Arlington Women Community Builders at Fire Station 8“In Hall’s Hill, we were taught to be neighbors – to love one another, to support one another. If somebody had a need, you stepped in.” – Panelist Saundra Green
Over the summer, Arlington Women Community Builders (AWCB) gathered for a panel discussion featuring community activists from Hall’s Hill at the newly rebuilt Station 8 on Langston Boulevard. They provided deep insight on the history of the neighborhood, the role of the fire station in the community, and work we can all do together to build a stronger, more inclusive Arlington. We at the Community Foundation are so grateful to all who were able to be a part of the conversation – and the excitement of seeing the firefighters leave with lightning speed for two emergency calls! We are especially grateful to the incredible panelists and their moderator, Monique (Moe) Bryant, and to the Station 8 crew for hosting the event.
In the spirit of Arlington Women Community Builders, we wanted to share a few ways to continue building on the momentum of the event:
We’ll leave you with the words of panelist Peggy Carter-Jones who perfectly captured the spirit of the evening:
“When future generations go by Fire Station 8, I would like them to know that this place was built on a foundation of hope, resilience, a commitment to progress, and a testament to all Black communities during the challenges they had to overcome, and the collective effort to create a better future for all of us – not only the Black community, but for all of us – so that we can live in unity, we can live in peace, and we can all learn a word called “love.” I love you, and I hope that you would love me too.”
About AWCB
In 2023, Arlington Community Foundation convened a group of local “women on a mission” to talk about community engagement, leadership and charitable giving. We listened carefully. We heard that women were interested in opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of community issues and that they enjoyed connecting with other women to share perspectives, learn together and identify opportunities for action and impact on the issues they care about.
We are excited to launch a series of important community conversations with you, the Arlington Women Community Builders (AWCB) who work every day through your multiple roles to strengthen our community.
If you would like to attend future AWCB community conversations or to provide input on future conversation topics, please contact Christy Cole at ccole@arlcf.org.