Apply to Arlington Neighborhood College by April 4
Published on March 24, 2025
Arlington County will offer its Neighborhood College program this spring for Arlingtonians who want to become more involved in their community. Applications for the spring session are due by Friday, April 4, 2025.
The objective of the program is to foster a more active and informed community by giving Arlingtonians an opportunity to understand and engage with their local government. Participants will learn about Arlington County government operations, services, and resources directly from leaders and key County staff.
Classes, held on Wednesdays, from April 23 to June 25, between 6:30 and 9 p.m., take a hybrid format (some in-person, some virtual) and feature conversations with County staff and tours of County facilities. To graduate, participants are expected to attend at least eight of the 10 sessions; attend a County Board meeting, a commission meeting, or a civic association meeting during the program period; and commit to volunteering 10 hours in Arlington County within six months of completing the program.
Apply to Neighborhood College
Applications are due Friday, April 4, 2025. The application is open to anyone aged 18 or older who lives or owns a business in Arlington and is willing to devote time and energy to improving their community.
Applicants are accepted into the program on a rolling basis in the order that applications are received. Students not accepted into the 2025 cohort of Neighborhood College will be placed on the existing waitlist and offered acceptance into the next cohort prior to the application period for new applicants.
For more information about the program, email Arlington Neighborhoods Program Planner Naudy Martinez.
About Neighborhood College
Launched in 2000, Neighborhood College is a key component of Arlington’s civic engagement infrastructure. The program seeks to broaden and diversify participation in civic life. Neighborhood College aims to prepare Arlingtonians to address issues in their neighborhoods or in the County as a whole, and to encourage involvement in volunteer activities.
More than 500 participants have graduated from Neighborhood College. Many have gone on to become neighborhood leaders, members of advisory groups and commissions, officers in their civic associations, County Board members, volunteers at nonprofit organizations, local activists, and more.
What You Need to Know
- Apply by April 4, 2025
- Space is limited to 25 participants
- The course is FREE
- Classes will be held Wednesdays, from April 23 to June 25, 6:30–9 p.m.
- There will be a mix of in-person and virtual sessions