The Advance Arlington Board will provide several opportunities for combined in-person and virtual hybrid programs throughout the year with
remaining programs hosted on Zoom. Stay tuned to our website and emails for updates.
Viewers may also watch our programs live or afterwards on our Facebook Page, and the recordings will be uploaded to our "Past Programs" tab as well.
October Program
Governing in the 21st Century
Are Local Governments in Sync with their Constituents?
A Conversation with Libby Garvey and Justin Wilson
Libby Garvey, Chair, Arlington County Board
Justin Wilson, Mayor, Alexandria City
Please Join Advance Arlington in Partnership with Agenda Alexandria and George Mason University's Schar School and Office of Community and Local Government Relations
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
6:30 pm reception with light refreshments
Program begins at 7:00 pm
In Person at
Mason Square, George Mason University's Arlington Campus Auditorium
3351 Fairfax Dr, Arlington, VA 22201
and Virtually via Zoom
There’s a saying that all politics is local. As we stand a quarter of the way into the 21st century, how are local governments operating, and, importantly, keeping in sync with their constituents in today’s world of rapid technological change, social media and polarization? When contending with critical social issues like affordable housing and economic development, are elected leaders taking the public’s pulse or proceeding assuming their decisions have support?
Have recent controversial issues like the “Missing Middle” housing initiative in Arlington and the Monumental Sports arena failure in Alexandria laid bare a growing rift between local government and constituents? Are the “Arlington Way” and the “Alexandria Way” of consensus building gone?
Join Advance Arlington, Agenda Alexandria, George Mason University's Schar School for Policy and Government and Office of Community and Local Government Relations for this special event with two distinguished elected officials as they prepare to step away from public office: Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey and Alexandria City Mayor Justin Wilson. Topics will include:
Michael Pope is an author and journalist who lives in Old Town Alexandria. He has reported for NPR, the New York Times and the Alexandria Gazette Packet. He has a master's degree in American Studies from Florida State University, and he is a former adjunct professor at Tallahassee Community College. He is the author of five books.
Alan J. Abramson is a professor and the director of the Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise in the Schar School for Policy and Government at George Mason University. He is a core faculty member of the Schar School's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program that prepares graduate students for public service careers.
Advance Arlington would like to thank everyone who attended our 2024-25 program season kickoff, FALL EDITION: QUIZ THE CANDIDATES NIGHT, on September 11th at Lubber Run Community Center.
We were thrilled to hear from our School Board candidates, Kathleen Clark, James Vell Rives, Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, and Paul Weiss and County Board candidates, Audrey Clement, Juan Carlos Fierro, Madison Granger, and JD Spain, Sr. Thank you to our moderators, Karina Elwood of The Washington Post, and Jay Fisette, former Arlington County Board Chair and Member who facilitated an engaging and comprehensive debate on local issues.
Sips, Savories & the Arts Soiree, June 2024
Jeanne Broyhill
Edd & Anita Nolen
We are immensely grateful for the generosity of our sponsors whose crucial contributions allow us to offer exciting programming for the upcoming year. You can find these wonderful community partners on our website's new Sponsors page here - and please consider joining this terrific list too!