FPYCparent
11/09/2023 21:04
Subject: Re:Black Families in Fairfax City
My better half an I moved "back" to the City in 2013. We met as freshman at GMU in the '90s and returned to Fairfax (County) after a year in grad school elsewhere. Our kids (one in high school and one in elementary) both attend City schools.
For years, we attended Mt. Calvary Baptist just one intersection away from the GMU campus (and the fieldhouse). In fact, we were married at that church. For better or for worse, we started attending services at a different church just as COVID emerged ... but we know many know quite a few folks from our days at Mt. Calvary.
You may also want to check out the lady who founded House of Wood (https://houseofwood.org/). I consider Vickie Wood an unofficial mayor of sorts, as she knows everybody.
She has routinely served as an election worker at our precinct. I voted early this time, so I don't know if she supported the election this week.
Between Mt. Calvary and Ms. Woods, you should get to meet plenty of folks who call the City "home."
For years, we attended Mt. Calvary Baptist just one intersection away from the GMU campus (and the fieldhouse). In fact, we were married at that church. For better or for worse, we started attending services at a different church just as COVID emerged ... but we know many know quite a few folks from our days at Mt. Calvary.
You may also want to check out the lady who founded House of Wood (https://houseofwood.org/). I consider Vickie Wood an unofficial mayor of sorts, as she knows everybody.
She has routinely served as an election worker at our precinct. I voted early this time, so I don't know if she supported the election this week.
Between Mt. Calvary and Ms. Woods, you should get to meet plenty of folks who call the City "home."
Anonymous
11/08/2023 16:01
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are there any? I moved here from Alexandria and it's been a culture shock. I'm glad the area is more progressive than it used to be but I'm having a really hard time finding other Black families. I'm a single mom and my time is very limited. I'd rather not drive 45 minutes (with traffic) out of town but we will if we have to, I guess. I'd love to know of any nearby club or organization.
I live in Fairfax City. It's more of an even split than pretty much anywhere I've lived, OP. I'm a black single mom, too, and even my church is more mixed experience -- 20 percent black, 30 percent Hispanic, 30 percent or so white (I think?) and 10 percent Asian. It seems to mirror my kids school and other spaces like the city's youth sports league (which is pretty great and affordable).
https://www.fpycsports.com/
The city's camps program for the summer is AMAZING and cheap. The city's services are wonderful considering the value.
And pricing wise, I bought a tiny, small house for 450K five years ago. Yes, the owner was old and didn't do the best job maintaining the place, but I've spent time slowly fixing things and it's worth much, much more now and I cannot express the freedom of owning my own single family home.
I moved here from Laurel and found it to be pretty great, net-net. I do work in Herdon, so the commute was really the main driver. I've changed jobs and easily found a new one in the Herdon/Reston area easily (another reason I moved over here).
Fairfax City? 22030? There are exactly two Black kids in my child's very large elementary school. I don't see other Black families in town at all. I'm so confused. Plenty of Asian and Hispanic people but ot Black.
You obviously don't actually live here. There are way more than 2 Black children at both DRES and Providence ES.
DP: I was assuming she meant class (and probably her kid as one of the 2). Both schools have around 30 Black kids in the whole school and it can feel like virtually none when that's divided up among K-6.
Anonymous
11/08/2023 15:03
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are there any? I moved here from Alexandria and it's been a culture shock. I'm glad the area is more progressive than it used to be but I'm having a really hard time finding other Black families. I'm a single mom and my time is very limited. I'd rather not drive 45 minutes (with traffic) out of town but we will if we have to, I guess. I'd love to know of any nearby club or organization.
I live in Fairfax City. It's more of an even split than pretty much anywhere I've lived, OP. I'm a black single mom, too, and even my church is more mixed experience -- 20 percent black, 30 percent Hispanic, 30 percent or so white (I think?) and 10 percent Asian. It seems to mirror my kids school and other spaces like the city's youth sports league (which is pretty great and affordable).
https://www.fpycsports.com/
The city's camps program for the summer is AMAZING and cheap. The city's services are wonderful considering the value.
And pricing wise, I bought a tiny, small house for 450K five years ago. Yes, the owner was old and didn't do the best job maintaining the place, but I've spent time slowly fixing things and it's worth much, much more now and I cannot express the freedom of owning my own single family home.
I moved here from Laurel and found it to be pretty great, net-net. I do work in Herdon, so the commute was really the main driver. I've changed jobs and easily found a new one in the Herdon/Reston area easily (another reason I moved over here).
Fairfax City? 22030? There are exactly two Black kids in my child's very large elementary school. I don't see other Black families in town at all. I'm so confused. Plenty of Asian and Hispanic people but ot Black.
You obviously don't actually live here. There are way more than 2 Black children at both DRES and Providence ES.
Anonymous
11/08/2023 14:33
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are there any? I moved here from Alexandria and it's been a culture shock. I'm glad the area is more progressive than it used to be but I'm having a really hard time finding other Black families. I'm a single mom and my time is very limited. I'd rather not drive 45 minutes (with traffic) out of town but we will if we have to, I guess. I'd love to know of any nearby club or organization.
I live in Fairfax City. It's more of an even split than pretty much anywhere I've lived, OP. I'm a black single mom, too, and even my church is more mixed experience -- 20 percent black, 30 percent Hispanic, 30 percent or so white (I think?) and 10 percent Asian. It seems to mirror my kids school and other spaces like the city's youth sports league (which is pretty great and affordable).
https://www.fpycsports.com/
The city's camps program for the summer is AMAZING and cheap. The city's services are wonderful considering the value.
And pricing wise, I bought a tiny, small house for 450K five years ago. Yes, the owner was old and didn't do the best job maintaining the place, but I've spent time slowly fixing things and it's worth much, much more now and I cannot express the freedom of owning my own single family home.
I moved here from Laurel and found it to be pretty great, net-net. I do work in Herdon, so the commute was really the main driver. I've changed jobs and easily found a new one in the Herdon/Reston area easily (another reason I moved over here).
See if you can find a local JJ chapter or Linx. If you're part of the D9 reach out to your sorority too.
There's an active one in Reston and we already have plans to attend an event
Thank you for the suggestion.
Anonymous
11/08/2023 14:31
Subject: Re:Black Families in Fairfax City
Anonymous wrote:Ok, this is not really answering your question, bc I don't live in Fairfax but I was feeling for you. Fairfax City has a lot of nice young diverse families, but it also has a conservative old guard and not much of a Black population.
This might be an odd suggestion since you're not a student, but could GMU be a resource for you/your kid?
I was a grad student at GMU and there are a lot of Black organizations there--including for parents.
GMU was even just nice as an open community resource--my kid liked walking around with me there, going to Starbucks, going to Ike's (a cafeteria--but good, cheap and free (!) for kids 10 and under--you don't need to be a student/have an ID--you can just pay). Plenty of Black students undergrad and grad are usually there as well as community members especially on the weekends--in fact I met my best friend there because my kid went up and talked to her kid and they lived in the faculty/grad housing right near Mason so would go to Ike's regularly. There's often free family/community events on campus. There's a charge for parking in visitor lots, but you might be within walking distance depending on where you live too.
If you go, visit the new Wilkins plaza near the Johnson center-- named for the late Roger Wilkins--a Black civil rights activist who was a Mason Professor. A student led-project re-contextualized the George Mason statue--addressing his history as a slaveowner: https://dei.chss.gmu.edu/about/enslaved-people-of-george-mason. I took my kid to the opening of it and it was really interesting. Just make sure you go when campus is in session--when the semester is done (half of December, all of January) most things are shut down and the campus is empty.
Thank you for this excellent idea!! I'm excited to check it out. I've also been mulling over grad school so who knows, I may become a student. Thanks again!
Anonymous
11/08/2023 14:12
Subject: Re:Black Families in Fairfax City
She’s a single mom.
J & J has certain standards.
J & J has certain standards.
Anonymous
11/08/2023 13:57
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are there any? I moved here from Alexandria and it's been a culture shock. I'm glad the area is more progressive than it used to be but I'm having a really hard time finding other Black families. I'm a single mom and my time is very limited. I'd rather not drive 45 minutes (with traffic) out of town but we will if we have to, I guess. I'd love to know of any nearby club or organization.
I live in Fairfax City. It's more of an even split than pretty much anywhere I've lived, OP. I'm a black single mom, too, and even my church is more mixed experience -- 20 percent black, 30 percent Hispanic, 30 percent or so white (I think?) and 10 percent Asian. It seems to mirror my kids school and other spaces like the city's youth sports league (which is pretty great and affordable).
https://www.fpycsports.com/
The city's camps program for the summer is AMAZING and cheap. The city's services are wonderful considering the value.
And pricing wise, I bought a tiny, small house for 450K five years ago. Yes, the owner was old and didn't do the best job maintaining the place, but I've spent time slowly fixing things and it's worth much, much more now and I cannot express the freedom of owning my own single family home.
I moved here from Laurel and found it to be pretty great, net-net. I do work in Herdon, so the commute was really the main driver. I've changed jobs and easily found a new one in the Herdon/Reston area easily (another reason I moved over here).
See if you can find a local JJ chapter or Linx. If you're part of the D9 reach out to your sorority too.
Anonymous
11/08/2023 13:40
Subject: Re:Black Families in Fairfax City
Ok, this is not really answering your question, bc I don't live in Fairfax but I was feeling for you. Fairfax City has a lot of nice young diverse families, but it also has a conservative old guard and not much of a Black population.
This might be an odd suggestion since you're not a student, but could GMU be a resource for you/your kid?
I was a grad student at GMU and there are a lot of Black organizations there--including for parents.
GMU was even just nice as an open community resource--my kid liked walking around with me there, going to Starbucks, going to Ike's (a cafeteria--but good, cheap and free (!) for kids 10 and under--you don't need to be a student/have an ID--you can just pay). Plenty of Black students undergrad and grad are usually there as well as community members especially on the weekends--in fact I met my best friend there because my kid went up and talked to her kid and they lived in the faculty/grad housing right near Mason so would go to Ike's regularly. There's often free family/community events on campus. There's a charge for parking in visitor lots, but you might be within walking distance depending on where you live too.
If you go, visit the new Wilkins plaza near the Johnson center-- named for the late Roger Wilkins--a Black civil rights activist who was a Mason Professor. A student led-project re-contextualized the George Mason statue--addressing his history as a slaveowner: https://dei.chss.gmu.edu/about/enslaved-people-of-george-mason. I took my kid to the opening of it and it was really interesting. Just make sure you go when campus is in session--when the semester is done (half of December, all of January) most things are shut down and the campus is empty.
This might be an odd suggestion since you're not a student, but could GMU be a resource for you/your kid?
I was a grad student at GMU and there are a lot of Black organizations there--including for parents.
GMU was even just nice as an open community resource--my kid liked walking around with me there, going to Starbucks, going to Ike's (a cafeteria--but good, cheap and free (!) for kids 10 and under--you don't need to be a student/have an ID--you can just pay). Plenty of Black students undergrad and grad are usually there as well as community members especially on the weekends--in fact I met my best friend there because my kid went up and talked to her kid and they lived in the faculty/grad housing right near Mason so would go to Ike's regularly. There's often free family/community events on campus. There's a charge for parking in visitor lots, but you might be within walking distance depending on where you live too.
If you go, visit the new Wilkins plaza near the Johnson center-- named for the late Roger Wilkins--a Black civil rights activist who was a Mason Professor. A student led-project re-contextualized the George Mason statue--addressing his history as a slaveowner: https://dei.chss.gmu.edu/about/enslaved-people-of-george-mason. I took my kid to the opening of it and it was really interesting. Just make sure you go when campus is in session--when the semester is done (half of December, all of January) most things are shut down and the campus is empty.
Anonymous
11/08/2023 11:13
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Anonymous wrote:Beware. Fairfax City is still a very racist and dangerous place for Black families.
I see that. The younger families that moved here from elsewhere are for the most part great but yes it's been a hard adjustment. Miss the feeling of not being the only one in a room and I hate that for my kid.
Anonymous
11/08/2023 11:10
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are there any? I moved here from Alexandria and it's been a culture shock. I'm glad the area is more progressive than it used to be but I'm having a really hard time finding other Black families. I'm a single mom and my time is very limited. I'd rather not drive 45 minutes (with traffic) out of town but we will if we have to, I guess. I'd love to know of any nearby club or organization.
I live in Fairfax City. It's more of an even split than pretty much anywhere I've lived, OP. I'm a black single mom, too, and even my church is more mixed experience -- 20 percent black, 30 percent Hispanic, 30 percent or so white (I think?) and 10 percent Asian. It seems to mirror my kids school and other spaces like the city's youth sports league (which is pretty great and affordable).
https://www.fpycsports.com/
The city's camps program for the summer is AMAZING and cheap. The city's services are wonderful considering the value.
And pricing wise, I bought a tiny, small house for 450K five years ago. Yes, the owner was old and didn't do the best job maintaining the place, but I've spent time slowly fixing things and it's worth much, much more now and I cannot express the freedom of owning my own single family home.
I moved here from Laurel and found it to be pretty great, net-net. I do work in Herdon, so the commute was really the main driver. I've changed jobs and easily found a new one in the Herdon/Reston area easily (another reason I moved over here).
Fairfax City? 22030? There are exactly two Black kids in my child's very large elementary school. I don't see other Black families in town at all. I'm so confused. Plenty of Asian and Hispanic people but ot Black.
Anonymous
11/08/2023 11:09
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Anonymous wrote:Are there any? I moved here from Alexandria and it's been a culture shock. I'm glad the area is more progressive than it used to be but I'm having a really hard time finding other Black families. I'm a single mom and my time is very limited. I'd rather not drive 45 minutes (with traffic) out of town but we will if we have to, I guess. I'd love to know of any nearby club or organization.
Could you … be friends with people of other races?
Anonymous
11/08/2023 11:07
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Beware. Fairfax City is still a very racist and dangerous place for Black families.
Anonymous
11/08/2023 07:32
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Anonymous wrote:Are there any? I moved here from Alexandria and it's been a culture shock. I'm glad the area is more progressive than it used to be but I'm having a really hard time finding other Black families. I'm a single mom and my time is very limited. I'd rather not drive 45 minutes (with traffic) out of town but we will if we have to, I guess. I'd love to know of any nearby club or organization.
The Alexandria section of Fairfax has a lot of black families.
Anonymous
11/08/2023 06:54
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Anonymous wrote:Are there any? I moved here from Alexandria and it's been a culture shock. I'm glad the area is more progressive than it used to be but I'm having a really hard time finding other Black families. I'm a single mom and my time is very limited. I'd rather not drive 45 minutes (with traffic) out of town but we will if we have to, I guess. I'd love to know of any nearby club or organization.
I live in Fairfax City. It's more of an even split than pretty much anywhere I've lived, OP. I'm a black single mom, too, and even my church is more mixed experience -- 20 percent black, 30 percent Hispanic, 30 percent or so white (I think?) and 10 percent Asian. It seems to mirror my kids school and other spaces like the city's youth sports league (which is pretty great and affordable).
https://www.fpycsports.com/
The city's camps program for the summer is AMAZING and cheap. The city's services are wonderful considering the value.
And pricing wise, I bought a tiny, small house for 450K five years ago. Yes, the owner was old and didn't do the best job maintaining the place, but I've spent time slowly fixing things and it's worth much, much more now and I cannot express the freedom of owning my own single family home.
I moved here from Laurel and found it to be pretty great, net-net. I do work in Herdon, so the commute was really the main driver. I've changed jobs and easily found a new one in the Herdon/Reston area easily (another reason I moved over here).
Anonymous
11/08/2023 06:44
Subject: Black Families in Fairfax City
Are there any? I moved here from Alexandria and it's been a culture shock. I'm glad the area is more progressive than it used to be but I'm having a really hard time finding other Black families. I'm a single mom and my time is very limited. I'd rather not drive 45 minutes (with traffic) out of town but we will if we have to, I guess. I'd love to know of any nearby club or organization.