Play Spruce Up Grant!
The nomination period is now over, but you can still vote for the playgrounds you think should win one of four Project Play Spruce Up Grants worth a total of $15,000.
Shop at the store between 6:00PM and 8:00PM and 20% of your purchase will be donated to Shelter House of Fairfax County. Shelter House was formed in 1981 to break the cycle of homelessness for families and victims of domestic violence in Fairfax County by providing crisis intervention, temporary housing and supportive services to promote self sufficiency.
A local Cub Scout troop has been selected as a finalist in the Coleman Continue to Explore Contest! Its video, What did YOU do this weekend? is waiting to be annouced the winner! This is big stuff, only five finalists were chosen out of 256 entries.
If you haven't heard, today is Give to the Max Day, a giving holiday for nonprofit organizations throughout the capital region.
Starting at midnight on Wednesday, November 9, local residents will donate online to help raise millions of dollars for local nonprofits as part of the first annual Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington. Give to the Max Day is a massive one-day regional online fundraiser that will unite local Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC communities to support nonprofits serving the area.
How do I find Alexandria nonprofits to support on Give to the Max Day?
In preparation for the Anniversary Ball on November 12, learn 18th-century English country dancing from expert dance instructors. $12 per class; $30 for the series of three on October 27, November 3 and Novemer 10. Reservations recommended.
Come out and enjoy the official first day of the holiday season in the City of Alexandria! The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin at 7:00PM at Market Square. Activities will include the lighting of the City's official holiday tree, community caroling, Frosty's Follies dance performance and a visit from Mr. Claus himself.
You can help the Lyles Crouch Elementary PTA win a Power A Bright Future grant from Clorox to build a new outdoor play/exercise area for students and the community. The prizes include a $50,000 grants and 4 $25,000 grants.
Come one, come all! It's time to get dirty. On November 12th, we'll be cleaning up the Holmes Run Parkway area with a rain date set for November 19th. It is a great way to give back to the community and to teach our kids about littering. We'll be meeting at the Beatley Bridge. Garbage bags will be available for you to use, but you'll want to bring your own gloves to the site.
Since we announced Project Play, it seems like we hear about new efforts to improve local or build new playgrounds everyday. And we're all for it!
Starting today, you can help the Lyles Crouch Elementary PTA win one a Power A Bright Future grant from Clorox to build a new outdoor play/exercise area for students and the community. The prizes include a $50,000 grants and 4 $25,000 grants.
How You Can Help!
The PTA has organized and awesome GOTV (get out the vote) effort and we hope you'll help! All you need to do is take 2 minutes to set up a recurring event on your calendar (Outlook and Google instructions) with the information below to vote everyday between October 24 and December 9. Then vote!
If you've followed the Shoeman's journeys, you know why shoe drives are important. The Shoeman, a retired Marine, wants your shoes and he wants them today! The organization he formed re-sells shoes to other countries for a small profit. All proceeds go to buying and installing new wells, water filtration systems and other items in Kenya.
Its Fall and Its Back! The Annual Agudas Achim Pre-School Sale, Chilren's Extravaganza will take place this year on November 6th from 8:00AM to 3:00PM. There will be a ton of items for you to chose from including clothes sizes Infant through Size 8, Maternity wear, books, toys, games, and much much more.
A second chance to learn something interesting about Alexandria! Come out to the Alexandria Archaeology Museum and enjoy this free event on Saturday from 10:00AM to 11:00AM, which is sponsored by the Friends of Alexandria Archaeology.
Dirt, aluminum, uneven fields, and hard surfaces make baseball, America's game, extremely hazardous for children and adults in wheel chairs, and those who have physical illnesses like seizue disorder.
That's why the City of Alexandria, the Kelley Cares Foundation, and private citizens have formed the Miracle League of Alexandria--to make the lives of Alexandria's special needs children and adults more safe and fun.
Join The Arlandrian and 4MRMarket in their efforts to revitalize the 4 Mile Run Park in Arlandria. Phase I of the park expansion begins this fall. Thanks to a generous contribution, there are enough funds to move forward on Phase II of the project, but not enough to complete it.
The 15th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade needs your help this year. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, October 29th from 1:00PM to 4:00PM at the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, located at 2701 Commonwealth Avenue.
Feeling stressed? Join Dona Witten, Phd, of Integrated LifePath Coaching (www.integratedlifepathcoaching.com) every Thursday for Guided Meditation. Learn practical relaxation tools to help you cope with stress, uncertainty, and anxiety. We will use guided relaxation exercises and calming contemplations. Free, donations gratefully accepted.
Program for adults with cognitive and/or developmental disabilities. Programs to promote social skills and skills in a variety of areas - cooking, healthy eating, hiking, photography, scrap booking, sports and more. This event is FREE!
More dates for this class are, October 21, 2011, October 28, 2011, November 4, 2011, November 11, 2011 and November 18, 2011.
Program for children aged 6-12 with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities. This program includes arts and crafts, games, sports, exercise, life skills and oportunities for socialization. There are monthly themes events and activities. This program is FREE!
Need to relax and have some fun? Come out the FireFlies Restaurant on Tuesday night to play trivia! Great way to have some fun with members of the community while enjoying a delicious meal. All are welcome to attend!
More Trivia Dates are October 25, 2011, November 1, 2011, November 8, 2011 and November 15, 2011.
Zumba is a fun and energetic latin-dance inspired total body dance fitness class. It feels more like a party then a work-out!! Wear comfortable work-out clothes, althletic shoes and bring water! The cost of the class is $10
Ted Pulliam, author of the new book “Historic Alexandria: An Illustrated History” will present “Stories of Alexandria.” Ted is a frequent writer for the Washington Post, American History magazine, WWII History magazine, the Alexandria Gazette-Packet, and other publications.
The City Alexandria’s Urban Forestry Section will hold a tree sale on Saturday, October 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church parking lot, located at 3001 Cameron Mills Road. The goal of the sale is to promote the preservation of the Alexandria’s tree canopy by encouraging the planting of trees on private property throughout the City.
Last week, I attended an Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission meeting to pitch a green ideas challenge on ACTion Alexandria for Alexandria's Eco-City initiative in the near future. It would be easy for ACTion Alexandria to collect your ideas for how to turn Alexandria into a greener, more sustainable city on the Challenge section of our site and similar ideas challenges have already begun in New York City, and Washington D.C.. But more on that later!
Carrie Sanders, Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator and Transportation Planner for the City of Alexandria, gave a fascinating report on the the City's Bikeshare proposal going to City Council on October 11th.
Each month, Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) holds an invasive plant removal event at Dora Kelley Park. This month will be a little different. The park greatly needs help repairing some of the trails. After Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Nate rolled through our area, the park received a great deal of water and flooding. Many of the trails were damaged as a result, and the staff has had to spend a lot of time returning them to a user-friendly state.
ACTion Alexandria is teaming up with the Childhood Obesity Action Network, Get Healthy Alexandria, and Smart Beginnings Alexandria/Arlington to launch Project Play.
What is Project Play?
Project Play is an effort focused on increasing play opportunities in Alexandria. The ultimate goal of Project Play is to ensure that every child in Alexandria has a quality space to play and you can be a part of it!
Way to go Team ACTion Alexandria! Thanks to you, we raised $1,000 for Higher Achievement, enough to send 90 Alexandria scholars on 4 well-deserved field trips!
Field trips are critical to the success of Higher Achievement scholars. They are able to build relationships with mentors, interact with the community outside the center, and feel recognized and celebrated for their academic achievement.
This success wouldn't have been possible without a $500 match from the RunningBrooke Fund,
Fall is here and Art on the Avenue is drawing near on Saturday, October 1. Art on the Avenue is staffed exclusively by volunteers. Join the team to spend some quality time with friends and neighbors in Del Ray and do your part to support the arts.
Art on the Avenue needs individual volunteers (and groups!) to work various shifts from 5:30am to 7:00pm on October 1st.
Art on the Avenue is a multi-cultural arts festival celebrating our community’s diversity through the arts in the Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria, Virginia. This festival is held on the first Saturday in October, rain or shine!
Sunday is the September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance. It's a day we pay tribute to those who were lost and to honor the heroes who answered the call to serve on that day and in the weeks and months that followed through action.
This first-class outdoor art gallery with over 200 artists and $15 million in artwork for sale will be in Alexandria on September 10-11, 2011 making it the ninth year of this popular event in Alexandria.
This week, we’re helping Higher Achievement reward hardworking scholars in Alexandria by sending them on after school field trips during the school year.
Since Labor Day is "dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers" -- and we're all about taking ACTion to improve the quality of life here in Alexandria -- what resources would you recommend to someone look
Treat your pooch to a summertime dip at the City of Alexandria’s Eighth Annual Doggie Day Swim on Saturday, September 10, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Old Town Pool, 1609 Cameron St. Following the end of the summer pool season, this annual event provides dogs with the opportunity to swim and play games in one of the City’s pools.
We won’t know until after she’s gone whether we over-prepared or under-prepared. The prediction for the weekend? She will hit us hard with wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour.
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) nurses will host the annual Student Health and Immunization Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, at James K. Polk Elementary School, 5000 Polk Ave., Alexandria. ACPS looks forward to having the opportunity once again to help meet the school entry health needs of new students. There is no charge for the services provided at the health fair.
The City of Alexandria cordially invites you to a remembrance ceremony for the tenth anniversary of September 11, to give thanks and pay tribute to those who responded without fear, acted without hesitation and gave their lives to save others.
My first efforts to locate the Alexandria Seaport Foundation perhaps best reflect most Alexandrians knowledge of the organization. I went to the Seaport Center, near the Torpedo Factory in Old Town, where I had always admired the foundation’s beautiful dockside building and the boats I saw inside. However, I quickly learned that this building is a mere showcase for the Foundation, as its real work goes on several blocks away, in a warehouse at 2 Duke Street. At this location, known as the Robinson Terminal, the ASF trains and mentors ten to fifteen local young people in its Apprentice Program. As Kent Barnekov, the Executive Director of the ASF explained, the Apprentice Program employs disadvantaged youths from the ages of 17-22 and instructs them in boatbuilding, carpentry, and general skills designed to ease their transition into the workforce.
Back to School Public Forum sponsored by the Del Ray Business Association
This will be the first in a series of monthly public forums open for citizens to learn about and discuss issues of importance to our community. All forums will have town hall style, Q&A and refreshments will be served.
This week, we are helping Healthy Families Alexandria provide Home Safety Kits to protect young children from common accidental injuries in their homes.
The streets of Alexandria, VA will be buzzing with shoppers on Saturday, August 13 for the second annual Old Town Summer Sidewalk Sale. Participating merchants and restaurants will be showcasing their products in the second City-wide Summer Sidewalk Sale.
As the school year approaches, the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership anticipates needing at least 100 new mentors!
According to the Alexandria Mentoring Program, 50% of Alexandria's young people live in situations that put them at risk of not living up to their full potential. With mentoring, that risk is dramatically reduced.
Slainte mhath! (Good health!) The music, food, and culture of Ireland will be featured as the City of Alexandria hosts its annual Irish Festival. Admission is free and the festival will be held rain or shine. For information, visit http://www.Ballyshaners.org.
The "28th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) on Tuesday, August 2, 2011.
Citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood associations and local officials from all over the United States and Canada to:
United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has proclaimed August 7-13, 2011 as National Farmers Market Week. In celebration, the market will include:
The City of Alexandria will hold its second annual Youth Arts Festival from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, at Jefferson-Houston School, 1501 Cameron St. This free, fun- filled, culturally enriching festival features live performances, a puppet theatre, fine art displays, interactive workshops, poetry readings and opportunities for youth to sell their art.
This fun filled, cultural enriching, and completely engaging festival features live performances, puppet theatre, fine art displays, interactive workshops, poetry readings and opportunities for youth to sell their art. Food and beverage sales will be available, and the festival will be held rain or shine.
Partner with a Higher Achievement staff member to lead groups of scholars in Brain-Quest, Math Bowl or Field Game competitions. Various shifts including: Morning session – 9:00-11:30am, Lunch – 12:30-1:15pm, Afternoon session – 12:45-2:45pm. Competition held at George Washington Middle School at 1005 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301-1707
While recognizing major changes in demographic characteristics of the American family over the past several decades, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is initiating an ongoing, system-wide approach to strengthening Virginia’s families. This initiative focuses on reducing non-marital births, connecting and reconnecting fathers with their children, and encouraging the format
This week, we are helping the Center for Alexandria’s Children collect 50 items for their playgroups that provide critical developmental support to young children and parents in Alexandria.
The festival features live entertainment, children’s activities, and traditional arts and crafts from South America, Bolivia, Peru, and Central America, and food and beverage sales. Sponsored by Tenants and Workers United
Join us on Sunday, July 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to knit or crochet baby items for Alternative House! Alternative House provides shelter and support to abused and homeless children and their families. Please plan to use machine washable material for the hats.
George Washington Middle School sponsored science and service work day project at Four Mile Run Park in the City of Alexandria, with Earth Force and the City of Alexandria Dept. RPCA, Horticulture and Natural Resources Section. On June 13, GW Middle School students, instructors, and site leaders gathered along the tidal shore and mudflats of Four Mile Run to remove the invasive exotic Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), collect water quality data, study macroinvertebrates, and clean-up litter.
The summer learning loss can be detrimental for elementary-aged children and children of low-income families because the children are out of school and not continuing their learning.
Come to the reception to celebrate the City of Alexandria being recognized as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People, awarded by America's promise-Alliance for Youth.
Please RSVP by June 28th to the Department of Community and Human Services, Office of Youth Services at 703-746-5970.
Del Ray Performing Arts Center has announced that they will be doing Shakespeare's Time Traveling Players Boot Camp this summer. Join them June 26-July 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Camp is available for grades 6 through 9.
Help The Reading Connection provide 100 children’s books for the We Are Readers summer reading program that kicks off today at the Ruby Tucker Family Center.
Chaired by Kate Moran, longtime Del Ray resident and singer in her own band, the festival is organized with the support of an all-star group of Del Ray citizens. The festival features a variety of music with have included reggae, jazz, blues, swing, folk, country, Celtic and rock.
At ACTion Alexandria, we want to bring the cat back to Alexandria. Alexandrians are known for their fondness for all things canine, but did you know that cats outnumber dogs 3 to 1 in local shelters?
The Miracle League has started work on their very first baseball field that is accessible to wheelchairs. The league is made up of children and adults from the Alexandria Therapeutic Recreation Department.
The late Ruby Tucker was an ardent advocate for her Lynhaven neighborhood. She served for 12 years on the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority where she was a voice for extending services to the City's most needy residents.
Come celebrate the one year anniversary of VeloCity Bicycle Cooperative! We'll be firing up the grill at 5 pm. Food will be served around 6 pm. The party will end when you go home.
$10 suggested donation at the door for food and beer.
Fuse Box, a group of local kids that play concerts to benefit different organizations, will be playing a concert to benefit The Center for Alexandria's Children. Please let them know if you are planning to attend because space is limited. A suggested donation of $15 in advance or $20 at the door is requested.
Amazon released their information to the public about who who has bought the most reading material through their website and Kindle sales since the beginning of 2011.
The Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is leading an effort to begin Alexandria's participation in the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project (https://bikepeddocumentation.org).
The Parent Leadership Training Institute is a 20-week program that focuses on training caretakers to best advocate for their children and the children throughout the community.
Come out and enjoy a show stopping night of music and dance from budding young artists who are right here and our backyard. The event is free to the public, but tickets are required for admission.
Jane Hess Collins of Get Out and Give Back has started a new program. She is going out and engaging in at least one community service project a week. After she completes her project, she posts about it on Facebook, Twitter and her own website. By doing this, she is giving the nonprofit publicity and she shows the great work they are doing in the community.
Carpenter's Shelter has a client who is trying to start her own business! Currently she is working hard to become a certified home care provider. She needs your help to get started! Below is a list of items she needs:
The Festival theme is "Reaching Back Moving Forward," highlighting the African-American experience from the Civil War era to the celebration of Juneteenth and current events in Alexandria. The festival will be held rain or shine.
ACTion Alexandria invites you to participate in Spring2ACTion, an innovative online community-wide fundraising event designed to inspire unprecedented levels of charitable giving in our City. Every donation you make gives your favorite organization the chance to win even more money through matching donations and prizes.
Spring2ACTion is a collaboration of 44 Alexandria nonprofit organizations. We are working together to raise the profile of the life-changing work they do in our community as well as help them raise a little money to help them continue to do it!
We need a few more books for grades K-2 to round out the summer reading packs for this year's book drive. Reading during the summer allows children to maintain their skills until the new school year starts and this is especially critical for children without many books at home or without easy access to libraries.It's easy to chip in:
Today is Earth Day, the one day of the year that we celebrate Mother Earth. But really, we should be doing so everyday. It's a bit like a holiday; you don't tell that special someone that you love them only on Valentine's Day, right? We should be taking care of our Mother Earth everyday.
Go Green! Alexandria is a new non-profit in Alexandria that is encouraging residents to take care of our community.
As Alexandrians, we have a pretty good sense of how generous we are as a community, but did you know that our generosity has been quantified? According to Convio, one of the largest constituent management vendors for nonprofits, Alexandria is the most generous online giving city in the United States and has been for the last three years?
For decades, Virginia's poverty rate has consistently been lower than that of the entire nation, but pockets of unexpected poverty can be found in many areas that seem economically prosperous.
Most of us think of Alexandria, with its population of 150,000, as a prosperous city. In the last decade, the income of a single household has risen from $56,000 to around $77,000. Most of us can afford to live comfortably here. But what about those who can't?
We are really excited to use our new challenge functionality to give Alexandria residents the opportunity to help prioritize a new set of Quality of Life indicators. We've jerry-rigged things a bit by adding the indicators as "solutions, but don't let that throw you. All you need to do is browse through the indicators and vote for those you feel are most important.
The Employment Opportunity Quality of Life Indicators help us measure the extent to which we live in an Alexandria where meaningful employment opportunities are available for all, since health is linked to financial stability.
The Clean City and Environment Quality of Life Indicators help us measure the extent to which we live in an Alexandria where our houses, streets, neighborhoods and parks are clean and well-kept, free of garbage, environmental hazards and pests so that everyone can fully enjoy our beautiful city.
The Healthy, Safe, and Accessible Food Quality of Life Indicators help us measure the extent to which we live in An Alexandria where all residents can access safe & healthy foods & are able to practice healthy eating habits.
The Substance Abuse and Prevention Quality of Life Indicators help us measure an Alexandria where its residents support and are engaged in efforts to prevent the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and where treatment for substance use problems is readily available
The Emotional and Mental Health Quality of Life Indicators help us measure an Alexandria where safeguarding emotional and mental health is a priority and there is adequate provision of mental health services.
The Public Safety, Crime, and Emergency Preparednes & Response Indicators help us measure an Alexandria where people are safe in their homes and walking in their neighborhoods, unafraid of crime, violence and domestic abuse.
The Transportation, Trails, Parks, Open Space, and Recreation Quality of Life Indicators help us measure an Alexandria where everyone has access to transportation options, trails, parks, open space and recreation opportunities.
When most of us hear the word philanthropy, we think about money--lots of money. To most Americans, philanthropy is the province of the wealthy and celebrities--Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet, the Rockefellers, and Oprah Winfrey.
But when I think of philanthropy and philanthropists, I think of you.
We all "know" that the arts benefits children - but just what are some of those benefits? According to a 
We've made it to the finish line! 
Volunteer Alexandria has compiled the following Hotlist of local volunteer opportunities. Please contact the agency directly if you are interested in the opportunity and reference Volunteer Alexandria. 
Volunteering is up among teens, but what kinds of experiences are we giving them and will it lead to long term philanthropy? 
The Reading Connection (TRC) would like to invite you to attend the Community Reading Festival on May 11 and to participate in the 2nd Arlington Kids Read Read-a-Thon. TRC is holding a Community Reading Festival on May 11 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Campbell Elementary School. There will be books read aloud, a visit from Clifford, crafts and treats for all. The event is open to the public and geared towards families with children aged 3 to 12. 
Your mom is classy, so take her some place to feed your intellectual curiosity this Day of the Mother. Many Old Town museums are opening their doors for free tours and events to celebrate moms. 
Pew just released their report, "Civic Engagement in the Digital Age" and it's got some interesting insights. 
Friday April 12, Carpenter’s Shelter experienced a fire. We were very fortunate to identify the fire quickly thanks two of our fearless volunteers who alerted the staff immediately. Fortunately no one was injured. 
Last weekend saw the opening of 4MRMarket. We saw a good turnout and lots of people happy to see the market back at 4109 Mt. Vernon Ave. 
ACT for Alexandria and ACTion staff are deeply saddened by the tragedy yesterday at the Boston Marathon and extend our deepest sympathies to all affected. 
Following a couple recent successful stream clean-ups and park renovations, a cadre of volunteers will be back at it again this upcoming weekend planting about 2 dozen trees in Four Mile Run Park. 
Our ACTion Hero, Brooke Sydnor Curran, is a rising star! 
Former Alexandria Small Business Facilitator Tom Fairchild makes the case for positive economic impacts of bike, pedestrian and transit facilities in a post at 
Did you know that the arts are a major economic booster? That's what expert Randy Cohen from DC-based arts group, 
Transformation was put into place in Summer 2011. 
Hey Alexandria - this looks like a job for YOU! 
Well, it’s done! The apartment building at 612 Notabene Drive has been turned into a building that any of us would be proud to call home. Through the thorough plans of architect John Savage and the magic of Pulte Homes and their amazing vendors and sub contractors, our old building is new again. The transformation began on September 12th and the building is now completely beautiful, inside and out. The furnishings are brand new thanks to Fran and Gant Redmon, who hosted a fundraiser that helped to 
As part of National Mentoring Month, ACT for Alexandria is talking about their mentors. Learn more about how you can be a mentor to someone this month: 
Hmm...what was going this weekend again? Oh, right! National Day of Service and the Inauguration!
What Is The DreamDog Foundation?
What Is Rebuilding Together Alexandria?
I just wanted to remind folks that you can make charitable contributions without spending a single extra dime, and help out 
What Is Literacy Council of Northern Virginia?
What Is the Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria?
What Is Tenants and Workers United?
When most of us hear the word philanthropy, we think about money--lots of money. To most Americans, philanthropy is the province of the wealthy and celebrities--Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet, the Rockefellers, and Oprah Winfrey.
It's the Season of Giving and we hope that you'll take the time to give back to members of the Alexandria community who need your help. 
With regular season ended, this Sunday, 4MRMarket morphs into the Four Mile Run Holiday Market.
It's that time of year--when the leaves begin to fall, the air is grows cold and our televisions fill with political ads--Election Day is almost here! It's time to prepare to exercise your greatest civic responsibility and vote.
If you've got a smart phone, you might want to download some of these apps to keep you informed on Hurricane Sandy and get alerts from local and national government. 
A lot of damage can happen during a storm and we want to make sure you all stay safe. So we've compiled a list of advice for you on what to do. If you have any other tips please add them to the comments and we'll update this post. 
Be prepared this weekend as Sandy, also known as "Frankenstorm" is coming up the Eastern Seaboard
Adopting a shelter animal is an amazing way to change lives. Not only are you rescuing a homeless animal in need, but your life and the lives of your family members are sure to change as well. Many of us want to help homeless animals in any way possible, but the reality is that adoption simply isn't an option for everyone. However, the 
The Alexandria Bar Association and Senior Services of Alexandria are partnering to present the second annual Senior Citizens Law Day on Saturday, October 13, 2012. 
We each know someone who has given much of their lives--their hearts and souls--to making Alexandria a better place to live. Living Legends of Alexandria wants to recognize these folks and the good news is that you don’t have to be a Pulitzer Prize winner to write the nomination. All it takes is a one-page description outlining the activities in which the person has excelled. Nominees who meet the criteria for consideration and their nominators will each receive a complimentary invitation to the inspiring "Meet The Legends" reception on March 21, 2013. 
Get ready to get your civic engagement on - today is National Voter Registration day! 
If you live in the 45th District, you may be eligible to vote absentee for the upcoming Special Election on September 4th. 
Tonight is the "29th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW).
Most of the students hold one or more low-wage jobs (usually without opportunities for advancement). Many are first-generation immigrants and two-thirds are women. Most of today's more well paying jobs require computer proficiency. Computer C.O.R.E. gives a sixth month training course and helps students learn basics including Word, Excel, Power Point, e-mail and the Internet. The best feature: after two months they will receive a free desktop to continue to practice on at home and it also gives them a chance to teach family members. 
You outdid yourselves this time! Our previous weeklong fundraising record was $2,690 for The Art League's SOHO mentoring program in October.
If you haven't heard, today is Give to the Max Day, a giving holiday for nonprofit organizations throughout the capital region.
Since we announced 
Way to go Team ACTion Alexandria! Thanks to you, we raised $1,000 for Higher Achievement, enough to send 90 Alexandria scholars on 4 well-deserved field trips!
My first efforts to locate the 
