ACTion Alexandria is once again hosting the Green Ideas Challenge, starting on Wednesday, June 1. For the fourth year, ACTion is asking local nonprofits and community members, working in partnerships with local organizations, to submit their ideas for making Alexandria an even greener, more sustainable place to live, work and visit. 

On Friday, May 6, 

Are you planning on running the Marine Corps Marathon this fall? Don't take your chances in the lottery! Secure your bib by becoming part of the RunningBrooke team!

Thanks to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission for providing the following information: 

Please see below for information on an exciting opportunity to lead part of an ongoing effort to provide compreshensive early care and education in Alexandria. 

The City of Alexandria, Alexandria City Public Schools, Neighborhood Health and Inova Alexandria Hospital are partnering to provide a free health fair to all Alexandrians who are uninsured on Saturday, November 14 from 9am-4pm at Francis Hammond Middle School. The fair will provide a variety of free preventative health services, including flu shots, glucose and blood pressure tests, mental health screens and dental education.

There's still time for Alexandrians to join Energy Masters - the award-winning program, which trains volunteers in energy efficiency, water conservation, and community education and outreach.

It's back to school week at Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), and you can help teachers and students get the best start to the school year possible during the Back to School Blitz! Your support will go towards field trips, art supplies and science equipment, all to enrich the learning experience of students in our schools. 

Monday, August 3, 2015, 5-7PM

William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311

City of Alexandria Seeks Proposals from Non-Profit Organizations for Management Lease

The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities is seeking proposals for a five-year management lease on The Conservatory Center at Four Mile Run Park, located at 4109-4125 Mt. Vernon Ave.

The Alexandria Council of Human Service Organizations (ACHSO) is a joint partnership between ACT for Alexandria, the local community foundation, and the City of Alexandria's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS).

Last June, ACTion Alexandria announced the winners of the Green Ideas Challenge, a competition to find the best ideas for making Alexandria greener and cleaner. Thanks to a generous sponsorship from The Dominion Foundation, ACTion was able to fund four projects benefiting Alexandria. Six months into the projects, ACTion went back to check in with the 2014 grantees. 

Please save the date for a special presentation of The Raising of America: Early Childhood and the Future of Our Nation. DATE AND TIME HAVE CHANGED. NEW DATE AND TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED. The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion, featuring early childhood development experts. Admission is free. Please RSVP at: earlychildhoodfilmalexandria.eventbrite.com. 

Fall into Giving 2014, a virtual donation drive for goods and items needed by nonprofits serving Alexandria, was successfully piloted with 28 participating organizations!

Next Tuesday, November 11^th, Alexandria and the rest of America will pause in reflection for Veterans Day.  With an estimated 800,000 people expected to attend Washington DC’s “Concert for Valor”, perhaps going to a local event in Alexandria would make for a less crowded holiday. Luckily, there are several options for Alexandria residents to consider. 

A coalition of local faith-based and nonprofit leaders will recognize Saturday and Sunday, September 20 and 21, 2014 as HUNGER FREE ALEXANDRIA WEEKEND. The weekend will focus on ending hunger in the city during morning church services and will be followed on Sunday with an afternoon event to highlight the issue in hopes of determining ways to better address hunger in Alexandria. 

On April 9th during Spring2Action — one day of incredible giving in Alexandria — hundreds of local nonprofits raised an unprecedented $1,000,000+ in 24 hours. SCAN was thrilled to be a part of the day, surpassing its own goal of $10,000 thanks to the generosity of more than 80 donors.

From rulers to spiral notebooks to backpacks and new clothes, it takes a lot to equip kids for school. With the Virginia Tax Holiday on school supplies from August 1 to August 3, it's an opportune time to not only pick up supplies for your family but also to grab some extra pencils and crayons for students whose families are unable to afford the long list of needed items for the upcoming school year.  

High school seniors participating in Urban Alliance's summer internship program are in urgent need of professional clothing. Urban Alliance has helped over 10,000 youth to date graduate from high school, gain work experience, and start college. The students' experiences in professional settings are a critical part of their success.

      Play where? Play how? Play NOW! Project Play has launched a mobile-friendly website to help parents and caregivers find places for young children to play in and around Alexandria.

Senior Services of Alexandria is partnering with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria on a new program called “Animeals on Wheels” pet food delivery to senior pet owners in the City of Alexandria. 

Thank you to Lauren Houser from SPECTRUM for the following blog post: 

118 events. 97 cities. And the numbers are still growing. May 31-June 1, 2014 marks the Second Annual National Civic Day of Hacking – 24 fast-paced hours that bring together dedicated technology enthusiasts of all backgrounds to improve communities around the country.  Spectrum is a proud sponsor of the hackathon hosted by Code for NoVA at the National Science Foundation in Arlington, VA, which will rally Washington, DC and northern Virginia locals behind important community challenges.

"Purple! My favorite!" said one of the students who had just received a desk during the My Homework Space celebration. Through a community partnership with ACTion Alexandria, the City of Alexandria, Wright to Read, Bienvenidos, Community Lodgings and Samuel Tucker Elementary School, more than 15 students who live at Brent Place Apartments received their own desks to do their homework and read nightly. 

ONE WEEK until we all give on one day for Spring2ACTion, Alexandria's online giving day!

No experience is necessary! We're looking for anyone interested in learning how to fix bikes, and in turn helping others fix their bikes. Experienced volunteers are always available during open shop hours for any new volunteers to ask questions. We're looking for beginner bicycle mechanics for our volunteer open shop hours.

Happy Third Birthday ACTion Heroes!

In the past three years, you have helped to create an innovative, online platform for solving challenges and sharing ideas in Alexandria. Together, we have contributed toys, desks, books and diapers.

From January 27 to February 14, ACTion Alexandria is partnering with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and King Street Cats to ask residents to share their photos of their adopted pets and then help promote an animal for adoption from one of the shelters. 

Somehow we are already in the midst of the holiday season, and there are many great, local organizations that need help. Here are 10 ways to give back to Alexandria this holiday season: 

Did you know that for every $1 a donor gets in tax relief, the public typically receives $3 of benefit? 

In 1987, Community Lodgings was founded by eight Alexandria churches with a mission to lift families from homelessness and instability to independence and self-sufficiency. Subsequently, Community Lodgings purchased five apartment buildings in the Arlandria community of Alexandria.

For the past three years, TC Williams HS students, along with engineering teacher, Jennifer Moshier, have helped organize and run a craft fair to help raise money for a Rochester, NY-based organization, Joining Hearts and Hands.  This organization promotes economic improvements in Kenya and Tanzania by setting up microbusinesses, building schools, and much more!

Join hundreds of area residents this weekend at Rock & Stroll to End Homelessness at Cameron Run Regional Park to raise awareness and fund to fight homelessness in Northern Virginia.

Activities include:

Professional wine tasting featuring four different wines. This event is for women 21 years and older who enjoy wine and are interested in getting to know other women in Alexandria. Cheers to a good cause. Upcycle, a community resource, collect reusable items that are used for arts and crafts and learning purposes.

Together We Bake needs help on Wednesday, July 13th between 1pm and 8pm to package a large quantity of little bags of granola for an event. Volunteers can come for an hour or more and do not need to stay the whole time.

Enjoy the work of youth artists, music, and food. Click here to find out more about this event. 

Show off your Halloween costumes at this annual parade and compete for special awards for best costumes! Goodie bags will be handed out for children at the end of the parade. Click here to find out more. 

Celebrate our country and our community with this birthday celebration, including music by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and fireworks. Find out more here. 

Bring the whole family out to First Thursday, hosted by the Del Ray Business Association. To find out more, click here. 

Enjoy live music from local bands, beer gardens and food at this free local music festival. Click here to find more information. 

Join Visit Alexandria for its annual summer social at Port City Brewing Company on June 15. Click here for more information.  

The 39th Annual Jazz Festival will commemorate Memorial Day with the U.S. Navy Band Commodores and jazz groups. Click here to find out more. 

Enjoy live performances and music for children ages infant to 7 years old. Click here to learn more about this event. 

Enjoy a backyard style croquet tournament to benefit SCAN! Find out more information at: https://www.scanva.org/support-scan/upcoming-events/croquet-day/. 

Hosted by Volunteer Alexandria, the 36th Annual Old Town Arts & Crafts Fair will feature more than 70 vendors. Find out more here. 

Join the Potomac Riverkeeper Network for their 2016 Gala to celebrate the Nation's River aboard the Cherry Blossom. Learn more and RSVP at: http://www.potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/gala2016. 

More than 30

Help ALIVE! and other local food banks end hunger in the Alexandria area.  

No speeches, no auctions, no asks...just fun! Join ACT for Alexandria for the Third Annual Community BBQ down on the waterfront. Enjoy music, bbq and beveridges! RSVP at: https://communitybbq.eventbrite.com. 

Join SCAN and the Allies in Prevention to recognize five individuals working to prevent child abuse and neglect across Northern Virgina. Purchase tickets and find more information at: https://www.scanva.org/support-scan/upcoming-events/allies-in-prevention-awards/. 

Join ALIVE! for the 35th annual Step ALIVE! Walkathon to support ALIVE's Child Development Center! To register and for more information, visit: https://www.alive-inc.org/walkathon2016.shtml. 

Help support Carpenter's Shelter at the 14th Annual Carpenter's Cook-Off! Find out more about this event, attended by more than 20 local restaurants at: http://bit.ly/1LEHkeW. 

Curious about entrepreneurship? Have a business idea, but don’t know where to start?

Be a part of the 9th annual Spring for Alexandria, presented by Volunteer Alexandria in partnership with the City of Alexandria. During Spring for Alexandria, thousands of volunteers will support hundreds of Alexandria-based charities.

The 4th Annual Nonprofit Capacity Conference will bring together senior nonprofit leaders, advisors, industry experts and nonprofit consultants from across the North East. Find out more and register at: http://www.nonprofitcapacityconference.com/. 

The Alexandria office of Virginia Cooperative Extension is your local connection to Virginia's land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. 

Are you a nonprofit fundraising professional? Register for this 3 session course on increasing revenue from corporate sponsorships hosted by the United Way of the National Capital Area. Click here to register and find more information. 

Join Agudas Achim Congregation for the 2nd Annual Celebrate Community 5k & 1k Fun Run/Walk. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy, a portion of the proceeds will go to ALIVE!. Food donations will also be accepted.

RSVP for a free planetarium show at T.C. Williams High School during the Planetarium's January Community Night. Find more details and register by clicking here. 

Join the Family And Community Engagement Center (FACE) of ACPS for a parents in action engagement group for discussions on helping your child have a great experience in school. Each month will feature a different topic.

T.C. Williams seniors can stop by the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria's FAFSA Completion Workshop on Saturday, January 9th to receive free, confidential assistance from financial aid professionals. Click here for more information. 

Join Brighter Strategies and the Alexandria Collaborators (ACT for Alexandria, Alexandria Regional Council for the United Way of the national Capital Area and the City of Alexandria) for Data +

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) wants to hear from the greater community about priorities for improving WMATA’s transit operations and customer service. Recognizing Metro’s critical role in the region’s economy and quality of life, NVTC is sponsoring two regional forums.

Last year, The Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority, in partnership with the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities and the Alexandria Public Schools, provided toys to more than 3,000 children during its annual Santa's Winter Wonderland Celebration.

The Maury Schoolyard Initiative was formed by parents in Spring 2013 in response to the severely degraded environmental and safety conditions of Matthew Maury Elementary Schoolyard.

Welcome in 2016 with First Night Alexandria! Enjoy more than 100 performances, fireworks, and family friendly activities. Click here for more information. 

Join the Del Ray Artisans for their 20th Annual Holiday Market, featuring handcrafted work from local artists. Click here for more information. 

Join the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy's KeepIt360 Club and the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria's Teen Night! Email [email protected] or text "Titan" to 30644 to RSVP. 

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) and Dr. Deborah L. Tillman, Lifetime Television, America's Supernanny, presents The Parenting Movement! Find out more information at: http://www.acps.k12.va.us/face-centers/. 

Join The Campagna Center for their 45th Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade, featuring marching units with Scottish bagpipes and drums, Scottish dancers, Scottie dogs and more. Find more information at: http://www.campagnacenter.org/scottishwalkweekend/parade. 

Benefit St. Rita School during their Annual 5k and Fun Run for Education. Find out more and register at: http://www.strita5k.com/. 

Join the Alexandria Small Business Development Center for its second annual Holiday Kick-Off to celebrate the success of its clients in 2015.

Join the City of Alexandria for the annual, tree lighting ceremony in Market Square. City Officials will be on hand and Encore Stage & Studio Children's Theatre, as well as, the Alexandria Singers will perform.

USA Track & Field (USATF) invites runners of all abilities to its 12K championships! Find out more and register at: http://www.national12k.us/About.aspx. 

SCAN of Northern Virginia is hosting its Toast for Hope fundraiser on Saturday, November 7.

You Are Invited: On Tap’s 3rd Annual Cider Sampling to Benefit SCAN Nov. 12

Save the date for Spring2ACTion on Wednesday, April 20, 2016! Spring2ACTion is 24 hours of online giving benefiting nonprofit organziations serving Alexandria, VA. Find out more at: www.spring2action.org. 

Community volunteers are needed for the Alexandria Health Fair! The City of Alexandria is providing the space and is coordinating the logistics for this health fair, free to all residents of Alexandria. 

Join ALIVE! on Saturday, November 14 at 6 p.m. for a special event to raise awareness and funds to feed people who are hungry in Alexandria.

Attend a training on crowdfunding hosted by the Alexandria Small Business Development Center. Learn more at: http://alexandriasbdc.org/events/category/alexandria-sbdc-events/. 

On Halloween Alexandria Archaeology is hosting an Open House at the Shuter’s Hill archaeological site located on the property behind the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

Sponsor a youth in foster care, a family, a senior citizen or a disabled individual and help them have the best holiday possible! 

Alexandria to Kick Off Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Process with Community Meetings: This fall, the City will kick off the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget process with a series of com

Alexandria to Kick Off Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Process with Community Meetings: This fall, the City will kick off the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget process with a series of com

Each year, the Alexandria Domestic Violence Program invites over 60 families to a holiday party. Families will enjoy dinner and activities such as crafts, face painting and singing holiday songs. In many cases, the only gifts the children will receive will be given at this party. 

There's still time for Alexandrians to join Energy Masters - the award-winning program, which trains volunteers in energy efficiency, water conservation, and community education and outreach.

Are you part of a nonprofit serving Alexandria? Learn more about how a new partnership between ACT for Alexandria and The Majestic Cafe can benefit your organization at the Nonprofit Partners Happy Hour. First drinks and appetizers are free. RSVP at: https://majesticcafehappyhour.eventbrite.com.