On September 30, 2023, community leaders joined family members of the late Jim Scott to rename the Providence Community Center as the Jim Scott Community Center.
Several Fairfax County Supervisors, former supervisors, Rep. Gerry Connolly, members of the Virginia House of Delegates and community members joined NCS Director Lloyd Tucker and members of the Scott family to unveil new signs at the center at 3001 Vaden Dr., Fairfax, VA.
Jim Scott, who died in 2017, served as Providence District Supervisor for 14 years and in Virginia's House of Delegates for 22 years. He was a strong advocate of affordable housing, education and civil rights. He championed formation of the School Age Child Care program (SACC), which provides Fairfax County children in kindergarten-sixth grade with high-quality before- and after-school educational care. The renaming was approved unanimously by the supervisors in 2022, with the community voting on the exact name in summer 2023.
"When I think of Jim Scott, I think of community," said Fairfax County Supervisor Jeffrey McKay. "There is no more appropriate place to place his name than on a community center."
Jim Scott - who passed away in 2017 - attended the opening of Providence Community Center in 2015. The center houses adult, senior, youth and family programs; a technology center, School Age Child Care (SACC) and the Patricia D. Harrison Sensory Room, among other features.
Left to Right: Community member Elizabeth Royal; Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross; Fairfax County School Board member Karl Frisch; Del. Holly Siebold (35th District); NCS Director Lloyd Tucker; former Providence District Supervisor Linda Q. Smyth; Del. David Bulova (37th District); Del. Marcus Simon (53rd District); Fairfax County Electoral Board Chair Katherine Hanley; Providence Supervisor Dalia Palchik; Nancy Scott (wife of the late Jim Scott); Josie Marshall and Meredith Laxton (Jim Scott's granddaughters); Casey Laxton and Mary Alice Scott (Jim Scott's daughters); and Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay. (Click photo to enlarge).
See the whole photo album on Flickr
Cristin.Bratt@fairfaxcounty.gov