Dear Neighbor,

As March is Women's History Month, I'd like to take the time to highlight the history-making Women of the Braddock District Office! These ladies make up the majority of our team and passionately serve the Braddock District community.

Marcia Pape Daniels is our Senior Legislative Assistant for Land Use. She covers all things land use, including planning, zoning, permits, and more. She has served the Braddock District since 2016, during Former Supervisor John Cook's term. Her extensive knowledge of the County and history of Braddock District is important to our team and is incredibly helpful for constituents. Marcia has lived in Braddock for 32 years and enjoys traveling, especially to see her children!

Sally Kidalov is a Senior Staff Aide. Her portfolio includes transportation and transit, HOAs and civic associations, public safety, and schools. She is passionate about making the things we don't think about as government issues (sidewalks, stop signs) be a first step to people becoming civically engaged and involved in their community.

Sally loves the beach and enjoys photography!

Irma Mejia Lewis is a Senior Staff Aide covering a wide range of issues from taxes to disability services, code compliance, and more! She is a social worker by trade and brings her experiences from the field to our team, providing a human-first approach to her work with constituent issues. She is also bilingual, assisting Spanish-speaking residents with County issues.

Irma is a self-proclaimed coffee aficionado!

Andrea Lewis is the Staff Aide for environmental, renewable energy, and park issues. Her background is in government and volunteering for environmental non-profits contributes to her work in our office. She addresses questions about the County's parks, trails, and watersheds, and connects the community with government partners to promote progress on the County's environmental initiatives. Andrea enjoys theater, travel, and mountain hiking!

Malena Llanos is our Communications Aide, handling the Walkinshaw Advisory and Braddock Beacon, social media, and Black and Hispanic outreach. Her passion is making government accessible for all, especially young people.

Malena is a baseball lover and roots for the Nationals, Orioles, and Juan Soto!

Affordable Housing for Older Adults



Last week, Chairman McKay and I helped cut the ribbon on Ilda's Overlook, an 80-unit complex affordable to low- and moderate-income adults ages 62 and older!

Affordable housing for Older Adults is a key priority for Fairfax County. Not only do we believe that everyone deserves access to safe, accessible, and affordable housing, but we also know that providing affordable housing options is key to our continued economic development success.

Thank you to APAH, Erickson Senior Living, Chairman McKay, former Braddock Supervisor John Cook, Virginia Housing Alliance, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Marcia Pape Daniels, and countless others for their work to make this project a reality.

You can watch a recap of the event on Channel 16's website.

It's fitting that April is National Fair Housing Month, which provides an opportunity to highlight anti-discriminatory protections for occupants and prospective renters and homebuyers.

Fairfax County's Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs is hosting their Annual Fair Housing Event on Thursday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax). The program will cover affirmatively furthering fair housing, best practices in fair housing planning, provide outreach and resources, and more. You can sign up for this free event here.

GMU Stadium Update

Earlier today, George Mason University President, Gregory Washington, released the following statement:

"The university has decided not to move forward with the Washington Freedom on negotiations to build a temporary baseball and cricket stadium on the West Campus. 

After hard work and due diligence from the team at Mason, we have concluded that this opportunity does not meet the strategic objectives and interests of our campus and community and the Washington Freedom.

We appreciate the continued feedback and dialogue with leaders across the Commonwealth and with the local community. Moving forward, the university will maintain a dialogue with all stakeholders and improve opportunities for feedback. We remain committed to working together to grow the university and build a strong and sustainable infrastructure, including our athletics facilities, for everyone who participates with Mason.

I want to thank the Board of Visitors, our state and local elected officials, and our community partners for their support as we engaged in this complex process for consideration, leading to the right decision for Mason at this time."

I appreciate the community members who reached out to share their perspectives on the proposed stadium and President Washington's continued commitment to engage with the community on the University's plans moving forward.

Yours in service,

Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw

Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. If this email was forwarded to you, consider subscribing to receive Braddock District news and updates.

Continue reading below for more information on:

• Deadline for Assessment Appeals
• College Scholarships
• Community Advisory Committee Community Engagement Meeting
• Fairfax Center Area Planning Study
• 2024 Paving/Restriping Proposals
• Dark Skies Week
• Intern in the Braddock District Office!
• LLI's April Forum
• John Hudson Summer Internship
• Share Your Thoughts on Affordable Homeownership Program Changes
• Volunteer Opportunities

Deadline for Assessment Appeals

The last day to file an assessment appeal with the Department of Tax Administration (DTA) is this Monday, April 1.

You may file an appeal by using the Online Appeal Application or by completing and returning a hardcopy form. You may also contact DTA to request a form to be sent to you.



This is not for the Board of Equalization (BOE) appeal application. The deadline for BOE appeals is June 3. Please see the BOE site for more information about filing an appeal with the Board of Equalization.

College Scholarships

NVSWCD Scholarship

The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) is currently accepting college scholarship applications until April 1.

Fairfax County high school seniors or college freshmen are eligible to receive a $1,000 Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship from NVSWCD. This scholarship supports students studying in the field of natural resource conservation and is focused on investing in the talented youth of Fairfax County.

NVSWCD’s Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship award winner will also be submitted to the VASWCD Educational Foundation committee for review and may be eligible to receive one of four $2,000 state-wide scholarships.  

If you need an application sent tvia U.S. mail or in an alternative format, email NVSWCD or call (703) 324-1460 | TTY 711.

FCRHA Academic Scholarship

People who live in affordable housing supported by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) will have the opportunity to apply for academic scholarships now until April 30 at 4:30 p.m.

Up to ten applicants will receive a $5,000 scholarship for postsecondary education, including technical training.

Eligibility, requirements, and more information can be found on FCRHA's website. For assistance with the application, please call (703) 246-5000 or email [email protected].

Community Advisory Committee Community Engagement Meeting

The West Springfield District Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will host a Community Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, April 2, at 7:00 p.m. at the West Springfield District Station (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield).

These meetings offer the community a chance to dialogue and communicate more effectively with officers of the Fairfax County Police Department.

April's guest speaker will be from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department's Fire Investigations Section.

Sign up for the West Springfield CAC newsletter by emailing [email protected]. CAC meetings are generally held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m., and all ages are welcome to attend. If you have any questions, contact MPO Tony Capizzi at (703) 277-2363.

Fairfax Center Area Planning Study

Fairfax County is kicking off the third phase of the Fairfax Center Area planning study. A community task force with residents from the Braddock and Springfield Districts will meet to begin the planning study on Tuesday, April 2 at 7:00 PM. This virtual meeting is open to the public.

The study’s first two phases, in 2013 and 2016, planned the Fairfax Center Area as a vibrant suburban center. This latest phase focuses on the central core area, whose landmarks include the county’s Government Center, Fair Oaks Mall, and other commercial and residential developments. In the coming year, the study will refine the county’s plan for the core area as a mixed-use, walkable, and active community with access to transit and other public amenities.

Learn more about the study and get task force meeting details on the Department of Planning and Development's website.

2024 Paving/Restriping Proposals

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will hold a series of virtual meetings to discuss proposals for the 2024 Paving and Restriping Program beginning April 8 until April 23. Meetings will cover proposed bike lane installations, a Capital Bikeshare installation, and crosswalk improvements that are generally district-specific, with some neighboring districts combining meeting dates. 

As part of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) annual repaving program, FCDOT and VDOT work together to identify transportation infrastructure improvements to increase driver, bicyclist and pedestrian safety. Bike lanes might be standard or buffered depending on space available. Types of crosswalk improvements include marked crosswalks, high-visibility crosswalks, and/or crosswalk signage.

The meeting for the Braddock District will be on Thursday, April 11, beginning at 7:00 p.m. You can join the meeting on Teams or via the web.

Meeting ID: 243 149 028 586

Passcode: G8ojwa

You can also call into the meeting at (571) 429-5982. Phone Conf ID: 848 195 860#

Proposals in Braddock include:

• Bike lanes on Heming Avenue between Heming Place and Braddock Road
• Crosswalk improvements at Heming Avenue and Hogarth Street
• Crosswalk improvements at Heming Avenue and Elgar Street
• Crosswalk improvements at Heming Avenue and Axton Street

More information about the 2024 Paving and Restriping Program can be found on FCDOT's website.

Dark Skies Week

In celebration of International Dark Skies Week (April 2-8), the Fairfax County Park Authority and Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) are proud to unveil a joint initiative aimed at combating light pollution: the Light Pollution Monitoring Kit. As part of the Citizen Science initiative, residents are encouraged to monitor our night skies by contributing valuable data through this innovative program.

Light pollution has far-reaching effects on both humans and wildlife. It can disrupt sleep patterns, migratory bird paths, and the hunting habits of nocturnal creatures. The adverse effects of light pollution are far-reaching and profound.

Light Pollution Monitoring Kits empower citizens to fight light pollution by providing them with the tools needed to measure and monitor light levels in their communities. Beginning April 2, FCPL will make 25 Light Pollution Monitoring Kits available at all branches. Kits can be placed on hold for pickup at any branch through the online library catalog and borrowed for up to three weeks.

Each kit contains tools to help users assess the brightness of their surroundings and contribute to the ongoing effort to preserve our natural nightscapes. Participants are encouraged to report their participation on the Watch the Green Grow website.



To learn more about how you can participate, visit the Dark Skies website.

Intern in the Braddock

District Office!

The Office of Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw is seeking an Intern for Summer 2024 to aid the Braddock District office.

Rising college freshmen through Class of 2024 college graduates, or those between 18-23, are encouraged to apply.

The internship description can be found here. If you are interested in applying, send a resume (including two references) to [email protected] no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 19.

LLI's April Forum

The Lifetime Learning Institute of Northern Virginia (LLI), a nonprofit organization offering educational and cultural pursuits to those ages 50 and over, is pleased to welcome Reverend Scott Bach-Hansen, a retired basketball official at the high school and NCAA men's levels, as the speaker at LLI's April 3 Forum at 10:00 a.m. at the Little River United Church of Christ (8410 Little River Turnpike, Annandale).

He will share anecdotes about his experiences with fans, players, parents, and coaches, and perhaps some hard-to-believe experiences from his time as a referee. He still is involved in local basketball as the president of the Cardinal Basketball Officials Association, and, through them, he runs a summer camp for new basketball officials. He has been a clinician, trainer, and speaker for the NCAA and the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials. As a referee, Rev. Bach-Hansen says that he has learned a lot of life lessons applicable to his professional life, to the world of basketball, and in his transition to a new role in ministry.

The Forum is free to the public. More information on the Forum is on LLI's website or call (571) 345-5897. 

John Hudson Summer Internship

The Fairfax Area Disability Services Board established an internship program for college students and recent graduates with disabilities.

The internship program provides participants with on-the-job experience, professional development, and training opportunities.

Any college student, law student, graduate student, or recent graduate who self-identifies as an individual with any type of disability is invited to apply. You will not be required to disclose your specific disability; however, your application for this program will signify that you consider yourself a person with a disability.

Apply by April 12 or check out the FAQ page.

Share Your Thoughts on Affordable Homeownership Program Changes

Fairfax County is reviewing potential updates to the Workforce Dwelling Unit (WDU) Homeownership program to enhance affordable homeownership opportunities for residents. The WDU program is designed to support those with low to moderate incomes and is crucial as home prices in our area continue to outpace income growth. Share your thoughts by April 7.

This initiative aligns with our commitment to equitable housing, giving opportunities for more families to afford homes in new residential developments. It is a key component of our adherence to the Countywide Strategic Plan and the principles of the One Fairfax policy, promoting equity and inclusivity across all communities.

Volunteer Opportunities

Runners Needed



The Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) need volunteers to join them for the Run the Greenway 5K/10K/Fun Run on Saturday, May 4 in Loudoun.

You can register here or donate to the team. Email Darcy Hubbard at [email protected] for more information.

SNAP Volunteers Needed

Britepaths needs SNAP Volunteers for their table at the Wakefield Farmers Markets beginning Wednesday, May 1 - October 30 from 1:15 - 6:30 p.m.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have reliable transportation. Learn more about volunteer responsibilities, the organization, and the SNAP program on Britepaths' website.

Contact Cora Lundgren at [email protected] or (703) 273-8829 with questions.