For 14 years, former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson has been a key partner in making Alexandria a place where everyone can thrive and belong. Even before serving on City Council and as mayor, he followed ACT’s work closely. He especially appreciates Spring2ACTion, calling it a perfect blend of “competition and camaraderie” that highlights both the needs in the community and the collective ability to address them.
Justin is no stranger to addressing need in Alexandria. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he saw nonprofits facing an urgent need to scale up. The emergent needs at that time were evident, “particularly in hunger, shelter, and workforce capacity,” he recalls. He was grateful for how the community stepped in where the city couldn’t, noting, “ACT was extremely helpful in helping harness philanthropy around the community to fill in the gaps.”
He also recognized ACT’s leadership during the public outcry after the murder of George Floyd. “ACT provided a structure and a form and a backbone to some of this work that was really, really important at that time,” he says. “I’ve always viewed ACT as an indispensable tool in the toolbox—a go-to resource—when government isn’t the best option to bring people and resources together.”
Justin has competed his tenure as mayor and remains committed to a thriving Alexandria. Looking ahead, he acknowledges that government resources will be strained, making ACT’s role even more critical. “ACT has always filled that role where they build that capacity and make other organizations excel, which is great.”