Since its founding in 1954, Advance Arlington (formerly Arlington Committee of 100) has promoted the welfare of Arlingtonians and businesses and organizations in Arlington County by fostering understanding and civil discussion of problems and issues facing the community. We primarily do this by hosting non-partisan forums and panel discussions. A 501(c) 3 non-profit, Advance Arlington does not take a position on issues, nor does it endorse candidates.
By 2050, increased population and densification will challenge Arlington to find strategies that promote economic development, provide affordable housing, and ensure adequate physical and transportation infrastructure, all while keeping public safety, community health and climate change in mind. It will be even more challenging to address these issues without compromising the qualities that make Arlington so attractive – its livability, good schools, cosmopolitan urban centers, tree-lined neighborhoods, and many parks and trails.
It’s worth noting that many of these same issues have been debated since Advance Arlington’s founding 70 years ago in 1954. A cursory review of our past programs includes forums and conversations on many of these topics.
Just as Arlington has evolved over the last 70 years, so has our organization. To better reflect our changed circumstances, we rebranded ourselves under a new name – Advance Arlington – in 2024. This name better reflects our commitment to being as inclusive, forward-looking and welcoming as possible, and to continue hosting non-partisan forums where important, often controversial, issues of local and regional interest are addressed by experts, with audience participation in lively Q&A sessions.
Looking forward, Arlington will continue to change as we march toward 2050. The nature of engagement with the community will continue to transition from the analog to the digital age. Public discourse will more than likely be more digital, building on the experience of the community since the COVID pandemic. In the digital age, we will be challenged to sift through the digital deluge of misinformation and present accurate and factual information to better inform neighbors, advocates and leaders through our educational programs, so that we can build the brightest future possible for Arlington County.
Based on our roots, we wish that by 2050 Advance Arlington has helped lay the foundation for a robust civic life where the entire community has had the opportunity of substantive and respectful conversations about important issues through our information-based programs. In the end, we hope that political discourse is elevated to detailed evaluation of issues, and that it is not based on soundbites or personalities.
If you would like to support us in our efforts to promote our mission, please join us as a member by visiting our Website at https://www.advance-arlington.org/.
