Past RELI Events

2023 | 2022 | 2021

2023 In-Person Annual Luncheon & Awards: Keynote speaker Dr. Stephen Fuller challenged the DMV's leaders to come together in developing a consensus for revitalizing the region's economy, culminating in a regional Economic Summit in the Spring of 2024. Alex Orfinger, Publisher of the Washington Business Journal, engaged Dr. Fuller in a lively Q & A following his presentation. 2023 awardees were Senator Dick Saslaw, Supervisor Penny Gross and School Board Member Meagan Alderton.

2023 Webinars: Successful webinars were held on collective bargaining, executive evaluation, expanding affordable homeownership, school and government collaboration on climate action, crime trends, and reducing traffic deaths and injuries. A summary of the programs and speakers, as well as the tape of each program are linked below.

2022 In-Person Annual Dinner & Awards: Attendees heard an excellent program with Dean Mark Rozell interviewing former Lt. Governor Bill Bolling and former Virginia Secretary of Education Jim Dyke, who stepped in for Congressman Don Beyer at the last minute. 2022 awardees were Delegate Ken Plum, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and Fairfax School Board Member Karen Corbett Sanders.  A special regional recognition was presented to retiring MWCOG CEO Chuck Bean.  

2022 Webinars: Successful webinars were held on managing disruptive meetings, building acceptance of affordable housing, fleet decarbonization, and reducing traffic deaths and injuries. A summary of the programs and speakers, as well as the tape of each program are linked below.

Video of May 6th Webinar

Video of May 20th Webinar

Regional Elected Leaders Initiative 
Initiative Sponsor: JBGSmith

Building Neighborhood Acceptance of New Affordable Housing: Busting the Myths
Webinar Sponsor: VaHousing

   Key Questions:

• What tools and messaging are being used in NOVA to build support for affordable housing?
• How are localities addressing neighborhood concerns like height, density, parking, traffic, stormwater, and tree canopy?
• How does affordable housing impact students and schools?
• Does affordable housing impact neighborhood property values and livability? What does the research say?

Panelists

Dr. Daniel Domenech, ED, AASA-The School Superintendents Association

Michelle Krocker, ED, Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA)

Erika Moore, Communications and Public Engagement Manager, Arlington County Government 

Christina Stacy, Principal Research Associate, Urban Institute

Moderated by Mary Hynes, coordinator, Regional Elected Leaders Initiative, Schar School

Resource List 

Webinar recording

COG’s 2019 work on housing goals and targets

COG’s 2020 work with Dr. Tiffany Manual - A New Narrative for Housing: Playbook for the Greater Washington Region

Community Foundation for Loudoun and northern Fauquier Counties program for workforce housing

Mary Hynes’ recommended resource on change management

National Housing Conference database of affordability

Arlington Community Foundation Infographic/Data on salaries for essential workers in Arlington who make 30% AMI or less coupled with MIT living wage information for Arlington. View the document on Issuu.

MIT Living Wage Calculator

Erika Moore’s recommended tool for creating your own infographics

Building Subsidized Low-income Housing Actually Lifts Property Values in a Neighborhood, Contradicting NIMBY Concerns

Regional Elected Leaders Initiative 
Initiative Sponsor: JBGSmith

Reducing Traffic Deaths and Injuries: Best Practices

Key Questions: 

• What goals and plans are in place?
• How do Vision Zero, Safe Streets For All, and Safe Routes to Schools programs interact with these goals?
• What are the top 2 tangible actions localities can take to reach their goals?
• What are the most innovative actions taken or being planned in localities? In states?
• Are there best practices to protect kids? The elderly?
• What are the greatest obstacles? Leadership? Funding?
• Do you see opportunities for regional collaboration to advance these goals?

Panelists

Christine Baker, AICP, Principal Planner and Vision Zero Program coordinator, Arlington County

Tom Biesiadny, Director of Transportation, Fairfax County

Jerry Roche, Team Leader, Safety Integration, Office of Safety - Federal Highway Administration

Dave Snyder, Council Member, City of Falls Church and Vice-Chair, NVTA

Nick Donohue, Panel Moderator, Principal, Capitol Transportation Consulting and Former VDOT Deputy Secretary

Resource List:

Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment Guidance

Systemic Analysis

Three Approaches to Address Severe Roadway Crashes

Proven Safety Countermeasures

Safe System Approach

The Street Project 

The Street Project PBS Special

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Roadway Safety

2021 In-Person Annual Dinner & Awards: Attendees heard an excellent program with Dean Mark Rozell interviewing former Secretary of Education Anne Holton and former Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Finance Aubrey Lane. 2021 awardees were Senator Janet Howell, Council Member David Snyder, and School Board Chairs Barbara Kanninen and Babur Lateef. 

2021 Policy Webinars: Successful policy webinars were held on Housing, Police Reforms, Transportation, Marijuana Laws and Equity in Budgeting. A summary of the programs and speakers, as well as the tape of each program are linked below.

Successful policy seminars were held on Transportation, Housing, Economic Development and Climate Action. A summary of the programs and speakers is attached.

2020 Program’s Virtual Awards Dinner: Attendees heard a lively program with Dean Mark Rozell interviewing Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw and House Majority Leader Charniele Herring. Regional Leadership awards were presented to Delegate Vivian Watts and Loudoun County Supervisor Matt Letourneau.