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Nearly 100 people gathered in downtown Falls Church on Sunday, March 23, for a fast-paced introduction to local government—and many arrived ready to find a new role in their community.

Falls Church Forward hosted the two-hour Civics Bootcamp at Viget, 105 W. Broad St. Mayor Letty Hardi, current and former City Council members, neighborhood leaders and other community organizers joined the event.

Founded in 2023, the volunteer group designed the program to explain how the city operates and show residents how they can run for office, join a board or commission, support a civic organization and navigate local information.

Opening presentations came from Hardi, Council member Justine Underhill, former Council member Ross Linkenhous, neighborhood leaders Pat Conley and Naudy Martinez, and Planning Commission member Andrea Caumont.

The sessions incorporated Falls Church Forward’s five priorities: housing for all, community businesses, people-first places, climate resilience and a welcoming culture. Participants also faced lighthearted pop quizzes about those topics.

Hardi led a “Falls Church 101” overview before Martinez organized a round of Community Bingo. Attendees circulated through the room looking for neighbors who matched prompts such as owning a small business, knowing how to repair a bicycle or having lived in Falls Church for less than a year.

The first participant to complete the game, Modera at Founders Row resident Amanda Smithson, received a Falls Church Forward tote bag.

Participants then moved through three 10-minute breakout discussions. The available sessions covered joining a board or commission, running for office, serving on the City Council and supporting a nonprofit or civic group.

Phil Duncan and Caumont led the board and commission discussion. John Murphy and Underhill addressed campaigning for office, while Linkenhous discussed the daily work of the council. Hal Lippman and Christine Buccholz led the conversation about civic and nonprofit organizations.

Smithson, who has lived in Falls Church for about three years, said she had been searching for more ways to participate locally. She previously volunteered with residents removing invasive plants but wanted to do more.

“I’m interested in joining Falls Church Forward specifically and then looking for more opportunities where I can volunteer,” she said.

Smithson, who attended George Mason University and is originally from Fredericksburg, praised Falls Church’s restaurants, walkability, coffee shops, parks and trails. She said she wants to help preserve the qualities that attracted her to the city.

Resident Robin Ramey, an archaeologist for Fairfax County and a first-time Falls Church homebuyer, said the event helped connect residents with both government and community life.

Ramey became interested in Falls Church Forward after meeting Underhill during her City Council campaign. Following the bootcamp, Ramey said her next step could be applying for a city board or commission, although she had not decided which one.

The opportunity to speak with current members helped answer practical questions about time commitments, required experience and whether specialized expertise is necessary, Ramey said.

“Things like this help demystify it in a way that really encourages you to get involved and to make a difference,” she said.

Martinez joined Falls Church Forward less than a year ago after moving from Arlington to the city in August 2023. Now part of its leadership team, she said an interest in community building, service and connections between neighbors drew her to the organization.

She first learned about the group through Hardi’s weekly blog, then attended one of Underhill’s documentary screenings and continued participating.

Martinez said the leadership team made civic participation and a clearer understanding of local government priorities for the year. National events have increased interest in local involvement, she said, while social isolation has created another reason to bring neighbors together.

“A big goal today was to ensure that people get to know each other,” Martinez said.

Organizers were particularly encouraged that residents gave up part of a Sunday to attend and take deeper dives into the breakout topics.

Hardi said many of the participants were newcomers rather than residents already seen regularly at city meetings. Organizers had deliberately promoted the bootcamp in multifamily buildings, which Hardi said now account for more than half of Falls Church’s housing stock.

“Seeing all these new faces is really energizing and heartening,” she said.

Hardi acknowledged that two hours could not cover everything residents might need to know. Instead, organizers sought to balance an introductory civics lesson with enjoyable activities and opportunities to make personal connections.

Falls Church Forward has grown to nearly 500 members since its founding less than two years before the event. Hardi said its six volunteer leaders hope more members will become active and help carry the work forward.

Her closing message was direct: “Local government: more important than ever!”