Lee Highway Alliance
  • About
    • History
    • Our Work
    • Guiding Principles
    • Staff & Leadership
    • Plan Lee Highway
    • Newsletters
    • Partnerships
    • Legacy Businesses
    • Financials, Documents, & Reports
    • Contact
  • Explore
    • Getting Around
    • Dining & Nightlife
    • Shopping & Services
    • Stay & Play
    • Neighborhoods
    • Bike Lee Highway
  • News
  • Events
  • Placemaking
  • Renaming Lee Highway
    • Creating a more welcoming corridor
    • Name Choices
    • Working Group
    • Working Group Meetings
    • History Of Robert E Lee
    • How Lee Highway Got Named
    • Get in Touch
    • FAQs
    • Make A Donation
  • Shop Local
    • Holiday Gift Guide
  • donate
  • About
    • History
    • Our Work
    • Guiding Principles
    • Staff & Leadership
    • Plan Lee Highway
    • Newsletters
    • Partnerships
    • Legacy Businesses
    • Financials, Documents, & Reports
    • Contact
  • Explore
    • Getting Around
    • Dining & Nightlife
    • Shopping & Services
    • Stay & Play
    • Neighborhoods
    • Bike Lee Highway
  • News
  • Events
  • Placemaking
  • Renaming Lee Highway
    • Creating a more welcoming corridor
    • Name Choices
    • Working Group
    • Working Group Meetings
    • History Of Robert E Lee
    • How Lee Highway Got Named
    • Get in Touch
    • FAQs
    • Make A Donation
  • Shop Local
    • Holiday Gift Guide
  • donate

LEE HIGHWAY NEWS

Designing Cowboy Cafe

7/6/2020

0 Comments

 
​With the completion of a new, vibrant mural by local artist MasPaz comes the next stage in LHA’s recent Placemaking Project: designing a new outdoor space at Cowboy Café. The Café has partnered with LHA, Dominion Lighting, Potomac Paint, and Esoarc Architects to create a new design for the layout of the outdoor seating area, as well as the installation of new lighting and paint touch ups. 
 
LHA’s Communications Manager chatted recently with Matthew Rowan, VP of Residential Lighting for Dominion Lighting and Beth Boggs, Design Manager from Potomac Paint and Design Centers about how they approach projects such as these, what they envision the final product to be, and how each business is faring during COVID-19. 

Maia Potok-Holmes: Thank you so much for agreeing to chat with us about this project! We’re incredibly excited. 
Mathew Rowan: It’s my pleasure, I'm excited about the project too. 
Beth Boggs: My pleasure as well.
MPH: So, let’s jump into it. With a project as big as this one, there’s obviously a lot of preparation one needs to do. How do you each approach a project like this? 
Picture
Matthew Rowan, ©CindyKanePhotography
MR: We always start by identifying the primary use of outdoor spaces- usually there's a gathering or dining area (particularly in this case) that wants to be washed with flattering, fairly even golden light. We'd then look to the layers of background that will create views for those occupying the space. That means identifying a few features that we'd hit with a pop of light, often obliquely, to 
maximize texture while minimizing glare. After that, we'd look to add in secondary features with gentler, dimmer pools of light. And of course, all walkway areas would want to have sufficient ground lighting to prevent trips or stumbles. The end result is, when done correctly, the best example of that term used so often in lighting design: "layers of light."
BB: In terms of paint, we often start by holding a series of conversations with our clients. We listen to their vision and make suggestions based on the function of the space, the clients’ needs, and how they want to change the space. 
MPH: Matt, what are some things a lighting designer might need to take into consideration when designing an outdoor space?
MR: Aside from waterproofing constraints, lighting outside spaces actually offer a great deal more flexibility than indoor environments. We have far more scale that we can leverage, and since there aren't necessarily opaque walls and ceilings, we can often take advantage of "borrowed" landscape and vistas to add to the illuminated experience. Along with abundant darkness at night, we can add far more drama by choosing what's brightly featured and what can recede into deep shadow.
MPH: Beth, what about paint? What are some common misconceptions people have about choosing paint for their space?
BB: Clients often don’t consider how important light is to the selections of color. We suggest they try the color selected with a sample pint so they can see how the color reacts in their light and with their furnishings. One tip is to make sure all your light bulbs are the same type, color, and temperature. We also suggest, when coming into the store, they bring in samples of their carpet, tile, wood, 
Picture
Potomac Paint, ©CindyKanePhotography
counter-top fabrics, and definitely pictures so we can see the space or room. I also always suggest that clients buy premium paint and paint the recommended coats. Your paint colors will have depth and be truer to the color chip. 
​MPH: What do you envision for the final product of this project? How do you hope to make an impact?
MR: I think there's a definite goal of creating something that reflects the best of European and South American street cafe culture, with the funkiness and distinct character that makes the Cowboy Cafe such a great part of the Lee Highway neighborhood experience. If we do our job right, we'll be able to make something that, while completely new, will also feel natural and like it's been a part of Cowboy Cafe for years and years. My favorite part of a project like this is that we can make a great impact in our own neighborhood. Being able to support a partner on Lee Highway is amazing, and anything we can do to help elevate the look and feel of the corridor will create a great experience for our neighbors and friends.
BB: Agreed! I love that we are improving our local area with color and art. Blank walls are now inspiring!  
​MPH: As exciting as this project is, it was, of course, triggered by the COVID-19 shutdown. How are both of your businesses faring during this time?
Picture
©CindyKanePhotography
BB: Being an essential business we remain open during this crisis. Our sales have been off slightly, but we are very fortunate that all of our employees are healthy and safe. Every day we take precautions to clean the stores, provide gloves for those who need to select color chips, and have hand sanitizer for our customers’ use. We also now offer curbside pick- up for paint and delivery too. 
MR: We've been doing the best that we can - during the full quarantine, we were working with our customers virtually by leveraging Zoom, phone calls, and facetime. It's hard to substitute for the in-person experience of working together, particularly when you're working on something as experience-based as lighting. Now that we have our showrooms open on an appointment-only basis, we're able to have our customers back in to see, feel, and experience lighting and fixtures so that we can more easily speak to our goals and understanding of what we can actually achieve.
MPH: How might the greater Arlington community be able to support you both? Why is shopping local so important? 
​MR: If anything, stopping by for a visit to our new space would be great. We've never been able to offer the cutting edge environment that we can now, blending art, technology, and design to create a space in which you can understand and experience light in an entirely different way. The best way to shed our old reputation of just selling "things" is for folks to see it for folks to see it for themselves so that, whenever it's time for them 
Picture
©CindyKanePhotography
or their friends to rethink their lighting, they think of us.
​BB: Potomac Paint offers a wide variety of design services and products - everything from reupholstery fabrics, wallpaper and window treatments to paint chips and in store or in home design consultations. We love and appreciate the support of our community. Keep it local and we will all be strong together!
MPH: Thank you both again, so much, for agreeing to chat about all this. We’re so excited about the next steps in the project and to be working alongside Lee Highway businesses to create something special! Best of luck to the both of you. 

Connect with Our Sponsors

Dominion Lighting
Matt Rowan, VP Residential Lighting
mrowan@dominionelectric.com
www.dominionlighting.com
Potomac Paint
Beth Boggs, Design Manager
​bboggs@potomacpaint.com
www.potomacpaint.com
Esoarc Architects
Pamela Gillen, Founding Principal
pgillen@esoarc.com
www.esoarc.com
 Cindy Kane Photography
Cindy Kane, Owner & Photographer
celliskane@gmail.com  www.cindykanephotography.com
LHA's Placemaking Salon
Ginger Brown, Executive Director
ginger.brown@leehighwayalliance.com
www.leehighwayalliance.com
Arlington Arts
​
Jim Byers, Marketing Director
Jbyers@arlingtonva.us
www.arts.arlingtonva.us
0 Comments

MasPaz Creates "Community" at Cowboy Cafe

7/2/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
©CindyKanePhotography
Growing up across the street from Oakridge Elementary School, MasPaz spent his days creating art. “I was always drawing as a child” says the artist. He remembers copying comic books in his bedroom and drawing in school. In high school, he picked up a camera and began dabbling in photography, “it was the first time [he] felt like [he] was good at something (art related)” he 
explained. Encouraged and supported by his parents, MasPaz attended George Mason with the intention to study art and photography, but as technology grew and become more easily attainable, he worried photography was a dying art and went into 3D modeling.

After graduation, MasPaz moved to New York City to work for a design firm, but soon realized that the sedentary office life was not for him. Inspired to create and meet people, he went on to work in a printing shop in the city, sell t-shirts on the street, worked for Nike as a t-shirt designer, and was hired by the MOMA to work on a set of graphic design installations. He even, at one point, ran a graffiti gallery, called 100B, in the city where he met and befriended “old school artists.” It was in New York that he began his relationship with graffiti art – a relationship that continues to impact his work today.
MasPaz was eventually invited by a friend to go to Brazil and paint boats, an opportunity the artist couldn’t turn down. He lived and worked in Rio de Janeiro for three months where he worked not only on the boats but on murals across the city. “It’s amazing” he said of the city, “you can paint murals anywhere you want.” He spent his
Picture
 time in Brazil learning new techniques and styles, collaborating, and sharing techniques and ideas with fellow artists. He later traveled across South America, putting these new skills to work.
​Upon returning home to the DMV in 2012, the name MasPazwas officially born. He was inspired by a stencil he used in South America that said MasPaz,which translates to More Peace. “I liked the meaning and message of the name” said the artist. He made a website, got a trademark, and started promoting his Instagram. 
​Since then, MasPaz has been working regularly across not only the DMV, but the entire East Coast. He often paints murals that depict scenery of nature and mother earth. “The land we’re walking on, the sun, the earth…it’s all sacred” said MasPaz, “I try to include that in my artwork.” His latest work is a mural entitled “Community” painted on the side of Lee Highway’s Cowboy Café.

Connect with Our Sponsors

Picture
©CindyKanePhotography
Dominion Lighting
Matt Rowan, VP Residential Lighting
mrowan@dominionelectric.com
www.dominionlighting.com
Potomac Paint
Beth Boggs, Design Manager
​bboggs@potomacpaint.com
www.potomacpaint.com
Esoarc Architects
Pamela Gillen, Founding Principal
pgillen@esoarc.com
www.esoarc.com
 Cindy Kane Photography
Cindy Kane, Owner & Photographer
celliskane@gmail.com  www.cindykanephotography.com
LHA's Placemaking Salon
Ginger Brown, Executive Director
ginger.brown@leehighwayalliance.com
www.leehighwayalliance.com
Arlington Arts
​
Jim Byers, Marketing Director
Jbyers@arlingtonva.us
www.arts.arlingtonva.us
1 Comment

Restaurants Move to Create More "Parklets"

7/1/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
In the last decade, cities have begun giving up asphalt parking spots and creating "parklets" - nuggets of public space for pedestrians to enjoy a meal, play games, or relax in a touch of greenery. With just a few essentials (grass sod, flower pots at the perimeter, twinkle lights above, and a couple of tables), a parking lot can become a
street café and a place for the community to gather. Parklets have continuous benefits to not only the community, but to the businesses nearby. By allowing for moments of delight, serenity and respite, parklets bring the community together while allowing adjacent businesses to reap increased profits. 

​Utilizing space that was previously designated as a parking area has become popular as local restaurants begin to open up - while, of course, complying with the COVID-19 physical distancing requirements. This change allows restaurants to welcome their customers back safely, while encouraging future benefits for the community and surrounding businesses. 

As Governor Northam allowed for restaurants to begin opening their doors, Jim Barnes, co-owner of Cowboy Café, jumped on this new trend, turning the parking lot adjacent to the restaurant into outdoor seating for the many loyal Cowboy Café customers returning. However, Barnes wanted to give his faithful customers something more than just tables in a parking lot. Inspired by the incredible diversity of Miami’s Wynwood murals, Jim, with the Lee Highway Alliance Placemaking Salon, implemented a mural by MasPaz for the parking lot wall, added dynamic lighting by Dominion Lighting, and installed other amenities such as plants and screening from the road.  ​

Stop by Cowboy Café in the coming weeks to see how a little creativity can turn a parking lot into something so much more.

Connect with Our Sponsors

Dominion Lighting
Matt Rowan, VP Residential Lighting
mrowan@dominionelectric.com
www.dominionlighting.com
Potomac Paint
Beth Boggs, Design Manager
​bboggs@potomacpaint.com
www.potomacpaint.com
Esoarc Architects
Pamela Gillen, Founding Principal
pgillen@esoarc.com
www.esoarc.com
 Cindy Kane Photography
Cindy Kane, Owner & Photographer
celliskane@gmail.com  www.cindykanephotography.com
 LHA's Placemaking Salon
Ginger Brown, Executive Director
ginger.brown@leehighwayalliance.com
www.leehighwayalliance.com
Arlington Arts
​
Jim Byers, Marketing Director
Jbyers@arlingtonva.us
www.arts.arlingtonva.us
0 Comments

Cowboy Cafe: A Lee Highway Placemaking Project

6/26/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Jim Barnes (R) and Cowboy Cafe co-owners I ARLNow
Before Jim Barnes and his partners became owners of Cowboy Café, they were regulars at the Lee Highway legacy business. Growing up in Arlington, Barnes and his friends would make visits after school, and later, after opening Lost Dog Cafe, would stop by Cowboy Café after closing down for the evening. Upon learning that their friends, and then Cowboy Café owners, Zac and Matt  
​Culbertson were selling the business, Barnes and his partners decided to purchase the beloved Café in 2011. Because they recognized the special history of this dive bar (one of the last ones in Arlington), they didn’t change much, in fact they still have many of the same employees that worked there before they owned it. 

As with the rest of Arlington businesses, Cowboy Café closed its doors in March. However, with the passing of Temporary Outdoor Seating Area (TOSA) permits, the owners have been able to welcome customers to their new outdoor seating area, formerly known as Cowboy Café’s parking lot. “Arlington’s restaurants have made huge sacrifices to protect the health and safety our community. TOSAs are a way to help our small businesses welcome back diners and patrons consistent with state directives and public health guidance." said County Board Member, Katie Cristol. "We’re grateful for their partnership and all they do to make our Arlington, and Lee Highway, a special place” 

The outdoor seating has been a successful addition to Cowboy Cafe. So much so, in fact, that it has inspired Barnes to move forward with an idea he had a few years ago - to transform the area into a welcoming and visually intriguing outdoor space for the Arlington community. 
For the last few years, Barnes and his wife have been living in both Arlington and Fort Lauderdale, FL and have spent a great deal of time in his wife’s native country of Panama as well as the city of Miami. “They take walls and spaces that you’d think couldn’t be converted from something plain and turn it into something beautiful” 
Picture
​said Barnes, speaking about murals in the two cities and Panama. “The art has brought business, beauty, and positivity into the communities.” A few years ago, when visiting Miami’s Wynwood Walls, Barnes had the idea to create a mural on Cowboy Café’s empty parking lot brick wall. The idea has been just an idea since then, but, ironically, the COVID-19 shutdown and subsequent TOSA have allowed him to finally move forward and turn his idea into reality. 

In recent weeks, Barnes and LHA have been working to put together a team of other Lee Highway businesses - Dominion Electric, Potomac Paint, and Esoarc Architects – to take on the project of creating an outdoor space and mural at Cowboy Café (those interested in following the process can visit LHA's Placemaking Page). Soon after, artist and Arlington native, MasPaz, was commissioned to create the mural. The mural design, inspired by MasPaz’ recent work with Arlington Arts’ Words to Art program, is called “Community.” 
Picture
©CindyKanePhotography
Wednesday, June 24 marked the beginning of the project coming to life. MasPaz, accompanied by an assistant, set up a projection of the mural design on the empty brick wall and began to ​​paint. Each day, the mural comes a little more alive, with passersby seeing the additions of vibrant colors and depictions of nature and community. 

Follow Along to See What's Next:
Next week LHA will reveal the finished mural and explore the design process with Pamela Gillen, retail architect from Esocarc Architecture, Matt Rowan, lighting expert and designer with Dominion Lighting, and design manager Beth Boggs from Potomac Paint! ​

Connect with Our Sponsors

Dominion Lighting
Matt Rowan, VP Residential Lighting
mrowan@dominionelectric.com
www.dominionlighting.com
Potomac Paint
Beth Boggs, Design Manager
​bboggs@potomacpaint.com
www.potomacpaint.com
Esoarc Architects
Pamela Gillen, Founding Principal
pgillen@esoarc.com
www.esoarc.com
 Cindy Kane Photography
Cindy Kane, Owner & Photographer
celliskane@gmail.com  www.cindykanephotography.com
LHA's Placemaking Salon
Ginger Brown, Executive Director
ginger.brown@leehighwayalliance.com
www.leehighwayalliance.com
Arlington Arts
​
Jim Byers, Marketing Director
Jbyers@arlingtonva.us
www.arts.arlingtonva.us
0 Comments

Community – A New Mural by MasPaz

6/26/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Community, a new mural by MasPaz at The Cowboy Cafe, evolved out of a project by the Arlington Art Truck, a program of Arlington Arts. Unlike most Art Truck projects, designed as public interactions, Words to Art engages audiences virtually through social media. The first round occurred during four weeks in May at the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic in the Washington metropolitan area. Each Monday, participants were asked to post 
one word expressing their feelings and perception of life in quarantine on Arlington Arts’ Instagram, Facebook or Twitter pages. Arlington artists Sushmita Mazumdar (Buckingham), David Amoroso (Douglas Park), Maribeth Egan (Ballston/Virginia Square), Kate Fleming (Maywood) and MasPaz (Arlington Ridge) then each selected a word, turned it into art, and shared it back.

Seeing the artists’ expression of our words allows us to ponder our shared experience while navigating the unknown territory of this pandemic. The finished Words to Artworks are posted here.
The mural commissioned by The Cowboy Cafe is based on one of the four artworks created for Words to Art by artist MasPaz. MasPaz chose the word COMMUNITY that was posted by Barbara Radwan Wiehe (FB) and Alexandra Jabbarpour (IG). He states, “I chose digital illustration as my medium ​to represent a heartless system, where all we have is each other. 
Picture
#WeKeepUsSafe.” The mural represents the important role we all play in building community. It depicts a community member holding the neighborhood in her hands, patiently awaiting the peace dove to arrive. MasPaz is a muralist, art educator and conservationist who lives in Arlington Ridge.

Words to Art is a program of Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development, which delivers public activities as Arlington Arts. Arlington Arts worked together with Lee Highway Alliance to install the mural this summer.   
0 Comments

Twenty-Two Lee Highway Businesses to Receive Small Business Emergency GRANTs

6/24/2020

0 Comments

 
Earlier this month, Arlington  County awarded 394 businesses with the Small Business Emergency GRANT (Giving Resiliency Assets Near Term). The GRANT program provides financial assistance to Arlington’s small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The GRANT funds were designed to bridge the gap to provide near-term relief for businesses and nonprofits, some of whom have experienced delays or limitations with federal relief initiatives.

Congratulations to the following twenty-two Lee Highway businesses!


American Nail Salon
​Bob & Edith's
Chasin Tails 
Chesapeake Bagel Bakery 
Child's Play Toys and Books
Christine Reardon-Davis, D.M.D 
Company Flowers 
Cowboy Cafe 
Days Inn 
Facets Fine Jewelry 
La Moo Creamery, LLC 
Lebanese Taverna 
Maya Bistro 
Moore's Barber Shop 
Pamela Wright Interiors 
Pastries by Randolph 
Salon Joseph 
Sport Fair 
Sterling Picture Framers, Inc.
Philippine Oriental Market & Deli 
Protea Diamonds
Time for a Walk
0 Comments

Tribute To A Citizen Extraordinaire: George Keating

6/24/2020

5 Comments

 
"The challenge of leadership is to be strong but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not a bully; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly." Jim Roh
Picture

​George Keating, who suddenly passed away on June 22, met all of those challenges. The President of the Waverly Hills Civic Association (WHCA), a Member of the Lee Highway Alliance’s Community Advisory Committee (LHA CAC), and a Member of the Plan Lee Highway Community Forum, George was an inspirational community organizer and civic leader.
Tyler Wilson, Past President of WHCA, remarked after George’s passing:“Every successful community needs a few people with initiative, motivation and the energy to focus on the greater good and to create a sense of togetherness.  George had all those qualities and much more, and all of us in Waverly Hills will miss his decency, his enthusiasm and his leadership.”
 Other friends and neighbors, experiencing shock and heartbreak over his death, referred to George as "one of the most decent men I’ve known" and a "fine gentleman and wise and caring leader."  “If Waverly Hills had had a mayor, there is no one who could have done it better than George.”


A graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Minnesota, George was active for decades in his neighborhood and led the fight to get a sidewalk in front of his house. In 2013, he was an advisor to the Waverly Hills Neighborhood Conservation Plan. He retired in December of 2014 from a long career in publishing. Every year after that, from 2015-2020, he worked tirelessly for his community, including maintaining the two traffic circles on Utah Street. In 2018, after serving as Vice President for two years, George became President of the WHCA.   
George did the research and tenaciously led the way, advocating for neighborhood improvements like storm water management after the devastating floods in 2018 and July 2019, improving streetlights, and taking charge of positive additions to Woodstock Park. Those improvements included a working water fountain, a Free Little Library (George praised his friend, Sarah Shortall, for 
Picture
the idea and Caroline Caterini for her beautiful art work), additional picnic tables, and colorful Adirondack chairs (picture above). When it came to participation, George didn’t just talk about helping – he tackled the issue immediately and everyone in the neighborhood benefited.   ​
Picture
On the broader Arlington front, he chaired the committee that re-named Washington & Liberty High School, and he ensured that the Safe Walk to Glebe School continued to be implemented (never forgetting to give credit to Neighborhood Conservation representatives, Alex and Paul). George was very active in working with Cherrydale and helping LHA with the Artis Senior Living approval 
earlier this year. As Ginger Brown, LHA's Executive Director said:  "George truly believed in housing for all ages and income levels."

In addition to his successful advocacy with the County, George had a keen sense of humor and liked to have fun. An expert on bourbon, he and Dave raised money for LHA by enthusiastically offering tastings at the Broadview fundraiser. Happy and hardworking, he and his wife, Ellen, volunteered for nearly every event that Waverly Hills has celebrated, including the Woodstock Park Festival, Pizza and Democracy in the Park, Election Day Bake Sales, Oktoberfest at the Marymount Farmers Market, Light the Night Halloween Festival, Halloween and Holiday Décor Contests, and Selfies with Santa, where George dressed as an elf. 


George emailed nearly every week, and below are some quotes that express his concern for others and his volunteer spirit:
“Today I received the request below from Maggie Ryan, the school social worker at Langston High School Continuation Program located at Langston-Brown, to provide some financial support to five students in the program…I think that this is a worthwhile request for WHCA to consider. Therefore, I move to propose that WHCA offer each of these five students $50 supermarket gift cards.”  (Of course, the WHCA strongly supported his idea.)
“The Halloween Parade (2017) was a great success thanks to the organizational efforts of Kate and Morgan. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun marching to a wonderful monster mash soundtrack.”  
 
“This year’s (2018) Halloween parade was a great success with a good turnout. The rain departed and allowed the little trick or treaters to show off their costumes. In addition to the usual collection of characters we had a special visit from a dinosaur.”
Picture
After the Waverly Bakers’ 2018 Election Day Bake Sale, where George and Ellen stood and sold baked goods for five hours in the cold November air in front of Glebe School, George wrote, with a twinkle in his eye: “What a great result. However don’t tell anyone how much fun the three of us had at the bake sale. We don’t want anyone to be jealous.”  

Last December, George wrote a ‘State of the Neighborhood Report, thanking everyone for their community spirit. With regard to Plan Lee Highway, George wrote: “Having attended many of these meetings, I would urge you to become involved in this project…”
 
As we sat in George’s garden last week, enjoying lovely flowers and interesting conversation, with stories of heritage and history sprinkled into community lore, we looked at George and Ellen and thought: “What a wonderfully caring and supportive partnership.” Let us continue to think of Ellen and our community in the months and years ahead – that is what George would have wanted.  
 Farewell dear George, those special memories of you that we all share will always bring smiles, but if only we could have you back for just a little while.  As George sometimes said at the end of an email:  “Regards to all and go Caps (and Gophers)!”

Sandi Chesrown, VP, WHCA
Paul Holland, VP, WHCA
John Shortall, Secretary, WHCA ​
5 Comments

Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do Is Still Kicking

6/23/2020

0 Comments

 
As Virginia enters Phase 2 of reopening, many Lee Highway businesses are beginning to open their doors to the public. However, some businesses (gyms, studios, etc) are not yet there. Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do, Lee Highway's premier Tae Kwon Do studio, may not be opening its doors quite yet, but they are reinventing how students can continue to study the martial art from the comfort of their homes.
LHA's Communications Manager spoke with Barry Shakelford, one of the school's owners, about the history of Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do, what COVID-19 has been like for them, and how the community can lend their support. 
Picture
Maia Potok-Holmes: Barry, thank you so much for chatting with me!
Barry Shakelford: ​Thank you for taking the time to do so!
MPH: Well let's get straight to it. Can you tell me a little bit about the history of Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do? How did it get its start? 
BS: Jhoon Rhee, who was known as "the Father of American Tae Kwon Do,” was the first to teach Tae Kwon Do in the United States, began his legendary
career here more than 50 years ago. A 10th-degree Black Belt, Grandmaster
Rhee was trained directly by Choi Hong Hi, the South Korean army general who originally developed this modern martial art. After coming to America in the 1950s, Grandmaster Rhee befriended Bruce Lee and introduced the celebrated martial artist to Tae Kwon Do. Rhee also taught Muhammed Ali, Jack Anderson, George Allen, Sr., Bob Livingston, Tony Robbins, Jack Valenti, and more than 300 U.S. Senators and House Representatives. Additionally, he was the creator of martial arts "safety gear" for sparring.  He was instrumental in revolutionizing the martial arts industry so that everyone could enjoy its benefits. He made the art form available to individuals of all ages - from 4 to 84 - not just "tough guys" in their twenties who want to learn how to "fight."
MPH: And how did you get involved in the martial art and in Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do?
BS: I began a different (traditional) style of Tae Kwon Do over 40 years ago and began teaching over 35 years ago.  I met Grand Master Rhee in college at VA Tech and fell in love with his unique Tae Kwon Do system. The rest, as they say, is "history."  I also happened to marry his niece (also a Black Belt) and now, almost 35 years later, have two teenage children who are also both Black Belts.  I opened the school in Arlington in 2005 (partnering with Jhoon Rheestalwart Master Francis 
Pineda shortly after). I was working in the mental health field (as a
Picture
Licensed Professional Counselor) for about a dozen years before I decided to open the school, and while I felt I was doing helpful work in that field, I feel I make more of an impact now; providing a sort of "preventative" mental health training... teaching kids discipline, confidence, respect, etc. Our Mission Statement is "Teaching Life Skills through Martial Arts."  ​​
MPH: How has the COVID-19 shutdown impacted Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do?
BS: We have always adhered to stringent cleaning protocols, but in early March we increased their frequency, etc. We also made adjustments to some of our class protocols such as no longer shaking hands or giving high fives. As things progressed, it became clear that we would most likely be required to close our doors. When Arlington made the announcement to cancel the public schools, we closed immediately, although it was not necessarily a "requirement" at that time. It was simply the right thing to do. Our last day of "in-studio classes" was March 13. By the middle of that following week, we had created tons of training videos and uploaded them to our website so that students could continue to practice their skills. Within a few days, the videos had been watched over 300 times, and currently have over 2,000 view, with approximately 200 hours of "watch time."  Although the videos were a big success, we knew we had to offer more. The very next week (on March 23) we began offering live-stream classes through Zoom for all of our ranks and ages. We currently have over 300 students attending online each week. We are conducting our stripe testing (small step progression) and full Rank Testing online. We also mail or deliver stripes and new belts to students' homes so they receive a tangible rewards for their hard work! 
MPH: That's amazing! What has it been like for you and your business parter to make the switch to an online platform?
BS: 
Like everyone else who has made the switch, we've had to make lots of adjustments! We've not only had to become experts in Tae Kwon Do, but experts in technology too. We have our lead instructor of course, but then also utilize instructors in the "background" providing "tech support" (i.e., helping students login, entering attendance and checking for stripe progression, creating "break out" rooms on Zoom to provide students more individual attention, etc.) Also, finding the room in our homes to fully demonstrate techniques has been challenging! But there have definitely been benefits too. With the success of our online classes, we see this as an opportunity to reach students who may never have been able to attend our classes, i.e. students who are out of the area, students who are immunocompromised, etc.
MPH: Speaking of your students....what has this transition been like for them? How have they taken it?
Picture
BS: Our Jhoon Rhee community has been amazing! They have rolled with the punches, have fully engaged with our online training, and are doing great! We're so proud of everything they've been doing.
MPH: That's so wonderful to hear. While it's phenomenal what you've all been able to do online, are there ways the
greater Arlington and Lee Highway community can support the school?
BS: Although the "Jhoon Rhee" name is known internationally in martial arts circles, we are individually owned and therefore are one of the many small businesses being negatively impacted by this crisis. We would like the community to know that if they are interested in our martial arts classes, they do not have to wait until we resume our in-studio classes to start. We offer a complementary week of virtual classes to all ages (4 and up) in hopes that students will engage with us now!
MPH: What's your vision for the future of Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do, after the pandemic has passed?
BS: I
 know that with the strength and support of our amazing community, we will continue to be able to offer the unique brand of martial arts training that Jhoon Rhee started all those years ago. In fact, with the ability to provide classes, training, and belt progression virtually, we will be able to offer our services to individuals who we wouldn't normally be able to reach. Grand Master Rhee's son, Master Chun Rhee, owns and operates the Jhoon Rhee school in Falls Church and is having the same sort of success we are with his virtual classes. We plan to discuss how we can continue to branch out and reach even more students with this new way of virtual teaching.
MPH: One final question. What is your favorite part of working at and owning Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do?
BS: It's surprising, sometimes, how people can still love the same "work" for over 40 years (I became 'burned out' on the clinical side of mental health after 10 years). But, even after all of this time, I simply love teaching the students.  After a stressful day of running the 'business side' (especially now dealing with new business challenges, PPP loans, etc.) when I get to see students' faces, their progression, and the smiles after giving them praise for their hard work... that is definitely the best part!
MPH: I can imagine! Well, thank you so much for speaking with me Barry. Best of luck to you and Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do! 
BS: Thanks so much for the opportunity.  
​
Picture
0 Comments

Black Parents of Arlington Fights for Equity in APS

6/17/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Black Parents of Arlington has joined the ranks of impactful organizations fighting for equity in Arlington Public Schools (APS). The organization, founded in 2017 by Whytni Kernodle, Zakiya Worthey, and Adora Williams, was originally intended to be a social space for the parents of black children in Arlington. Despite the 
vast array of ​neighborhoods and schools in the county, these parents wanted to create a place to connect with and support one another, and to discuss the unique experience of raising a black child. However, in 2018, as these parents became more aware of the disparities and different types of inequity present in APS, they decided to transition to an advocacy group. 
 
In recent months, Black Parents of Arlington has dedicated time and resources to gather information and statistics from the APS dashboard, and to visualize the different experiences of white and black students in APS. Disparities in discipline and gifted students programs are just a few of the issues the organization is tackling. Their numbers show that 40% of black students are disciplined more than white students. Only 21% of black students are asked to join the gifted students program, compared to 46% of white students. And the numbers increase in schools with a higher white population.

Black Parents of Arlington has utilized these numbers to create a plan that would create a more equitable and welcome environment for children like theirs. They have been working with the School Board, APS’ Superintendent, HR, and the Department of Teaching and Learning to develop new programs. They hope to create cultural competency and anti-racist trainings for all staff members, to hire more teachers of color, and increase the number of mental health professionals in schools, particularly those who cater to more diverse populations with higher rates of discipline. “We believe in what Arlington can do” said Kernodle, “APS is and can be the best, but it must be the best for all students.”

Kernodle and her organization are excited for the community to join them in their fight. “Those with black children and are interested in joining can reach out to me directly. We are here for them” says Kernodle. Black Parents of Arlington also welcome those without black children who are eager to lend support. They are soon beginning to hold virtual events for allies, working with organizations like 
Facing Race in Arlington, an organization, led by Emily Vincent, that serves as a mechanism for white Arlingtonians to learn how to live an 
Picture
intentionally anti-racist life, to understand more about white privilege, and to discuss ways they can use that privilege for good. And of course, Black Parents of Arlington always welcomes donations (through their PayPal account, @bpofa), which they utilize to offer funding to children who do not have the means access tutoring, especially during a pandemic and virtual learning. 
 
For more information about Black Parents of Arlington and additional ways to get involved, visit their website. Readers can also sign up to be a part of the Facing Race in Arlington email group and view their resource list. 
0 Comments

NAACP of Arlington Encourages Adults, Teens, and Children to Get Involved

6/16/2020

0 Comments

 
Formed in 1909, the NAACP is the United States’ oldest civil rights organization. They pride themselves on this fact, noting that leaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson got their start with the organization. But more so, they are proud that in their 110 years of existence, they have continued to push forward racial justice reforms and legislation, working to create a more just and equitable United States.
Picture
Arlington’s NAACP Branch, led by President Julius "JD" Spain, Sr., has been around since 1940. Spain, assisted by members and leaders of the branch, works closely with Arlington and Virginia leaders, Senators, Council Members, and more to set new laws in place and designate programs to tackle issues such as prison reform, political action, and women’s equality. ​

​​As the video of George Floyd’s death surfaced and protesters took to the streets, many Americans have been asking how they can do more to support the black community. Spain’s suggestion? Become a member of and donate to your local NAACP. Not only does the funding help to support the organization’s work, but volunteering a few hours a week, or a month, helps to push forward legislation and pressure local and state officials. In short, it helps communities seek important change.  ​

​What can members of the Arlington NAACP Chapter expect to help influence? Currently, Spain and his team are working closely with the Chief of Police, County Board, Congressman Don Beyer, Senator Warner, and others to implement a new standard of policing in Arlington County where all members
of law enforcement are required to wear body cameras. Although still working to set funding aside for these new regulations (a petition to help support this project can be found here), Spain is hoping to have them in place by January 2021. ​Additionally, the Chapter is working to set up a civilian review board - a group of community members who would evaluate arrests and investigations by police
Picture
to encourage accountability.

The Chapter is also working to tackle racial injustice in Arlington Public Schools, is holding events to encourage Black communities to fill out their Census, registering community members to vote and get engaged in local and federal elections, re-evaluating the legality of chokeholds, and is hoping to offer further de-escalation training. 

The Chapter holds virtual meetings once a month at 7:30pm that are open and free to the community. It’s a great way to engage in dialogue about current issues, listen to speakers, and, perhaps, explore the option of membership. 
​
While these are excellent ways to get engaged in racial justice as an adult, how can teenagers or children get involved? 
Picture
Spain is itching to develop a Youth Council at the Arlington Branch. NAACP offers Youth Councils for individuals under 18, as well as “Youth In College” groups, that work to mentor members and teach them how to advocate for social justice. ​They expose the members to different levels of activism, offer scholarship opportunities, and plan trips to visit other cities and see how those Youth Councils are engaging in their communities. To 
develop a Youth Community, there needs to be 20-25 individuals interested in joining (with a $12-$15 yearly fee) as well as an adult member to lead and monitor the group. 
 
Ultimately, Spain believes that to create change, the Arlington community must build a culture of inclusivity and diversity. Policies are an excellent start, but "we must work to enforce that culture, have zero tolerance for those who don’t live by those values, and join together to create the community we envision. If you really want to make a difference, come join us” says Spain. “Working together in unity is necessary to accomplish important work.”
 
For more information about Arlington’s NAACP Chapter, membership, and ways to get involved in racial justice, visit their website today.  
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

LEE HIGHWAY ALLIANCE
4532 Lee Highway, Suite 519
​​Arlington, VA 22207 
​(703) 261-4744
©2019   All Rights Reserved