At present our project teams meet collectively at the monthly action meeting. To join a project team, reach out to one of the team leaders or write to grassrootsalexandria@gmail.com. To hear about the action meeting, and other events, read or subscribe to our announcements.
Our Palestinian Human Rights project is gathering information, building a team, and advocating for change. We are raising awareness about Alexandria communities impacted by humanitarian crises. Virginia, where politics and the military strongly intersect, is uniquely involved in and affected by the national debate over Palestine.
Our Antifascist Response project monitors, records, and responds to local fascism.
Our ICE Out project continues to coordinate with Tenants and Workers United and the Legal Aid Justice Center to reduce the cooperation between the Alexandria Sheriff’s office and ICE, the federal agency that has deported so many of our neighbors. Deportation tears at the fabric of families and communities.
Our Restorative Practices project advocates for greater use of restorative practices (versus punitive measures, such as suspension) in the Alexandria City Public School system.
We believe that as humans we must protect the environment in order to have a healthy and happy community. We strive to build climate resilient neighborhoods in Alexandria that are accessible and beautiful for all. Our team engages at the state, city, and community level to increase green buildings and spaces in Alexandria, promote renewable, affordable, and distributed energy in Alexandria, and expand sustainable waste management in Alexandria.
We are working with African Communities Together to strengthen tenant protections in the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Guide.
We advocate for working-class affordable (30-40% AMI) housing, noting that the Arlandria/Chirilagua neighborhood is threatened by rapid development and ongoing gentrification. We also advocate for a “ready to rent” programs to make sure that current residents of a neighborhood can access new affordable housing in that neighborhood.
Our shared community goal is to achieve a safe, high-capacity, equitable transportation system that provides access to both joy and jobs.
Our Active Mobility project team shares personal stories with City Council members, and with other decision makers, about the value, importance, and interdependence of the city’s walking, bicycling, and transit networks. Robust transit, promised in the Alexandria Transit Vision Plan, is necessary to meet the city’s economic, equity and climate goals and objectives.
Our Accessible Mobility project team promotes two basic ideas: 1) Alexandrians deserve at least one working bicycle network, without gaps, designed for transportation and 2) Alexandria deserves working, ADA compatible sidewalks.
Our active projects are listed above. After accomplishing local victories in each case, our Healthcare, and LGBTQ project teams are not currently active.