Letter from the Executive Director

WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO

The McLean Community Center (MCC) was built and is funded by residents of Greater McLean for their use through a real estate tax surcharge, the result of a 1970 bond referendum (Small District 1A-Dranesville).

Center facilities include the 383-seat Alden Theatre, the McLean Project for the Arts galleries, the Susan B. DuVal Art Studio, meeting and conference rooms, a rehearsal studio, a multipurpose classroom and catering kitchen.

Local open clubs and organizations use the Center for their monthly meetings with a nominal charge. Center facilities may be rented for private functions such as business conferences, receptions, parties and recitals. District residents and businesses pay reduced fees. Registrations for McLean Youth Athletics and McLean Little League activities are regularly held at the Center, and information on their activities is always available.

The Center also operates the award-winning Old Firehouse Center, located at 1440 Chain Bridge Rd. in downtown McLean.

AT THE CENTER OF THE MCLEAN COMMUNITY—JOIN US!

The nation and the region are slowly re-emerging after facing a roller coaster of traumas recently. Throughout the US, folks have rediscovered the importance of communities— sometimes in their struggles, sometimes in their pods, and sometimes via Zoom. We invite you to come discover the fabric of McLean Community Center—a simple and powerful focus on the people that strengthen McLean. This fall, as we rethread our notions of neighbors and community members, one thing is certain: we cannot go back to the way things were. But wherever our future takes, we can make it a robust one by strengthening each and every person in our midst, so that we grow together. MCC is centering the emotional and physical well-being of each one of you as we launch our Fall Season of classes, events, and performances. Whether you have discovered a new way of connecting online from the comfort of your home, or you only want to attend in-person events, or you want a hybrid of these options—we have the right programming for you. Our sta has worked hard to center your needs whether it is the joy of dance by Pilobolus, or our fall festivals where you can shop for crafts or antiques, the unique classes we o er, or the block parties at our teen center—each event strives to connect you to your neighbors and the larger McLean community. In addition, MCC continues our ongoing partnerships with our sister community anchors, including McLean Project for the Arts’ MPAartfest. Our McLean 5K in partnership with McLean Community Foundation is back on track this year with some fabulous prizes for the winners as well as random giveaways. We welcome Ivy Chen, Max Blacksten, Shivani Shaboo, Lisa Mariam and Rasheq Rahman, a talented, thoughtful and diverse group of board members who will be helping us weave in their substantive ideas into our ongoing vibrant programming. Lastly, we hope to have a series of listening sessions that will allow you to connect with the Board and Sta at MCC directly with your thoughts and suggestions for new programming options. Information is available here for you to sign up for one of the listening sessions or for you to submit suggestions: www.mcleancenter.org. Regardless of whether you can attend the in-person listening sessions or not, I invite you to email me with your thoughts any time at: Daniel.Singh@fairfaxcounty.gov. We look forward to welcoming you to the Center as soon as you are able to come and visit us.

To our health, Daniel

MCC 2021-2022 Governing Board members (from left) Max Blacksten, Lisa Mariam, Suzanne LeMenestrel, Maria Foderaro-Guertin, Carla Post, Barbara Zamora-Appel, Rasheq Rahman, Bill Glikbarg, and Melanie Sletten with Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust after the new board's first meeting on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.