Who Decides? How Governance and Representation Shapes Arlington 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026

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.

RIGHT TO WORK: WHAT IT MEANS FOR WORKERS, BUSINESSES, AND OUR ECONOMY 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2026

As the the labor landscape in Virginia heats up ahead of the upcoming General Assembly session, our expert panel tackled potential changes to the Commonwealth's Right to Work law in a dynamic exchange of ideas and Q&A. 

Dr. Terry Clower, Northern Virginia Chair and professor of Public Policy at GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government, opened by setting the economic and historical context for Virginia’s right-to-work law. He described NOVA's economy as facing significant challenges, including job losses in federal and professional services, slower regional growth, and continued reliance on federal spending and data center development. Dr. Clower reviewed the origins and definitions of right-to-work, distinguishing it from at-will employment, and emphasized that the issue is often framed as a matter of long-term economic competitiveness.

The panel featured John S. Earle, Distinguished Professor and labor economist at GMU; Tony Howard, President and CEO of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce; and Don Slaiman, Political Coordinator for IBEW Local 26. Howard argued that right-to-work is a critical competitive advantage for Virginia, particularly against southeastern states, and warned that repeal could gradually reduce investment, job growth, and wage growth. 

Slaiman countered that right-to-work weakens unions, suppresses wages, and deprives workers of due process and a meaningful voice on the job, while also eroding broader community and economic stability. Earle, speaking from an academic perspective, emphasized that research on right-to-work is mixed: while it clearly reduces union membership and may affect wages and workplace safety, strong causal evidence tying it to investment decisions or unemployment rates is limited, and any impacts would likely unfold slowly and unevenly.

Panelists broadly agreed that larger structural forces may ultimately matter more than right-to-work policy alone. In particular, advances in AI, automation, and new industrial models are likely to have a far greater long-term impact on jobs, wages, and the labor force than changes to right-to-work laws, underscoring the need for policymakers, businesses, and workers to focus on preparing for these transformative shifts.

We thank our fantastic panel for this excellent program and all who attended in person and via Zoom. We also thank Board members John Musso and Doug Taylor for leading this timely and informative program.

 changing benefits, lasting impact: What medicaid and snap cits mean for arlington

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2025

Advance Arlington welcomed a distinguished group of speakers, beginning with prerecorded remarks from Congressman Don Beyer, followed by a panel featuring Jessica Crothers, Director of the Public Assistance Bureau at Arlington County Department of Human Services, Lesley Daigle, Chief Executive Officer of Arlington Free Clinic, Charlie Meng, Executive Director and CEO of the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), Scott Surovell, Virginia State Senate Majority Leader, and Cicely Whitfield Johnson, Chief Programs Officer at Bridges to Independence. Congressman Beyer’s overview of federal attempts to cut SNAP and Medicaid provided the backdrop for the panel’s conversation about the growing instability of these essential programs.

Panelists underscored how emerging work requirements, reduced SNAP funding, and changes to Medicaid eligibility are already creating fear, benefit gaps, and rising demand for food, healthcare, and housing support. The panelists described a clear surge in need: AFAC and Bridges to Independence are seeing more families seeking food and stability, while the Arlington Free Clinic warned that cuts will significantly increase the number of uninsured residents requiring medical care.
 

Despite mounting pressures, panelists ended the conversation on a note of hope, emphasizing the strength and resilience of Arlington’s safety-net network and the urgency of continued community support.

 Beyond Market Rate: What It Takes to Make Housing Truly Affordable in Arlington

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025

What makes housing truly affordable, and for whom? Our October program unpacked the layers of affordability in Arlington, from market-rate to deeply affordable homes, and examined how past policies continue to shape today’s housing challenges.

Samia Byrd, Director of Community Planning, Housing, and Development, provided a powerful framework for understanding Arlington’s affordability gap. A dynamic panel featuring Nicholas Cumings, Walsh Colucci, Marta Hill Gray, Culpepper Garden, Brian Marroquin, Arlington Community Foundation, and Haley Norris, True Ground Housing Partners, shared insights on real-world strategies, partnerships, and innovations that define affordability in practice.

The evening concluded with a recap of Ranked Choice Voting, including information that addressed participants’ questions about how the process works and its role in the upcoming County Board election.

Your Vote, your voice: Understanding Ranked choice voting in Arlington

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025

Arlington has adopted Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), but what does that mean for voters?

Advance Arlington kicked off our programming year with an interactive and informative session breaking down how RCV works, why Arlington is using it, and what it means for your vote. Whether you're a first-time voter or a seasoned civic participant, this event will help you feel confident and prepared at the ballot box this November.

Join the conversation! Your vote, your voice, your impact - the Arlington way. 

Thank you to our panelists, Gretchen Reinemeyer, Susan Cunningham, Patrick "Mike" Condray, and moderator Devanshi Patel for this important conversation!