For Immediate Release: May 17, 2023

City of Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson was recognized by the Coalition for Smarter Growth for his dynamic work in land use and transit sustainability in the greater Washington D.C. area. Mayor Wilson is recipient of the 2023 Livable Communities Leadership Award and was honored for work in elevating the City to a regional standard for walkable, transit-oriented communities.

“Our community greatly benefits from Mayor Justin Wilson’s leadership and vision for our City. He understands that action on climate change, action on affordable housing, and action on strengthening transportation choice and public transportation improves the quality of life for all Alexandrians,” said City Manager James Parajon. “This leadership award highlights the Mayor and the City’s commitment to making City services sustainable, accessible, and community oriented.”

The Frederick & Diana Prince Livable Community Leadership Award is conferred annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to smart growth in the greater Washington D.C. region. Residents, visitors, and businesses thrive because of smart growth initiatives, which address critical community needs such as services accessibility, sustainable transportation options, and mixed-use development.

Throughout his tenure on the Alexandria City Council, Mayor Wilson has supported initiatives which address those principles of smart growth. Today the Redella S. “Del” Pepper Community Resource Center, which opened in April 2023, serves as a centralized hub for all Alexandrians’ health and human services needs in Alexandria West. On Friday, May 19, the Potomac Yard – VT Station will open and provide three major City neighborhoods walkable access to the region’s Metrorail system. In the coming decade, the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and Inova Hospital Complex will engage the community through mixed-use development and 21st Century innovation.

Prior to being elected as Mayor of City of Alexandria in 2018, Mayor Wilson served eight years on the Alexandria Council. He serves as the Senior Director of Supplier Management at Amtrak and holds a BS in Information Systems from Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Coalition for Smarter Growth is a leading organization in the Washington D.C. region dedicated to making the case for smart growth. Their mission is to advocate for walkable, bikeable, and transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the Washington, D.C. region to grow and provide opportunities for all. 

The 2023 Livable Communities Leadership Awards event was held on Tuesday, May 16, at the Old Ebbitt Grill Atrium.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact the Office of Communications & Public Information at newsroom@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3969.

If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you, please call 703.746.3961 or email genevieve.babecki@alexandriava.gov. 

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This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/4616