Membership meeting May 28! Details here!
​DRCA is an active civic association that is administered by elected volunteers. DRCA is not affiliated with any political or religious organizations or, with the Donaldson Run Recreation Association (DRRA) the neighborhood pool.
​​​Our goals are to:
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Promote information sharing about issues affecting the neighborhood
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Provide leadership and advocacy about neighborhood interests
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Preserve and enhance the assets of the neighborhood
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Promote a sense of community
​Membership: If you live in the neighborhood, you can become a member of DRCA by paying dues which are $20 annually. Additional information regarding membership can be found here.
Other sources of information and discussion about the neighborhood include the Donaldson Run Civic Association's Facebook group and the Donaldson Run NextDoor account.
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​President's Letter
​May 2025
Bill Richardson
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Our next DRCA meeting, on Wednesday, May 28, will be devoted to what should be a fascinating history lesson from two long-time Arlingtonians, who will be sharing their unique perspectives on the experiences of black communities in the County over many decades. Many of us are unfamiliar with these challenges, which have done much to shape the Arlington we live in today.
J. Dale Smith is a 31-year veteran of the Arlington County Fire Department. Over the course of his distinguished career, he served as a firefighter, paramedic, Fire Marshal, lieutenant, captain, and made history as the first African American promoted to chief officer in the department. Public service runs deep in his family—his father is the last living volunteer from Arlington’s historic Hall’s Hill Fire Station 8, and his eldest son, a Yorktown High School graduate, now serves as a lieutenant in the Alexandria Fire Department.
William Vollin, 94, is a retired educator who devoted his career to Arlington Public Schools, serving as a teacher, counselor, and principal. Deeply connected to Arlington County throughout his life, Mr. Vollin was born and raised in Queen City, a once-thriving African American neighborhood in East Arlington. In the early 1940s, Queen City was dismantled to make way for the construction of the Pentagon, displacing nearly 1,000 residents with little notice or compensation. As one of the last living former residents of Queen City, Mr. Vollin offers a personal lens into Arlington’s complex history of displacement, resilience, and community. His lifelong dedication to education and public service continues to inspire.
Please join us to welcome these two speakers, and to learn about their special insight into the way Arlington used to be, how it has changed over the years, and what they may see as its future challenges. As usual, our meeting will be held at Taylor Elementary School, at 7:30 p.m., preceded by a social half hour with light refreshments beginning at 7:00.
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