Shape of the Region Conference

Opportunity & Economic Mobility

The Community Foundation hosts an annual Shape of the Region Conference each spring. Since its inception in 2018, the event has evolved into a platform that helps organize our collective efforts to co-create a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable region. Featuring some of Northern Virginia’s liveliest, most incisive thought leaders, the event also showcases national speakers and broader perspectives on our common challenges and themes.

See information about each of our conferences to date below.

2023 Shape of the Region Conference

Aging in Northern Virginia

On March 23, 2023, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, in partnership with 14 regional organizations, hosted the 6th annual Shape of the Region Conference to explore the issues facing our residents as we age. Contrary to popular perception, only 6.5 percent of older Northern Virginians move in a given year and only 2.6 percent of them leave the state. An overwhelming majority, therefore, “age-in-place,” and they constitute an ever-growing percent of the local demographic. Who are they, what do they need, and how can we help?

The full event can be accessed below, and more information, including access to our reports, funding sources and grant cycles on aging for our region can be found here.

Finding our Way Back to Mental Health: Designing a more accessible, equitable system in Northern Virginia

Co-Creating a New Northern Virginia An Emerging Vision of a More Inclusive, Equitable and Sustainable Region

The Economic Case for Inclusivity

The Business Case for Economic Mobility

Opportunity and Inequality

Questions?
Please contact Tara Nadel, Vice President of Marketing and Events.
703 879 7637 tara.nadel@CFNova.org

Featured Story

Shape of the Region 2023

Aging in Northern Virginia

On March 23, 2023, Elizabeth Hughes, Senior Director of Insight Region^®, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia's Center of Community Research, presented the findings from the report Growing Old Together in Northern Virginia at the annual Shape of the Region Conference. The report and the conference highlighted the complex challenges older Northern Virginians face, focusing on three questions that leaders across government, business, and non-profit can ask themselves in addressing these needs:

1. How do we make it easier to be a caregiver?
2. How do we increase the supply and affordability of senior housing?
3. How do we help individuals afford to age in place?

Over 350 people attended the conference online and in person, from a near complete cross section of civil society, including government officials, non-profit and foundation staff, social changemakers, business leaders, and representatives at the local, state, and federal level. The conference featured multiple panels of national and local experts for candid discussions of the challenges older Northern Virginians face, and what innovative ideas and opportunities may exist in addressing this critical issue that impacts everyone.