The City of Alexandria announced on Mar. 31 that it will hold its annual Building Safety Month Kick-Off Event on May 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Waterfront Park, located at 1A Prince Street. The event is free and open to the public, with activities including training opportunities for building safety professionals, free food, raffles, giveaways, educational exhibits from city departments and stakeholders, as well as a proclamation signing by Mayor Alyia Gaskins and remarks by City Manager James Parajon.
Building Safety Month aims to raise awareness about the role of building safety professionals in protecting residents and ensuring safe structures throughout the community. The theme for this year is “Built to Last.” According to the announcement, “Building Safety Month is a time to celebrate our building safety professionals and highlight the work they do to keep our City safe.” The event also seeks to connect residents, businesses, and visitors with code officials who help safeguard public infrastructure against hazards such as fires or severe weather.
If there is rain on May 1, organizers say the celebration will move indoors to the Del Pepper Community Resource Center’s first-floor café at 4850 Mark Center Drive. Each week in May features a special focus: Safe Homes/Safe Communities (May 1-10), Voices of the Built Environment (May 11-17), Prepared to Protect (May 18-24), and Communities Without Limits (May 25-31).
The city provides services within its boundaries as an independent municipality according to its official website. Alexandria operates under a council-manager government structure where council members select a manager for daily operations according to its official website. Efforts toward racial and social equity are incorporated into policies and decisions for fair outcomes across all community groups per the city’s official site.
Alexandria’s museums document local social history while sites like the Alexandria Black History Museum preserve African American heritage as noted by city resources. The Alexandria Archaeological Commission collaborates with various partners for archaeological research and preservation according to information provided by the city.
More details about Building Safety Month events or sponsorships can be found at alexandriava.gov/Code.
