Arlington County loves trees, and knows trees are critical for our stormwater infrastructure, environmental and human health benefits, and through its Tree Canopy Fund EcoAction Arlington offers grants to plant or maintain trees on private property. These trees are planted on the property of Arlington homeowners, civic and homeowner associations, private property management companies, community nonprofit organizations, civic service clubs, school-related groups, ad hoc neighborhood groups and places of worship. Apply online for both large and small trees by June 29. Applicants will be notified in mid-August and trees will be planted by a contractor in the Fall of 2020. Learn more about the Tree Canopy Fund Grant Program here.
As protests against police brutality carry on across the country, and as law enforcement continue using excessive force against those exercising their First Amendment rights, communities everywhere are searching for ways to gather, show solidarity, express their emotions, and demand change. On Friday, June 5, 2020, Tenants and Workers United and La ColectiVA will co-host a community vigil in Alexandria and a Cacerolazo (Rally) for Black Lives in Arlington to remember and honor victims of police brutality and call for systemic changes that advance racial justice. Everyone is welcome to join the peaceful events. Face coverings and physical distance are strongly encouraged.
The vigil will be from 7:00-8:00pm in TWU’s parking lot, behind 3801 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305. Participants are invited to bring posters, candles, and other tributes to honor the victims.
During an increasingly volatile time when tensions are heightened and nerves are frayed, the Arlington Coalition of Police would like to offer a series of apologies. We offer these apologies humbly in the hopes that they can serve to begin to mend a number of wounds on a number of fronts that were a long time in the making.
First and foremost, we apologize to George Floyd and his family. What happened in Minneapolis on May 25 was murder. The behavior shown by the involved police officers was callous and inexcusable. It should not have happened. It should never happen. That behavior is not what we stand for, nor what our members represent. We support those Minneapolis police officers being held accountable for their actions.
Fashion Centre at Pentagon City today announced that it will reopen May 29. As part of the reopening process, the property published its comprehensive COVID-19 Exposure Control Policy, developed in conjunction with a team of leading experts in the fields of Epidemiology and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), in order to deliver an elevated set of safety standards at the property.
Fashion Centre at Pentagon City’s enhanced safety protocols have been communicated to all tenants, who are expected to adhere to the same rigorous policies in their tenant spaces. Additionally, the property has joined forces with local non-profits to support initiatives aimed at assisting those in the community experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19.
On Friday afternoon, members of Marymount University’s graduating class will celebrate their accomplishments through a Graduation Parade, with faculty and staff cheering them on along a four-mile route that loops between Main Campus and the Ballston Center.
Graduates are encouraged to bring posters with them for the procession and decorate their vehicles. In order to ensure everyone’s safety, participants are required to stay in their vehicles for the duration of the program.
The Armed Forces Cycling Classic (AFCC), presented by The Boeing Company, will be offering free AFCC Virtual Ride options this year, as the overall event had to cancel due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual rides will be hosted on Strava and Zwift and a free rebroadcast of the 2019 AFCC will be available thanks to our media partner Monumental Sports Network.
“We hope that we can inspire cyclists to get out and either enjoy the great routes that we have to offer in our Strava Club or join us on our Zwift ride.” said Robert Laybourn, President of Arlington Sports and the Founder and Event Director of the Armed Forces Cycling Classic. “We look forward to seeing everyone in person when we return in 2021.”
Today, the Rosslyn BID announced the launch of Rosslyn Ready, a multifaceted program to support and organize businesses in promoting proper safety measures when people are welcomed back into the neighborhood. Rosslyn Ready will provide customized digital resources and access to industry experts to help Rosslyn businesses create individualized strategies for reentry. In just under a week since launch, 90 businesses and restaurants have signed up to be part of the program.
As a part of Rosslyn Ready, businesses can sign up to join the Ready for Reentry program, where they will receive specific guidance in the form of digital resources and a webinar series where they can ask questions of renowned experts, including:
For the last several years, Northern Virginia has taken dozens of promising tech start-ups to the Collision conference, granting them access to programming, investors, mentors and networking opportunities. This year, the Collision organizers have moved everything online, so instead of traveling to the conference in Toronto this year, eighteen lucky start-ups from Northern Virginia will get an all-access pass to the Collision from Home tech conference.
Founders and C-Suite executives from companies like Facebook, Microsoft, Uber, Spotify, YouTube, Netflix and more are already confirmed to speak. In addition, it is expected that over 1,000 angels, VCs and LPs will be joining the conference from home.
The Arlington Education Association Political Action Committee (AEA-PAC) recently announced its endorsement of Cristina Diaz-Torres, a teacher and education policy specialist, in the Arlington Public School Board Democratic Caucus, stating that teachers believe “Cristina’s hands-on experience as a teacher and an education policy specialist, combined with her deep commitment to equity and transparency, is just what we need now to help steer APS through the present crisis.”
The school board caucus was previously scheduled to take place, in-person, on May 7th & 9th. However, when Virginia instituted its recent stay-at-home order, the local Democratic party that manages the process adopted a vote-by-mail alternative.
U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Cory Booker have announced their official endorsements for Arlington Virginia School Board candidate Terron Sims II.
Terron Sims II is a military veteran and former County Board candidate who played an instrumental role in Senator Tim Kaine, Governor Terry McAuliffe, Congressman Don Beyer, and Governor Ralph Northam’s campaigns, where he assisted in standing up their VMF apparatus, served as an official surrogate, edited policy, organized events, and raised funds.
Sixty-five Arlington nonprofits have received a total of nearly $800,000 in emergency response support from the Arlington Community Foundation COVID-19 Prompt Response Fund. On Giving Tuesday Now and throughout the week of May 4, the Community Foundation hopes Arlington residents and businesses will help replenish the fund to meet continuing urgent, crisis-related needs.
Giving Tuesday Now is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. This is in addition to the regularly scheduled Giving Tuesday, which takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year. The Community Foundation is asking that everyone in the Arlington community who has a little extra to give provide support to this fund or any other nonprofit that is helping those in crisis.
Transportation Security Administration employees at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) have established a free food and toiletries pantry to assist employees in the airport community who have been laid off or seen their work hours and paychecks reduced due to the significant decrease in travelers as a result of the pandemic.
“It’s a one-stop shop for airport employees who are in need,” said Shanita Wylie, a TSA program analyst who assisted the TSA’s employee morale group at DCA coordinate the opening of the pantry. “Just over a year ago federal employees were furloughed and were provided so much support by the entire airport community and now we are here continuing the trend of support and showing them our appreciation.”
