VOLUNTEER ARLINGTON DEBUTS ‘TIME TO SERVE PLEDGE’: Volunteer Arlington, the collaborative effort between the Arlington County government and Leadership Center for Excellence, is promoting a “Time to Serve Pledge,” asking employees to provide at least eight hours of paid time off per year for their personnel to perform community service.
The initiative will “empower businesses to let their employees follow their passions for civic engagement, and in the process, know their employer encourages and celebrates that work,” said Lisa Fikes, who heads Leadership Arlington.
“Volunteer Arlington works with more than 375 local nonprofit and Arlington County organizations who are looking for skilled volunteers who are committed to a cause,” she said.
A kickoff for the initiative is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 28. For information, see the Website at volunteerarlington.org/timetoserve.
‘FEEL THE HERITAGE FESTIVAL’ APPROACHES: The 2024 Feel the Heritage Festival will be held Saturday, Feb. 24 from noon to 5 p.m. at Charles Drew Community Center in Green Valley.
Now nearing its 30th anniversary, the annual festivities include food, performances and historical/cultural offerings. The event is presented by the Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with the Green Valley Civic Association.
For information on the festival, see the Department of Parks and Recreation portion of the county government’s Website at arlingtonva.us.
AAUW TO HOST FORUM ON GENEALOGY: The Arlington chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will present “Genealogy: Why and How” on Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Lubber Run Community Center.
Genealogist and Ancestry.com expert Eileen Bogdanoff will provide an overview and tackle audience questions.
The community is invited.
‘GIRLS ON THE RUN’ INITIATIVE GEARS UP FOR SPRING: Registration continues through Feb. 27 for the spring season of Girls on the Run, a life-skills program for female students in elementary and middle school across Northern Virginia.
“With caring coaches and a curriculum that introduces and allows kids to practice implementing key life skills, such as standing up for themselves and others, they are more prepared to take on life’s challenges,” organizers say.
Teams typically meet twice a week for 75-90 minutes and are led by volunteer coaches. Each practice has a corresponding lesson from the Girls on the Run research-based curriculum, which focuses on building social, emotional and physical skills while encouraging healthy habits for life.
Currently, 104 teams throughout Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Loudoun, Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William are open for spring 2024 registration. While many teams meet at schools, the organization also offers community teams based out of neighbors, community centers, and parks.
The spring program concludes with celebratory 5K events to be held across the region the weekend of May 18-19.
For more information about spring registration and teams available in Northern Virginia, see the Website at www.gotrnova.org.
‘WOMEN IN BUSINESS’ SUMMIT ON THE HORIZON: The Arlington Chamber of Commerce will host the AWE [Awesome Women Entrepreneurs] 2024 Women in Business Summit on Wednesday, March 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Arlington campus of Northeastern University, located near the Rosslyn Metro station.
The summit will feature a keynote address from Andra Fava, vice president of U.S. policy at Amazon, and is designed “for women entrepreneurs, executives and professionals eager to grow their business or enhance their career.”
For information, registration and sponsorship opportunities, see the Website at www.arlingtonchamber.org.
