Neighborhood and Community Services

At its meeting on June 24, 2025, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation supporting Juneteenth, the day commemorating the end of enslavement in the United States. Juneteenth (June 19) – also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and Liberation Day – has been celebrated by the African American community for over 150 years. It has been a Fairfax County holiday since 2020. Alma Amaker, left, and community member Wilma Hudson “Today, it is a day to reaffirm our commitment to the essential and ongoing work of eradicating systemic racism that results in exclusion, discriminatory treatment, inequitable policies and disadvantages for Black Americans and other people of color,” the proclamation reads, emphasizing through One Fairfax, the county and community are committed to promoting fairness and justice in the formation of public policy that results in equity for all residents. The proclamation was accepted by Alma Amaker, a lifelong Fairfax County resident. Amaker also received this year's Juneteenth Resiliency Award. This award is given to those who show resiliency (grit, determination, dedication, perseverance and persistence) to make meaningful contributions and outcomes in their own lives and/or the lives of others in the Black community. The award, instituted in 2021, was previously issued to youth ages 13-21; this year was the first time it was given to a legacy community member, said NCS Equity Manager Ramona Carroll.  Amaker was chosen by NCS for her 50 years of service as an educator in the Fairfax County Public School System, and representing her fellow educators who taught with her in the segregated and integrated schools, said Carroll. Today, Amaker, now in her 80s, works at James Lee Community Center in Falls Church. Amaker has been affiliated with James Lee since she attended the then-segregated elementary school when it opened in the late 1940s. James Lee Community Center (and the former school) are named for James Edward Lee, a Black man born free in 1939 who purchased the land where the center now sits. More Information View video of the proclamation and award from the June 24, 2025 BOS meeting.  Learn more about Alma Amaker in a 2024 NCS news post. Learn more about the history of Juneteenth. See Visit Fairfax's Juneteenth page.  Learn more about Fairfax County’s One Fairfax Policy. Click group photo for high-resolution version.  

The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services supports June 2025 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LBGTQ+) Pride Month in Fairfax County. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation at its June 10, 2025, meeting designating the month to honor the history, resilience and contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals.  Supporting the LGBTQ+ community aligns with NCS’ mission to provide opportunities to access a continuum of resources that promote equity and create positive outcomes for people of all ages and abilities. Diversity and Equity are also among NCS’ core values. The proclamation also aligns with the county’s – and NCS’ – commitment to One Fairfax, the policy that intentionally considers equity when making policies or delivering programs and services. “NCS is proud to be inclusive of all people and supports the Board in this proclamation marking June as Pride Month,” said Ramona Carroll, NCS Equity Manager.  The proclamation reads as follows: WHEREAS, each June, communities across the United States celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month to honor the history, resilience and contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals; and WHEREAS, Pride Month honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement where community members protested injustice, sparking a national equality movement; and WHEREAS, the first Pride march on June 28, 1970, marked the anniversary of the uprising and launched a tradition of Pride events that celebrate LGBTQ+ visibility, culture, and achievements, while raising awareness of ongoing struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals; and WHEREAS, since 2013, Fairfax County has recognized June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, reaffirming our commitment to an inclusive community where all people—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression—are treated with dignity and respect; and WHEREAS, Fairfax County exemplifies its commitment to equality through the  One Fairfax policy, integrating equity into decision-making, and consistently achieving  high scores on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index, demonstrating our  dedication to inclusive policies for LGBTQ+ residents and employees; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County, does hereby proclaim June 2025  Pride Month  and encourages all residents to reflect on equality, celebrate the LGBTQ+ community's contributions and work towards a just and inclusive society. To learn more about NCS programs and services for all, please visit the NCS website. Click on photo to open high-resolution version.