September 19, 2011
About McLean Project for the Arts
At McLean Project for the Arts (MPA), art is a community asset – something community members can learn about, appreciate and practice.
Founded in 1962, MPA is one of the oldest nonprofit visual arts centers in Northern Virginia. The organization's mission is to exhibit the work of artists from the Mid-Atlantic region, provide education and instruction in visual arts and educate the community on the concepts of contemporary arts.
"We are the only visual arts center in the region that combines such a comprehensive program of exhibitions along with an equally comprehensive program of educational offerings," said Nancy Perry, executive director of MPA.
MPA provides classes and workshops for children and adults. In addition, MPA runs ArtReach, a program that sends professional artist educators into schools and brings students to the galleries for interactive tours. The tours are linked to standards of learning in Virginia's curriculum.
MPA offers evening adult programs such as Art Appetizers, Gals in the Gallery and Cocktails and Creating in addition to classes.
Perry believes it is important to bring the arts to the community in a local setting.
"We have amazing art museums in D.C. but not everyone can access those museums," Perry said. "Because we are a smaller gallery we can provide an intimate, hands-on experience that the larger museums can't provide."
In addition to providing classes and workshops for the community, MPA also provides opportunities for artists to exhibit their work. MPA boasts three galleries and hosts around 17 exhibitions per year.
"There aren't many spaces for artists to exhibit – museums and commercial galleries are hard to get into," Perry said.
As a nonprofit visual arts center, MPA seeks out artists to show their work but doesn't represent artists. MPA's main gallery – the Emerson Gallery – is one of the best places in the Mid-Atlantic region for artists to exhibit, Perry said. MPA also has two smaller galleries for emerging artists.
MPA helps to build a sense of community in McLean and Northern Virginia.
"We are a gathering place and in this day and age in a suburban community it's hard to build that sense of community," Perry said. "We really bring the community together."
One of the ways MPA brings the community together is MPAartfest, an annual art festival attended by thousands of people each year.
MPAartfest is McLean's first visual and performing arts festival. The event features the work of local artists, a children's ArtTent offering art projects for children, a children's ArtWalk exhibition featuring art work from local elementary school students, an Open Studio demonstration for attendees to participate in drawing a live model, as well as performances from local school groups and bands.
495 Express Lanes Community Grant Support
Like many nonprofit organizations, fundraising for MPA is down due to the economy. As a result, community support is more important than ever. MPA recently received a grant from Transurban-Fluor to help with exhibitions and educational programs.
"The grant from Transurban-Fluor is extremely important to help us pay for our programs," Perry said.
Transurban-Fluor supports MPA because the organization brings the community together and offers educational opportunities not found elsewhere.
"Transurban-Fluor believes in supporting and building communities," said Tim Steinhilber, general manager of the 495 Express Lanes Project. "McLean Project for the Arts brings the community together with enriching opportunities and exhibits for children and adults. We are proud to support an organization that offers such unique programs to build community."
More Information
MPA has a small professional staff that strongly believes in its mission. Volunteers and community support are critical to MPA. Perry said the organization is always looking for volunteers for everything from MPAartfest support to strategic planning and management consulting.
For more information about MPA, visit www.mpaart.org
February 7, 2011
About Fairfax County Advocates for Better Bicycling
Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) works to improve conditions for those who choose a mode of transportation with two wheels instead of four.
FABB is a volunteer organization affiliated with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association that strives to ensure that bicycling is an integral part of transportation in Fairfax County, said Bruce Wright, FABB chairman. The organization advocates for both on-road and off-road bike facilities.
FABB formed in 2005 when a group of cyclists got together at a local bike shop and began talking about the need for better bike facilities in the region. The organization now meets monthly to advocate for better bicycling conditions in Fairfax County and has been behind many of the recent safety improvements for cyclists in the region.
The organization worked with the Fairfax County Bike Coordinator to produce a bike map detailing major bike routes in the county. The map is available both online and in hard copy. They also helped place bike racks on all Fairfax Connector Buses.
FABB recently published the "Guide for Reviewing Public Road Design and Bicycling Accommodations for Virginia Bicycling Advocates," a resource to help bicycling advocates get involved in the process of designing, approving, building and retrofitting roads to ensure bicycling plans are integrated into the plans.
Wright is also excited about significant changes for the future. FABB is working with Fairfax County on a bicycle master plan that includes bike routes, bike parking and shower and changing facilities – everything needed to support bikers. The organization also works on bicycle safety and police outreach.
Wright says he has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people biking in the past year – FABB's bimonthly newsletter about various local bike activities now has approximately 850 people on its mailing list.
"People are more concerned about the environment and global climate changes," Wright said. "There are also many younger families brought up with an environmental ethic and we've seen more families use bikes to get around."
495 Express Lanes Community Grant Support
Last year, a community grant from Transurban-Fluor helped FABB reach out to cyclists through the distribution of front and rear bike lights.
FABB scheduled the bike light giveaways within the 495 Express Lanes corridor and worked with local churches in areas where there are a lot of service workers who use bikes to get to and from work.
"Many can't afford to buy lights and rely on bikes for transportation," Wright said. "Bike lights are very important for safety and can be a lifesaving thing."
FABB held bike light giveaways at four locations and gave out a majority of the lights. At each location they provided equipment to install the bike lights as well as a bike mechanic to address any bike problems. FABB purchased 200 lights and reached about 160 people through the bike light giveaways.
Transurban-Fluor chose to support FABB and the bike light program because it values sustainable, safe, innovative and efficient transportation solutions.
"The 495 Express Lanes Project includes major upgrades for cyclists and pedestrians and aligns with the Fairfax County Trails Plan," said Tim Steinhilber, general manager of the 495 Express Lanes Project. "We value sustainable, efficient transportation solutions and are honored to work with Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling to provide better connectivity and safety for bicyclists as well as pedestrians."
Wright said FABB would not have been able to conduct the program without grant support from Transurban-Fluor. Transurban-Fluor employees also volunteered their time to attend the bike light giveaways and help install the lights.
More Information
For more information about FABB or to sign up to receive the FABB newsletter, please visit http://www.fabb-bikes.org
July 11, 2011
About the Annandale Christian Community for Action's Furniture Program
Don Di Spirito spends his Saturday mornings transforming barren apartments into comfortable homes. As chair of the Annandale Christian Community for Action's (ACCA) furniture program, Di Spirito and a team of volunteers collect and deliver gently used furniture to families in need each week.
"We are dealing with people who have a critical need in order to live and we truly transform their living situation," said Di Spirito who has been associated with ACCA for more than 25 years.
The ACCA furniture program is unique in that it is the only full-service program of its kind in Fairfax County – program volunteers pick up furniture from those making a donation, deliver it to those in need and manage three storage facilities to store donated furniture until it's matched with a family.
The furniture program, like all ACCA programs, works in conjunction with Fairfax County. The county screens applicants with furniture needs and sends the requests to Di Spirito. Every Saturday morning 10-12 volunteers set out in three trucks to deliver furniture and pick up donations.
Di Spirito said the furniture program helps anyone with a need such as those moving out of a homeless shelter or refugees who have just the clothes on their back.
"We transition them into apartment rentals and provide the furniture to turn the units into a comfortable home," Di Spirito said.
Furniture for the program is donated by individual donors in the area, hotels, retirement homes, churches and businesses. The program accepts any type of gently used furniture from end tables to dressers to couches.
495 Express Lanes Community Grant Support
One of the most essential furniture items is a bed. The furniture program needs about 300 bed sets – mattresses and box springs – to operate the program each year. The ACCA furniture program was able to purchase 18 new mattress sets with their grant.
"When we are able to walk into a low-cost rental unit and present them with something that is brand new, it is very impressive to them," Di Spirito said.
Transurban-Fluor selected the ACCA furniture program for a community grant because of its commitment to improving the community and helping those in need.
"Transurban will operate the 495 Express Lanes for 75 years," said Tim Steinhilber, general manager of the Project. "As a long-term partner we believe we have an obligation to be active in our community. We are proud to partner with ACCA to provide much-needed furniture to people in need – helping them establish a comfortable home which will serve as the foundation for a healthy and productive life."
In the past year alone, the furniture program has completed nearly 700 furniture pickups and deliveries. They have delivered almost 2,000 furniture items to 335 households, reaching 1,340 people.
The furniture program is just one of the service programs ACCA offers. Founded in 1968, ACCA is a volunteer-driven organization providing day care, food assistance, rental assistance, furniture and other services to low-income families in the Annandale/Bailey's Crossroads area. Each program operates autonomously out of volunteers' homes.
More Information
Di Spirito said ACCA is always in need of volunteers. Those with a need for furniture or other services can call (703) 222-0880. ACCA also maintains an emergency hotline at (703) 256-1378.
For more information about ACCA or the furniture program, visit http://www.accacares.org