Join The Fund for Alexandria's Child for live music and dancing as well as a Papparazzi Prize Pull, raffle, and silent auction. Learn more and find out ticket pricing: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-among-the-stars-tickets-11073211273. 

What better place for learning through the arts than outdoors? Exuberant and boisterous or contemplative and inspired, in all its forms-dance, music, storytelling, drama, poetry, drawing, painting, sculpture and weaving-there are many great reasons to experience the arts outdoors. 

This year's conference will feature: 

Healthy Farms, Healthy Families

The Beauregard Design Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Tuesday, February 18 from 7pm – 9pm, at Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center, 5750 Sanger Ave. The meeting topics will include the discussion of the Seminary Overlook Development Special Use Permit application (DSUP2013-0026).

What if we all gave on one day?

What if we all gave on one day?

What if we all gave on one day?

Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) is a nonprofit public interest law firm that provides free legal assistance to low-income residents. By providing free, high-quality legal services LSNV is able to assist elderly, disabled, or low income individuals with some of life’s most critical issues, such as personal safety, income, housing, medical benefits, education, and family stability. 

The City of Alexandria will kick off a community meetings series for the Waterfront’s Landscape and Flood Mitigation design process with an Evening with Laurie Olin, renowned landscape architect, Tuesday, October 15, 2013, from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the United Way Worldwide Building, 701 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA. 

Fall is gearing up and there are tons of fun events happening on the weekends! Here are some of the highlights for this weekend:

Saturday, 9/14

• The DiverseCity Alexandria Multicultural Fest will be held in Four Mile Run Park in The Plaza. Celebrate the diversity of your city with food, live music, and dance! 

This post was originally featured on Causetown's blog by Kevin Markham. 

The idea originated last year after a citywide fundraising day for nonprofits in Alexandria, Virginia. Restaurateur “Mango Mike” Anderson, the owner of Mango Mike’s, and John Porter, executive director of the community foundation ACT for Alexandria , wanted to give local charities a new way to raise funds year-round to supplement their normal fundraising activities. So when Anderson and his business partner Bill Blackburn launched a “gourmet burger joint” called Holy Cow in November 2012, they decided to donate a quarter for every burger sold to a local nonprofit of the customer’s choice.

Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. rescues dogs of all breeds and ages from high-kill shelters reducing the numbers being euthanized. Most of our dogs come from rural shelters in South and North Carolina. With limited resources, the shelters are forced to put down anywhere between 50% and 90% of the animals that come in the front door.

UpCycle CRC is a non-profit organization working to collect and redistribute reusable materials for art and learning purposes.  Businesses and community members donate reusable items to our center, which in turn are made available to the community.  Teachers, students, artists, crafters, and generally anyone looking for supplies may obtain materials at affordable prices at UpCycle.

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. 

Thank you to everyone that turned up to get our 4th season off to a great start, and thank you VERY MUCH to the volunteers that planted the 2 dozen new trees in Four Mile Run Park adjacent to the market site.

 Alexandrians Respond to Boston Tragedy on Spring2ACTion – Alexandria’s Giving Day

24 hours of giving to bring thousands of dollars to support Alexandria charities and the Boston community

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. 

Happy Second Anniversary to You!

We're celebrating our second anniversary this month and it's

Join thousands of Americans by pledging to recycle more on Thursday, November 15.  As part of the City’s Eco-City Alexandria initiative, the City strives to continue increasing residential and commercial recycling rates.  

How are you recycling more? Make the pledge online or take part in two local events on Saturday, November 17:  

The girls of Troop 5751 are helping the wetlands this Sunday, October 21, near the Chinquapin Rec Center. How can you get involved? Check out their volunteer recruitment video: 

The City of Alexandria is kicking off a nine month outreach campaign to listen to what residents have to say about six of the City's parks. How do you use the parks? What do you like about the parks? What do you hope to see in the parks in the future? 

These discussions will help guide the City's plans and decisions on how the parks evolve over time. 

Virginia, Maryland and D.C. are filled with beautiful and bountiful trees, flowers, gardens and wilderness. Why not help preserve some of the beauty by volunteering for National Public Lands Day this Saturday, September 29th. 

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?

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.

The Principal Story tells two stories, painting a dramatic portrait of the challenges facing America's public schools — and of the great difference a dedicated principal can make.

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.

And the winners are…

What would you ask the City Council candidates?

Civic engagement is what ACTion Alexandria is all about and what's more civic than voting?  It's been a boisterous year in city politics, and with more than a baker's dozen worth of candidates running for City Council, it's hard for a lot of us to figure out which candidates best represent our vision for our community.

So, we are turning the tables on traditional political debates by giving YOU the starring role in our online forum.

One City.  One Day.  One Opportunity.

What if we all gave one one day?

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.

Be Generous.  Be Alexandria.