NAACP | ALXnow

Racial equity fund awards $200K to 29 Alexandria nonprofits and leaders

Published July 9, 2026 at 2:45PM

Act for Alexandria CEO Heather Peeler (center) at an event celebrating Fund for Racial Equity grantees (via ACT for Alexandria)

ACT for Alexandria’s Fund for Racial Equity has awarded more than $200,000 in grants to 29 local organizations and individuals, the organization announced in a new report.

The nonprofit created the fund in 2020 and established a resident community advisory board to lead grantmaking in 2024. The advisory board led three rounds of grantmaking over the next two years, awarding flexible, unrestricted grants to the organizations and individuals, according to ACT for Alexandria’s A Journey in Hope report.

News

8th Congressional District candidate forum set for next week in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published July 1, 2026 at 2:45PM

Shiloh Baptist Church and the NAACP Alexandria Branch will host a candidate forum for the 8th Congressional District race on July 9, 2026 (via Shiloh Baptist Church)

Candidates for the 8th Congressional District will gather in Alexandria for a candidate forum next week.

Shiloh Baptist Church and the NAACP Alexandria Branch will host the candidate forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 9 in the Shiloh Baptist Church Worship Center (1401 Jamieson Avenue). Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

News

Alexandria NAACP, elected officials slam Virginia Supreme Court’s redistricting ruling

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press

Published May 11, 2026 at 1:45PM

Signs supporting and opposing redistricting on April 6, 2026 in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Elected officials representing Alexandria have joined the Alexandria NAACP in condemning the Virginia Supreme Court’s overturning of the redistricting referendum.

Voters had narrowly approved the referendum to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts — with 51.69% in favor — on April 21. The Virginia Supreme Court struck down the voter-approved constitutional amendment in a 4-3 ruling Friday (May 8), with the majority citing procedural violations in how the amendment was placed on the ballot.

News

Hundreds march in ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ rally in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 18, 2025 at 9:30AM | Updated July 18, 2025 at 3:44PM

Hundreds marched in the Good Trouble Lives On protest in Old Town, July 17, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Hundreds rallied and marched against the Trump administration in Old Town on Thursday night (July 17).

The event at Judy Guse-Noritake Park (600 N. Henry Street) joined hundreds of Good Trouble Lives On rallies across the country, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the death of Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), with participants holding signs and speaking against the Trump administration. The civil rights icon was renowned for his legacy of nonviolent action in defense of democracy.