Welcome from Board Chair Devanshi Patel

Change touches everything. It reshapes our county, our institutions, and the rhythms of everyday life. It challenges us to think differently, act boldly, and come together with purpose.

 

In moments of uncertainty, it is not policy alone that guides us. It is people. It is the strength of our relationships, built on trust, dialogue, and shared commitment, that gives us the power to shape the future we want to see. 

 

For more than 70 years, Advance Arlington has been that gathering place. A space where neighbors become collaborators. Where questions lead to insight. Where ideas are not just heard—they are valued.

 

Advance Arlington is where ideas take root and community takes action.

 

We do not endorse candidates. We elevate voices. 

We do not take sides. We build bridges. 

We do not debate each other. We ask the important questions.

 

Residents from across Arlington come together. Not to agree, but to engage.

 

To gather. 

To think. 

To shape our future.

 

We are more than a meeting space. We are a movement, grounded in respect, guided by curiosity, and inspired by the power of dialogue to shape what comes next.

 

On behalf of Advance Arlington, welcome to the 2025–2026 program year.

 

Stay connected.

Learn more.

Join the conversation.

 

The future of Arlington is not written by one person. It is written by all of us, together. We look forward to learning, questioning, and growing with you.


Welcome to the 2025-2026 Program Year

The Advance Arlington Board offers several opportunities for combined in-person and virtual hybrid programs throughout the year. See current and future program updates, as well as a video recording of our most recent program, below.

 

Viewers can also find recordings of all of our previous events at our "Past Programs" tab as well.


Register Now!

The New Math of Arlington's Tax Base

🗓️ March 11, 2026 | 6:45 PM

📍In Person: Lubber Run Community Center

300 N Park Drive, Arlington, VA 22203

💻 Virtual: Join via Zoom

For decades, Arlington County built its fiscal strength on a robust commercial presence that helped stabilize residential taxes and support sustained public investment. That model set Arlington apart.

 

Today, that foundation is under pressure. The equation has changed.

 

Office vacancies, remote work patterns, and declining commercial assessments have shifted a greater share of the tax base onto residential property. What once felt balanced now carries new weight.

 

The question is no longer whether the balance has moved. It has. The question is what that change means for schools, public safety, infrastructure, affordability, and long term competitiveness. Can the commercial sector rebound? Should we pursue a different model? What choices are available, and what tradeoffs come with them?

 

Join us for a candid conversation about the future of Arlington County, its competitiveness, its fiscal strength, and the community whose lives, work, and investment will shape what Arlington becomes.

 


Kate Ange is Acting Director of Arlington Economic Development, where she leads the county’s efforts to strengthen its business environment, attract investment, and support long-term economic growth. A trained city planner with more than 25 years of experience, she has worked with communities across the country on economic development, land use, transportation, and urban design strategies that help cities adapt and compete. 

Brad Case is Chief Residential Economist at Homes.com, part of the CoStar Group in Rosslyn. He analyzes housing markets, property values, and real estate trends across the country, providing insight into how shifts in residential and commercial markets shape local economies and tax bases.

Mark Schwartz has served as Arlington County Manager for the past decade, leading county government and overseeing Arlington’s multibillion-dollar budget, operations, and financial strategy. Under his leadership, Arlington has navigated major economic shifts, including the COVID-19 pandemic, while continuing to invest in schools, infrastructure, public safety, and community services that sustain the county’s long-term stability and vibrancy.  

 




Did you Miss our february program?

Who Decides? How Governance and Representation Shapes Arlington 

Who really has a seat at the table in Arlington?

 

As the County Board reviews Arlington’s nearly 100-year-old governance structure, big questions are on the table:

 

Does the current at-large system still serve a community of nearly 250,000?

 

Who is represented, and who is not?

 

Would district seats or other reforms make a difference?

How might changes affect housing, equity, and civic participation?

 

Our panel of current and former County Board members and civic leaders tackled the history, the tensions, and what could come next.

 

The conversation was thoughtful, candid, and highly relevant to Arlington’s future.

 

👉🏾 Click below to watch the full recording.


DID YOU MISS ANY OF OUR PAST PROGRAMS?


join the conversation - Become a Member

Your membership fuels inclusive, engaging discussions on the issues that matter most in Arlington. With four accessible membership levels, you’ll enjoy full access to programs, exclusive benefits, and opportunities to connect with neighbors shaping our community’s future. Join us and the conversation! 


powering conversations together

The support of our donors and sponsors power the conversations that matter most, connecting neighbors online and in person to explore ideas, spark dialogue, and shape Arlington’s future.


2025-2026 Board of Directors

Welcome New Board Members!

We are thrilled to introduce our new Board officers and five stellar new Board members for the 2025-26 program year. 

Board of Directors Officers

 

Chair: Devanshi Patel

CEO, Center for Youth and Family Advocacy

 

Vice Chair: Tony Weaver

Managing Partner, Olsen Weaver LLC

 

Treasurer: Mohsin Syed

Former Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Transportation

 

Secretary: Jeanne Broyhill

Immediate Past Chair

New Board Members

 

Monique "Moe" Bryant

Executive Director, Challenging Racism

 

Sandy Chesrown, 

President, Waverly Hills Civic Association; 

Board Member, Arlington Artists Alliance

 

Chris Concepcion

Management and Program Analyst

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

 

John Musso

Government Affairs Manager, Arlington Chamber of Commerce

 

Mohsin Syed

Former Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Transportation