Connecting you with our vibrant waterfront community.

OCTOBER 2025 | Resident Newsletter

COMMUNITY CONNECT 2025: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Community Connect is back for a fifth year! Connect with community organizations and vendors providing interactive resources on health and wellness, everyday living and educational opportunities. There will be games, displays, booths, food trucks, music and more!

This FREE event will feature the Norfolk Police Department, Ident-a-Kid Services, community vendors and information on City assistance services. Everyone is welcome!

Saturday, Oct. 11

11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

MacArthur Center Green (300 Monticello Ave.)

KEEP NORFOLK BEAUTIFUL TO HOST SHRED DAY AND DONATION DRIVE

Residents with personal documents that need secure disposal are invited to Keep Norfolk Beautiful’s Fall Shred Day and Donation Drive. This event is hosted in partnership with the Upsilon Omicron Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Youth Ministry.

This drive-thru and drop-off event gives residents the opportunity to safely and securely shred personal documents on site.

Canned and nonperishable food donations will be accepted during this event to support the Basilica of St. Mary Food Pantry. Get more info at Norfolk.gov/knb

Keep Norfolk Beautiful is also accepting donations of pet food to support the Community Pet Pantry at the Norfolk Animal Care Center. Any UNOPENED pet food – wet or dry, any flavor or size – will be accepted. For more information about the Community Pet Pantry, visit Norfolk.gov/petpantry

Fall Shred Day & Donation Drive

Saturday, October 4

9 a.m.-noon

Poplar Hall Drive at Ring Road (Military Circle Mall, across from Calvary Revival Church)

Can't make it? Mark your calendar for Keep Norfolk Beautiful's Special Waste Collection Event coming to Azalea Baptist Church (3314 E. Little Creek Rd.) on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to noon. More info at Norfolk.gov/knb

CELEBRATE NORFOLK CARES

During National Customer Service Week

Customer Service Week is October 6 - 10! It's a perfect time to celebrate Norfolk Cares, the team dedicated to delivering responsive, courteous and consistent service to our residents and businesses.

Whether you're submitting a bulky items pick up request on the My Norfolk App or calling the City's customer service center with a question or comment, the Norfolk CARES team is knowledgeable, prompt and professional.

You can request more than 100 services anytime using the My Norfolk app, available in the Apple store and Google Play, or use the MyNorfolk.org online portal.

Norfolk Cares also handles requests by email (HealthyNeighborhoods@norfolk.gov) and by phone at (757) 664-6510 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

RENT READY NORFOLK:
FREE VIRTUAL CLASSES

The Department of Neighborhood Services is continuing its work to strengthen Norfolk’s rental housing landscape through Rent Ready Norfolk (RRN), a free program that supports landlords, property managers and tenants with education and valuable resources.

This October, RRN’s RentingSmart Academy will host a series of virtual classes designed to help participants make informed, confident housing decisions:

Screening Tenants 101

Oct. 9 | 6-7:30 p.m.

Learn best practices for tenant screening and how to set up a fair, legal and effective process.

Renter’s Rights & Responsibilities

Oct. 16 | 6-7:30 p.m.

Understand the rights and responsibilities of renters under Virginia law and how to maintain positive rental relationships.

Eviction Process: A Landlord’s View

Oct. 21 | 6-7:30 p.m.

Explore the eviction process under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, including court procedures and legal considerations.

All sessions are free and will be held virtually. Register and learn more at Norfolk.gov/rentready

NORFOLK'S WATER LINES TO RECEIVE AN UPGRADE

Norfolk is committed to providing safe, clean and reliable drinking water. That’s why our Department of Utilities is working to meet new EPA regulations by identifying and replacing lead and some galvanized steel service lines throughout the city.

If your service line qualifies for replacement, we’ll take care of it—at no cost to you. Our crews are already in neighborhoods doing this important work to keep Norfolk’s water the best.

For more information, visit Norfolk.gov/LeadReductionResources, email utwainq@norfolk.gov or call (757) 664-6700.

BUSINESS ON THE BALCONY AT THE SLOVER

The Slover’s Hendrix Business Center is hosting a premier networking event, with established business owners, savvy professionals and game-changing conversations.

Thursday, Oct. 9
5:30 - 7 p.m.
The Slover's 3rd Floor Balcony

Anyone open to discussing their business, learning more about local Norfolk businesses or just meeting fellow community business leaders are welcome to participate.

For any questions, contact Kayla Davis, Business Center and Creative Studio Manager, kayla.davis@norfolk.gov

NACC'S MOBILE PET PANTRY: STILL TRUCKIN'

NACC's Waggin' Wheels Mobile Pet Pantry is bringing free pet food and supplies to Park Place Multi-Services Center Oct. 11, from noon to 2 p.m. or while supplies last.

For more information, visit Norfolk.gov/petpantry

Saturday, Oct. 11

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Park Place Multi-Services Center

(606 W. 29th St.)

ANNUAL RESOURCE BLOCK PARTY

Connect with more than 30 City services and community organizations at the 2025 Resource Block Party, hosted by Norfolk's Community Engagement Street Team.

Come hungry! There will be food, fun and games. Open to everyone, this is a free community event!

Monday, Oct. 14

10 a.m.-2 p.m.

741 Monticello Ave. (Norfolk Human Services Building)

For more information, visit Norfolk.gov/streetteam

FROM VACANT TO VIBRANT: BID ON THESE CITY-OWNED LOTS

The City of Norfolk's "Shared Vision Auction" has an objective to support existing neighborhood planning, while enabling community advocates to promote homeownership. Designed for transparency, equity and efficiency, this new auction process aligns with the City's housing priorities to transform underutilized properties while supporting wealth building and economic inclusion, and strengthening neighborhoods and communities.

Find out how you can bid on City-owned vacant lots. The preview period for the upcoming Shared Vision Auction starts Oct. 17. Bidder application deadline is Nov. 24.

Visit Norfolk.gov/SharedVision or call (757) 664-2470.

IT'S TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY PLAY-IN AND SING-ALONG

CommUNITY invites everyone in Hampton Roads to pick up their instrument, bring their voice and join the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in a celebration of peace, inclusion and unity. But that’s only half of the fun!

Be part of our audience for this inspiring annual event that embraces our community’s cultural richness and diversity, uniting people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds through participation in music, dance and spoken word.

CommUNITY Play-In & Sing Along

Sunday, Oct. 19

4:30 p.m.
Booker T. Washington High School

You don't need to be a pro with your instrument or voice; this is everyone's chance to play a few notes or belt out a line with world-renowned orchestra players cheering you on!

Virginiasymphony.org/community/

A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: UPDATING ADA

The City of Norfolk is organizing a Community Conversation to learn more about updates to the City's Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) plan. Come listen and share your ideas for improving accessibility across Norfolk.

In-Person Session at Neighborhood Services:

Wed, Oct. 22

4 p.m.

835 Glenrock Rd.

Virtual Session (online):

Wed., Oct. 29
1:30 p.m.

For tickets to the in-person session, click here.

To join the online session, click here.

Can't make it to either session? Submit your comments here at this online form.

Together, we can make Norfolk more accessible for everyone.

HAVE A BUSINESS WITH SOMETHING TO OFFER THE CITY?

Join us on Oct. 24, at the Lambert's Point Community Center, for the Reverse Vendor Fair—a unique opportunity for local vendors to connect directly with staff in City departments and in Norfolk Public Schools. Learn how to become a supplier of goods and services.

Reverse Vendor Fair
Friday, Oct. 24

9 a.m. - noon
Lambert's Point Community Center
(1251 West 42nd St.)

Whether you offer office supplies, catering, training materials, furniture, or other goods and services, this event is your chance to meet with staff in City departments and in NPS to learn about upcoming contract opportunities, get information about resources for businesses and more.

This is your front-row seat to understanding how the City and Norfolk Public Schools buy what they need, and how your business can be a part of it.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A FALL FARMERS MARKET!

Who doesn't love a farmers market in the fall? Norfolk Parks and Recreation and Norfolk Festevents have come together to bring us the Five Points Farmers Market!

Swing by Five Points Park, 6123 Sewells Point Rd., from noon to 5 p.m. on Oct. 25 and enjoy local agriculture, arts and food from various vendors and food trucks.

Family activities include pumpkin decorating, face painting and bounce houses with live music. Bring all your friends and family for a fun fall Saturday supporting local businesses and farmers!

BELIEVE IN LEARNING: BEYOND BOUNDARIES SYMPOSIUM COMING THIS SPRING

We are excited to welcome you to join service providers, educators, innovators and changemakers from across the region for Beyond Boundaries 2026, Norfolk’s first symposium dedicated to lifelong learning!

Hosted by the City of Norfolk, Believe in Learning Norfolk and PrimePlus Senior Centers, this one-day conference (to be held Apr. 16, 2026) is your opportunity to explore what it truly means to learn across a lifetime.

Whether you're in education, workforce development, health, technology or community engagement, this dynamic event is designed to inspire fresh thinking, build cross-sector connections and amplify strategies that impact learners of all ages.

If you're interested in becoming a speaker or featured lecturer, contact Dr. Erica Woods-Warrior: Erica.Woods-Warrior@norfolk.gov