Davis Documentary Showing Sunday at Meridian H.S.

Falls Church’s sibling team of Rebecca and Pete Davis (Mason, now Meridian, High School Classes of ‘01 and ‘08) have completed a documentary, “Join or Die,” on community in America, the loneliness epidemic, and Robert Putnam’s famed “Bowling Alone” research on the decline of American community participation over the past decades.

On Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at the Meridian High auditorium, the Falls Church premiere of the film will be screened free to the public.

“Join or Die” is a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it. This feature documentary follows the half-century story of America’s civic unraveling through the journey of legendary Harvard social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking “Bowling Alone” research into America’s decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy’s present crisis.

Influential fans and scholars — from Hillary Clinton, Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to Eddie Glaude Jr., Raj Chetty, and Priya Parker — as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, join Putnam as he explores three urgent civic questions: What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most importantly…What can we do about it?

F.C. Participating in Building Safety Month

Throughout May, the City of Falls Church will participate in the 44th annual Building Safety Month, a worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council, its members, and partners to promote building safety. This year’s “Mission Possible” campaign encourages people to get involved in all aspects of building safety. The campaign also connects building codes, our personal safety, and the important work done by building safety professionals in our communities.

This year’s campaign addresses how building safety impacts everyone on a personal, local, and global level.

The City of Falls Church Building Safety Team includes four staff members, John Russell, JD Martin, Dilraj Sidhu, and John Freeman, who have all achieved the International Code Council’s Master Code Professional (MCP) designation, the highest level of Code Council certification and the “gold standard” for demonstrating proficiency in the code profession.

N.Va. Chamber Announces First DE&I Advisory Board

The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce this week announced its first ever Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Board of Advisors.

The board includes,  Deb Gandy (co-chairman), Managing Director, Chevy Chase Trust, Stephanie Turner (co-chairman), Vice President, Diversity & Chief Sustainability Officer, MITRE, Kathy Albarado, President & CEO, Helios HR, Stephanie Berkowitz, President and CEO, Northern Virginia Family Service, Kristina Bouweiri, President and CEO, Reston Limousine, Karla Bruce, Chief Equity Officer, Office of the County Executive, Fairfax County Government, Jim Dyke, Senior Advisor, McGuireWoods Consulting, Kathryn Falk, Vice President, Northern Virginia, Cox Communications, Luanne Gutermuth, Founder, Good Spirit Farm, Cecilia Hodges, Regional President, Greater Washington and Virginia, M&T Bank, Victor Hoskins, President and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Jermaine Johnson, Regional President, Greater Washington and Virginia, PNC Bank, Edward Kane, Jr., Transformation Lead, Venture Philanthropy Partners, Patricia N. Mathews, President and CEO, Northern Virginia Health Foundation, Matt McQueen, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications and Engagement Officer, Peraton, Derrick N. Perkins, Senior Vice President Market Executive, Bank of America, Richard Pineda, President and CEO, CALIBRE, Scott Price, Regional Policy Director, Dominion, Monica Schmude, President, Virginia, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, KayAnn Schoeneman, President, Curley Company, Inc., Gregory Washington, President, George Mason University, John A. Allen, Region Bank President, Wells Fargo, Lance Collins, Inaugural Vice President and Executive Director, Innovation Campus, Virginia Tech, Molly Fogarty, Senior VP Corporate and Government Affairs, Nestlé USA, Kelly Schlageter, SVP, Marketing and Communications, CNSI, Eileen Ellsworth, President and CEO, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.

Fairfax Education Unions Seek Bargaining Rights

Fairfax Education Unions (FEU), an alliance between Fairfax County’s two preeminent education unions, Fairfax Education Association and Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (FCFT), filed Wednesday for two bargaining unit elections and demanded recognition from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

FCPS workers overwhelmingly signed union authorization cards and a petition urging accreditation of the union. FEU’s collective bargaining campaign is taking place in the ninth largest school district in the country and is the largest public sector bargaining campaign in generations (27,500 workers in two separate bargaining units).

FEA President Leslie Houston issued the following remarks, “Today is a day of triumph for Fairfax County educators, a day where our unity roars like thunder, powered by an unyielding passion and an ironclad determination. Together, we stand shoulder to shoulder, a formidable force, committed to amplifying the voices of every single champion tirelessly advocating for the success of our students.”