It was founded nearly a half-century ago, but EcoAction Arlington is looking toward the future — and to collaboration throughout the community.

“We want partners who can commit to longer-term relationships, whatever that relationship is,” the organization’s executive director, Elenor Hodges, said at the Nov. 20 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of South Arlington.

Hodges has led the organization since 2000, when it was known as Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment. The organization, founded 47 years ago, rebranded in 2018 with its new name. “Action” was chosen as part of the new name, in part to appeal to a new generation.

“Young people are really looking to do things, to get involved,” Hodges said.

“We get a very cross-generational group of volunteers — age 16 to retiree,” Hodges told Kiwanians. “We help them to be empowered, to teach others.”

One of the organization’s volunteer initiatives is the “Eco Ambassadors” program. Modeled after Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, it offers local residents the opportunity to receive training in environmental initiatives, then give back to their community.

The first class of the Eco Ambassadors program, offered to Arlington and Alexandria residents, graduated in November.

The presentation at the Kiwanis meeting also looked at EcoAction’s efforts to plant more trees across Arlington, especially in areas that previously have been underserved.

All this is done with a modest staff of three full-time and eight part-time staff. While EcoAction Arlington receives county-government support as well as private donations, it, like many other safety-net organizations, is facing the challenges of the current economic environment.

Hodges said she’s committed to continuing and, where possible, expanding services.

“There’s a big imperative for doing this work,” she told the South Arlington Kiwanians.

A dip into the archives of the Kiwanis Club of South Arlington shows that many of the same issues facing Kiwanis clubs today were the same 30, 40 and 50 years ago.

The Charlie Clark Center for Local History at Arlington Central Library holds much of the Kiwanis Club of South Arlington’s archives of the period from the 1970s to the early 2000s in the Arlington Community Archives. They were donated by longtime club member John Marr on behalf of the club.

Ten boxes of materials are stored, although one — contain bulkier items — currently has gone missing within the library system’s archival facility. Efforts are being made to find and reunite it with the other boxes.

Diving to the material provides a fun trip down memory lane. And the items contained within show challenges that would be familiar to modern-day Kiwanians.

Minutes from a meeting in 1972 noted that a number of members were having difficulty maintaining their attendance. That same set of minutes also reported on the cost of meals for club meetings, the recent international convention and activities at the Key Club of Wakefield High School.

Minutes of the board of directors meeting of Aug. 8, 1974 (the night before Richard Nixon resigned the presidency) reported on a discussion about ways to find new members in the 25-to-35-year-old age group. Does that sound familiar?

Minutes from the 1970s show a modest downturn in membership, another issue that continues to be a challenge for service clubs.

In September 1971, a report to Kiwanis International said membership was 29. By June 1974 is had declined to 27 and in September 1976 was down to 19. A challenging mid-1970s economy may have been one reason for the decline.

For those who remember when the club used to open its meetings tunefully, the archives contain number of “Songs of Kiwanis” booklets, providing the words for songs that had the stamp of approval from Kiwanis International.

While times change, the Kiwanis Club of South Arlington commitment to the community and youth never wavered.

There are letters in the archives from the club to local and even federal leaders, urging support for youth initiatives.

The club at one point sponsored a Builders Club at Drew Model School (now Dr. Charles Drew Elementary), and the archives include photos from the 1981 boys and girls Kiwanis soccer teams in the South Arlington Soccer League.

In the broader community, items in the archives show the club’s support for the Arlington Civic Symphony in the 1960s and its ongoing support of the Inter-Service Club Council over the decades.

The South Arlington Club is not the only service club whose archives are preserved for the future by the library system. Others include our sibling club, the Kiwanis Club of Arlington.

The earlier donation of South Arlington club materials may not be the last. More recent material collected by the late Harro Wulf may soon be added, giving future researchers and club members a deeper understanding of the organization’s history and the people who took part in its activities.

For her service to immigrants’ rights and education, Dr. Emma Violand-Sánchez on Oct. 16 was presented with the 2025 Harro & Janie Wulf Legendary Service Award.

In remarks to the club and a large number of guests, Violand-Sánchez spoke of arriving in the U.S. in the early 1960s from her native Bolivia knowing no English and her efforts to become part of the American culture while retaining her own cultural identity.

She spoke of her years with Arlington Public Schools working to support immigrant students and their families, singling out Superintendent Robert Smith for his support of the efforts during those years. She also spoke of her personal journey during those years.

She discussed her recent memoir — “Dreams and Shadows: An Immigrant’s Journey” — and the places she has gone and people she has spoken with since its publication.

Violand-Sánchez started her remarks by noting her own connection to Kiwanis, starting at Mount Vernon High School in Fairfax County in 1961 when she joined the Key-ettes, which then was the female counterpart to the Key Club.

It was, she said, another opportunity in her early days in the U.S. to find a sense of belonging.

After arriving in Arlington, she was recruited by Jim Hunter to become a member of the Kiwanis Club of Arlington in the late 1980s, one of the first three women to become part of the club.

“It was a wonderful experience. I was in awe about the power of volunteerism — the sense of humility that is fostered through volunteerism,” she said. And with the club, “there were constant opportuities to volunteer,” she said.

Violand-Sánchez noted that in recent days she had spoken to groups as diverse as a private girls’ high school in New York and the ESL program at the Arlington County Detention Facility. She encouraged all those she meets to embrace their strengths and acknowledge challenges that are impacting them.

“When you have a shadow, it can come to the light,” she said.

She also noted the power of social media, letting the group know that her sister in their native Bolivia had found out about the award she was going to receive by way of a club Facebook posting.

Kiwanis of South Arlington presented its inaugural Legendary Service Award in 2024 to former U.S. Rep. Jim Moran. Earlier this year, the club voted to permanently add the names of Harro & Janie Wulf to the award, in honor of their distinguished service to the club.

Janie Wulf, President Andres Tobar and Lt. Gov. Robb Dodd then presented the award to Dr. Violand-Sánchez.

Janie Wulf said she had purchased and read “Dreams and Shadows: An Immigrant’s Journey,” and found it a compelling story.

“It was beautifully woven together,” she said.

President Andres Tobar remarked that he had known Violand-Sánchez for nearly 50 years, as both arrived in the Arlington area in the mid-1970s and found common cause in supporting the needs of a growing immigrant population.

Kiwanis Club of South Arlington president Andres Tobar recently was honored for 15 years of service leading Arlington County Crime Solvers.

Police Chief Andy Penn and Sheriff Jose Quiroz were among those paying tribute as Tobar finalized plans to step down from the position.

Penn and Quiroz jointly presented Tobar with a plaque to mark his “steadfast leadership.”

“He is passionate about making a difference,” Penn said as Crime Solvers’ 2025 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award Luncheon. The event celebrated achievements of K9 units for both police and sheriff.

The Oct. 9 luncheon marked the end of Tobar’s 15-year tenure as president of Crime Solvers. Tobar took over leadership from former Arlington Chamber of Commerce president Rich Doud.

“It’s been a pleasure,” Tobar said of the experience.

“We wish him some well-deserved rest and relaxation,” said Dulce Carrillo of Arlington Public Schools, who emceed the program.

While no successor has been named, Tobar said there were a number of qualified individuals serving on the organization’s board whose skills could be tapped.

“I’m delighted with the talent that has stepped up,” he said.

Arlington County Crime Solvers offers the public an opportunity to provide anonymous information about criminal activity at (866) 411-TIPS or online. But the organization also works to bridge any divides between public safety and the community.

Tobar serves as executive director of the Shirlington Employment and Education Center (SEEC), and has worked to build bridges between the immigrant community and law enforcement.

Collaborations such as those are needed more than ever, he said.

“We’re in some very tough times now. People are hurting,” Tobar said. “But we will persevere and we will do it by focusing on things we can control.”

Tobar also has served multiple terms as president of the Kiwanis Club of South Arlington, starting a new one-year stint at the start of the club year on Oct. 1.

The president/CEO of the Arlington Community Foundation recently gave Kiwanis Club of South Arlington members and guests an inside look at the organization and its community-building initiatives.

“The point of a community foundation is really to help bring people together,” Jennifer Owens said at the Sept. 18 meeting of the club, held at Busboys & Poets in Shirlington.

Locally, that means “making sure Arlington is a place people feel they belong and can stay in,” Owens said.

Arlington presents a somewhat unique challenge for safety-net organizations, because “there is a high level of wealth but also disparity,” she said.

Her remarks touched on efforts to address income and housing challenges, particularly those impacting households earning 30% or less than the area median income.

“It’s easy to hide need in Arlington if you’re not looking for it,” Owens said. “We’re about trying to bring people into the conversation.”

There also was discussions about efforts to support the community’s growing population of seniors, especially those with income challenges. That represents “a conversation that is starting to be had a little more,” Owens said.

Among those in attendance was Maimoona Bah, division chief for Aging and Disability Services at the county government’s Department of Human Services.

She noted the increasing need for support of seniors at all ages, particularly in the 60-to-70 range that are transitioning into retired life.

“We need to be creative,” Bah said.

The Arlington Community Foundation was founded in the early 1990s by William T. Newman Jr. Owens in 2017 was recruited from a similar organization in Upstate New York to take the helm.

John Murphy, a Kiwanis Club member and civic leader, said Owens has taken the foundation to a new level.

“She dug in and got the job done,” he said.

The key to a community foundation’s success is the ability to garner private (non-governmental) dollars, whether from individuals, philanthropic organizations or business entities.

In Arlington, “there is money, there is need and there is a passion” to address challenges, Owens said.

Beyond financing initiatives, the foundation also serves as an advocacy group. “Information is what drives public policy,” Owens said.

The luncheon attracted a large number of guests, including representatives from the Arlington County government, school system and non-profit organizations.

Kiwanis Club president Andres Tobar also serves as executive director of the Shirlington Employment and Education Center. He noted the importance of the foundation to the community’s social-safety net.

“We are so delighted with the initiatives the Arlington Community Foundation has taken over the years to lend that extra helping hand,” he said.

Two years ago, Tobar was among recipients of the foundation’s William T. Newman Jr. Spirit of Community Award, presented to leaders who are making a difference.

The 2025 awards, to be presented Nov. 7, will honor Claudia Ramirez Cuellar, Nina Janopaul and Kellen MacBeth.

Students at Randolph Elementary School in South Arlington started the new school year with brand-new backpacks filled to the brim with important back-to-class items.

More than 450 backpacks were stuffed and organized on Aug. 23 during the 2025 Capital District Convention.

Volunteers spent several hours dropping in materials ranging from pencils and glue sticks to notebooks and Kleenex, with the final touch being an age-appropriate book for the recipients.

The goal was to have the Randolph students, from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, prepared as Arlington Public Schools began the 2025-26 school year on Aug. 25.

In charge of the effort on the Kiwanis side was Carrie Wagner, president of the Kiwanis Club of Waynesboro, who took on the leadership role as part of the District Convention (DCON) planning committee.

“The biggest challenge was to figure out which school to do,” Wagner said.

With the convention being held in Crystal City, Wagner reached out to see if club members nearby had suggestions for schools to support.

The Kiwanis Club of South Arlington proposed the name of Randolph Elementary, having worked with the school on a number of initiatives, including a springtime science fair.

Wagner reached out to the school’s principal, Carlos Ramirez, who embraced the idea. He invited several school staff members to handle the logistics.

“Once I found the school and I connected with them, it was easy,” Wagner said.

Ramirez said the school greatly appreciated being a partner in the initiative.

“The Kiwanis Capital District’s generous donation of backpacks to Randolph Elementary has provided our students with essential school supplies while also giving them the gift of a strong and positive start to the new school year,” he said. “This act of generosity reflects a deep commitment to supporting student success and fostering a sense of readiness and confidence as they begin their learning journey.”

Ramirez added: “We extend our sincere appreciation to Carrie Wagner for her exceptional leadership in coordinating this effort and to the very many volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to stuff backpacks with school supplies and age-appropriate books make this dream come true. Carrie’s organization and collaboration with our staff ensured a smooth process and meaningful impact for our school community.”

Books came from the Green Valley Book Fair, a supplier in Mount Crawford, Va. The selected titles ranged from “Dinosaur vs. Bedtime” by Bob Shea, designed for pre-kindergarten students, to “Horrid Henry and the Soccer Fiend” by Francesca Simon, aimed at fifth-graders.

A call was put out for volunteers to help stuff the backpacks, and the response among convention-goers exceeded expectations. So much so, the entire effort was done in under two hours.

The effort was funded, in part, through a grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund. John Tyner, the Capital District’s liaison to the fund, said it was the type of project Kiwanis dollars aim to support.

“The need is there [and] we step up,” Tyner said at the fellowship luncheon held Aug. 23 at the convention. “Our resources, when pooled together, are greater than any one of us alone could imagine.”

Among those participating in the stuffing was Andres Tobar, president of the South Arlington Kiwanis Club. Also taking part were Kiwanis Club of Arlington president Dr. Greg Craddock and treasurer Julia Wright.

In addition to the books and back-to-school items, each backpack included a special, student-designed bookmark with contact information so Randolph students can enter next year’s competition to possibly have their own artwork included on them.

While the South Arlington Kiwanis Club does not yet have a formal K-Kids relationship with Randolph Elementary, one might be considered for the coming year.

Melanie Anderson, executive director of Arlington Thrive, on July 17, 2025, spoke to the Kiwanis Club of South Arlington, highlighting the growth, successes and challenges of the organization.

Founded as an ecumenical organization to provide emergency funding for residents to pay rent, medical bills and the like, the organization has grown in recent years to deliver a broad array of services ranging from parenting classes to workforce-development support, to a diverse and inclusive clientele.

“This is a very, very expensive community to live in,” said Anderson. The goal of Arlington Thrive is to provide resources for people to make their way, she said.

When the resources of Arlington Thrive aren’t enough to provide the support one needs, “we’re never going to say ‘no’,” Anderson said. “We’re going to try to connect you with other services, going to our other partners and putting some of that together so we can meet those needs.”

Recently, the organization also began programming to support federal-government workers impacted by playoffs.

“You are not alone,” the organization says to federal workers. “We’re your neighbors, and we’re here to help you stay housed, healthy and hopeful. We’re offering short-term help to keep you stable while you get back on your feet.”

Founded in 1975 as AMEN (Arlingtonians Ministering to Emergency Needs, later Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs), the organization traces its roots to FISH (For Immediate Sympathetic Help) initiatives formed in the 1960s by churches in North Arlington and South Arlington, addressing local community needs.

In 2013, the organization was rebranded as Arlington Thrive to embrace a vision of progress, which includes all Arlingtonians.

Anderson has Kiwanis roots: She is incoming vice president of the Kiwanis Club of Arlington, and recently attended her first Kiwanis International convention.

Anderson’s mother has Kiwanis bona-fides, having served as president of the Kiwanis Club in their hometown.