Fairfax County's Department of Neighborhood and Community Services' work with community partners was recognized with a pair of awards at the 2024 Virginia Recreation and Park Society's annual conference in Norfolk, Va. 

Cox Communications was honored in the Distinguished Private Sector Service category for its support of digital equity at NCS community centers. The Fairfax County Community Services Room at Tysons was also honored for best Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative. The annual awards presentation honors exemplary members, volunteers, and agencies of the parks and recreation community for achievements during the previous calendar year.

“NCS is committed to working with partners to build a community where all individuals and families are supported and empowered to thrive,” said NCS Director Lloyd Tucker. “I am proud that both of these awards recognize the importance of partnerships and collaboration in building a more equitable community."    

More than 400 delegates, exhibitors, speakers, and volunteers from around the state gathered for the 71st Annual Conference of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society held in Norfolk, Va., on Sept. 14-17, 2024. The conference is a learning exchange and provides an opportunity for recreation and park professionals to discuss areas of common interest. Highlighting each year’s conference is a formal presentation of awards. This statewide program honors individuals, departments and organizations throughout Virginia who have demonstrated excellence in any of several areas during the previous year. 140 applications were received vying for awards in 16 different categories.   

NCS' awards recognized the following work: 

Distinguished Private Sector Service: Cox Communications

Cox Communications, the largest broadband company in the United States, is dedicated to empowering others to build a better future. That can be seen at the neighborhood level in Northern Virginia, where Cox and the non-profit James M. Cox Foundation have partnered with the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW) to open Cox Innovation Labs, giving youth in underserved neighborhoods improved access to technology. Their continued support has been instrumental in improving digital equity within our community centers. In August of 2023, the Cox Innovation Lab opened at NCS’ Annandale Community Center. Cox provided a grant of $20,000 for NCS and BGCGW to furnish the lab with 11 laptops, 20 iPads and three video consoles. Two months later, an identical lab opened in our facility in the Culmore neighborhood – introducing the digital lab to the participants in our Boys and Girls Club program.
Background

Best Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative: Fairfax County Community Services Room at Tysons

On July 29, 2023, Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services opened a new Community Services Room. This space, in which NCS partners with other Fairfax County agencies as well as non-profit partners, is unique in that it is located in Tysons Corner Center, the largest shopping mall in the Washington, DC area with 20 million annual visitors. NCS and partners opened the room as a “hub of opportunity,” removing barriers to access and meet the community where they are to help connect underserved populations with critical programs, services and opportunities. NCS offers the multi-use space in partnership with Edu-Futuro, the Fairfax County Public Library, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, and Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik. 

About Virginia Recreation & Park Society
The Virginia Recreation and Park Society is a private, nonprofit professional organization, founded in 1953 and incorporated in 1956. Its purpose is to unite all professionals, students, and interested lay persons engaged in the field of recreation, parks and other leisure services in the Commonwealth of Virginia, into one body. Members work together to promote and improve the profession in all its diversity. VRPS is state affiliate of the National Recreation and Park Association.

About Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services
Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services partners with communities, families and individuals to provide opportunities to access a continuum of resources that promote equity and create positive outcomes for people of all ages and abilities. More than 25 community, senior and teen centers offer community spaces, technology, inclusive support services, camps and programs for all ages and abilities. In addition, School Age Child Care (SACC) provides care for children in kindergarten-sixth grade before school, after school, during spring/winter break and during summer break (Camp Fairfax). For more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs.