Agenda:Alexandria

Our 2025-2026 Season

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Alexandria’s story is one of movement, resilience, and renewal. This engaging panel discussion explores the many waves o f immigration that have shaped the city —from the migration of formerly enslaved individuals following the Civil War, to the arrival of Salvadoran and Ethiopian communities fleeing conflict, to the more recent resettlement of Afghan families. This event took place in the The Forum on the Minnie Howard Campus, 3775 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA 22302 Panelists examined how these communities have influenced Alexandria’s cultural identity, economic growth, and public institutions. The program will also highlight the expanding role of the International Academy at Alexandria High School, the network of local resources supporting immigrant families, and the evolving relationship between local law enforcement and federal immigration policies. Chairman Steve Davidson moderated the panel discussion with: * Dr. Daniel Lee, Historian, City of Alexandria * Gabe Elias, ACPS Educator, Alexandria City High School’s International Academy * Denise Dunbar, Executive Editor and Publisher, Alexandria Times * Jon Liss, Co-Executive Director, New Virginia Majority

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A Part of Our Fabric: The History & Issues Related to Alexandria’s Immigrant Population May 18, '26

Agenda:Alexandria 26 views Mon Jun 8th, 2026

It’s easy to take our drinking water supply for granted, but it takes a complex regional system to obtain, purify, test, and distribute our drinking water. Topics of discussion included historical insights, water sources, water quality standards, the recent Potomac River spill, regulation, infrastructure issues, regional cooperation issues, the concerns related to data center projects, potential impacts of increasing density, and the surprisingly small role played by city government. Former Agenda:Alexandria Chair Rod Kuckro moderated our panel of experts consisting of: * Mike Nardolill, Executive Director, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin * Laura Runkle, President, VA-MD American Water * Erik Olson, Senior Strategic Director for Environmental Health, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) * Scott Dewhirst, Deputy General Manager, Fairfax Water Authority The event took place at 7:00 pm at The Forum, Minnie Howard Campus, 3775 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA 22302

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What Should We Know About Drinking Water and Challenges for Delivery Infrastructure? - Apr 27, 2026

Agenda:Alexandria 10 views Sun Jun 7th, 2026

Housing is a contentious issue that has been with us (seemingly) forever. For some housing is an investment and for others it’s a human right. Agenda:Alexandria (established in 1998 as a non-partisan, issue-neutral non-profit dedicated to respectful discourse) will host an informed discussion with a panel of experts representing multiple sides of the housing issue. The goal: To shed light where there has been much heat.

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Housing in Alexandria: Are There Solutions That We Can Agree on? - March 23, 2026

Agenda:Alexandria 12 views Wed Apr 29th, 2026

Our November 2025 program, held in The Forum on the Mini Howard Campus, focused on the challenges of aging in Alexandria and addressed a wide variety of challenges faced those who are aging (and their families). The panel, moderated by Rod Kuckro (former Chair of Agenda:Alexandria) discussed many of the expected and unexpected issues that arise — and often surprise — those finding themselves dealing with these challenges. The panel members were: Mary Lee Anderson, Executive Director, Senior Services of Alexandria Heidi Travis, Certified Care Manager, Executive Director, ElderTree Care Management Chris Leighton, Attorney in Family Estate issues, Powers of Attorney, Probate Law, etc. Larry Lipman, Former. President of the National Press Club, AARP Virginia Speakers Bureau, Speaker on Tech Scams

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We All Get Old, Let’s Get Ready - November 24, 2025

Agenda:Alexandria 24 views Sat Feb 21st, 2026

Focused on the importance of civil discourse in a free society and also at the interpersonal level. Addressed the years-long decline in respectful debate in the political realm (but not the specific contentious issues themselves), the role of media and social media, and how we might find common ground and best respond as individuals and organizations to exhibit model behavior. Panelists: Kate Woodsome – Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist (formerly at the Washington Post), Resilience Strategist, and publisher of Invisible Threads JoAnn Koob, J.D. – Director, Liberty & Law Center, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University Lt. Victor Ignacio, Field Operation Section, Alexandria Sheriff’s Office Carter Flemming, Community Volunteer and Activist, 2017 Alexandria Living Legend

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Is Civil Discourse a Dying Art? - October 27, 2025

Agenda:Alexandria 38 views Mon Nov 24th, 2025

Agenda:Alexandria, the city’s only organization dedicated to examining local issues from a variety of viewpoints, held its first program of the new 2025-2026 Season on Tuesday, September 30: “Behind the Budget Curtain: How Politics Shape Our Schools.” The panel, moderated by Rod Kuckro, discussed impacts of politics in school budgeting. Panelists were: ● Dominic Turner – Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) ● Catie Brownback - Former President, Alexandria City Council Parent Teacher Association (PTA) ● Mark Eaton - Former ACPS Teacher & School Board Member Attendees gained insights into the school system’s year-round budget cycle, the funding formulae for various Federal programs, the relationship between the elected School Board and City Council, the advocacy role of the PTA, the 2023 recommendations from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) report on Virginia K-12 funding formula, and a variety of other related topics.

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Behind the Budget Curtain – How Politics Shapes Our Schools - September 30, 2025

Agenda:Alexandria 26 views Mon Nov 24th, 2025

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