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Living Legends of Alexandria is preparing for our major annual event-
the 2018 Living Legends Reception on Thursday, March 15 at 6:00-9:00 PM. This year's event will be held at a new location- the Alexandria campus of the Northern Virginia Community College, in the newly built Center for Design, Media & The Arts. Free parking will be available in the campus garage and lots.
Eight Alexandrians will be recognized this year for their unique and impactful contributions to the Alexandria community: Charlie Euripides, Lori Morris, Ann & Rick Dorman, Sherry Wilson Brown, Gwendolyn Hubbard Lewis, Jason Ellis, Marion Moon, and Florence King.
Tickets may be purchased through EventBright at the following site:
By Linda Hafer
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New STEM School name to be selected this month-Will it be named for an Alexandria Legend?
The name for a new Alexandria elementary school with a focus on STEM curriculum is expected to be decided in February, and one of the names under consideration is that of one of our own Legends! The new school (1701 N. Beauregard Street) is being converted from an existing office building. It is scheduled to open in Fall 2018 to accommodate its 650 students.
A number of names have been suggested, and the resulting list has been narrowed to four, including one honoring 2007 Alexandria Living Legend Ferdinand T. Day. One of the names submitted was Living Legends of Alexandria, proposed by 2018 Living Legend Florence King and promoted by this organization, which, unfortunately, did not make the "final four."
The West End School Naming Committee, charged with suggesting names
"reflective of the new school's diversity, inspirational to elementary-age students and [having] a connection to Virginia", included the option of "Day-Ochoa Elementary School", celebrating local educator and civil rights advocate Day, and aeronautics trailblazer Ellen Ochoa. Other names under consideration include NASA mathematician ("Hidden Figures") Katherine Johnson; President Barack & Michelle Obama; and associate Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor.
Given ACPS's suggestion that the name can be a person or organization "that has made a significant or extraordinary contribution to the City of Alexandria", we are hoping to see Mr. Day recognized with this honor.
By Linda Hafer
City Hall Exhibit of Legends Portraits
If you haven't had a chance to see it yet, stop by City Hall's Vola Lawson lobby to see the Portrait Exhibit of the 2017 Living Legends. In addition to several Legends alumni, most of the eight honorees were able to join us for the official opening of the exhibit last September, which was by officiated by Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg. All who were there saw the debut showing of the video interviews of those honored. Those interviews are now available to be seen on the
alexandrialegends.org website. The 2017 Legends featured in the video are Kerry Donley, Bill Euille, Carter Flemming, Sandy Modell, Gwen Mullen, Ethel Underwood, Jen Walker, and Mary Anne Weber.
Following the year-long exhibition, the portraits of the 2017 Living Legends, as do all Legends portraits, will remain in the care of the Office of Historic Alexandria.
By Linda Hafer
The Human Library Project
Several of our Living Legends participated as storytellers in the Human Library Project last fall at the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Alexandria campus. Former Mayor and 2017 Legend Bill Euille and 2014 Legend Char McCargo Bah served as "human books" who shared their experiences and perspectives with interested student "readers" in interactive dialogue.
The international Human Library Project was created by the Danish youth-based nonprofit "Stop the Violence" 17 years ago as a way to create safe, conversational spaces to help people form a better understanding of those with whom they share their community. Sponsored in our community by NOVA, it is a library of "human books" that represent a group in the community who are somehow exposed to stigma, prejudice, and/or discrimination. The Human Library is filled with these "human books" who have made a positive impact on their community. They are "checked out" by "readers" with whom they engage in a rich dialogue in the hope that sharing their perspectives and experiences would have a positive effect on attitudes and behaviors of a wider society.
By Linda Hafer
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In Other "Legend" News...
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LLA Welcomes New Board Members
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Longtime Del Ray resident, neighborhood activist, and 2012 Living Legend
Pat Miller was recently honored by the City Council with the dedication of Pat Miller Neighborhood Square on Mt. Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray section of Alexandria.
2014 Legend Char McCargo Bah has had several articles published recently in the Alexandria Gazette. The series, "History: The Other Alexandria," features stories of members of Alexandria's African American community and their contributions to the city. She also publishes a blog,
theotheralexandria.com, sharing information about her research into her subject. Her blog post of February 8, 2018 recounts her conversations with the late Ferdinand Day, a 2007 Living Legend.
Many of the recent winners in the The Zebra Press's inaugural "
Readers' Choice Awards" winners are featured in the January 2018 issue of the Zebra newspaper and seem to come from the ranks of our Living Legends.
Included among the "Bests" are: Art Gallery-Del Ray Artisans, Katherine Brown and Marlin Lord; Artisan Jewelry/Fine Jewelry-Goldworks, David Martin; Attorney-Lonnie Rich; Auto Dealer-Jack Taylor Toyota; BBQ-Pork Barrel BBQ, Burgers-Holy Cow, and Sushi-the Sushi Bar, all Mike Anderson; Chili-Hard Times Café, Fred Parker; Photographer-Tisara Photography, Steve Halperson and Nina Tisara; Realtor-Jen Walker/McEnearney Associates. Also a shout-out for LLA Board of Directors member: Printer-Minuteman Press, Jeff Peterson.
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Living Legends of Alexandria was one of ten local nonprofits that adopted a Christmas tree on Mt. Vernon Avenue in the hope of winning prize money for the best decorated tree. We didn't win the prize money, but we know that our decorations-images of all the Legends-were the BEST!
By Linda Hafer
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Living Legends of Alexandria is a non-profit organization dedicated to
honor
and chronicle individuals who have made significant contributions to the quality of life in Alexandria. We share the stories of Living Legends with kids and adults to serve as role models. Learn more at AlexandriaLegends.org.
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