What Is the Opportunity Neighborhoods Initiative?
The Opportunity Neighborhoods Initiative unites residents, service providers, schools, and community partners to create shared goals and measurable progress for children, youth, and families across Fairfax County.
Together, we identify challenges, build on community strengths, and collaborate on real solutions that lead to equitable results, from early learning to career readiness.
Why it Matters
Fairfax County is stronger when families and communities grow together. Opportunity Neighborhoods partners focus on five shared goals that reflect what every family needs to thrive:
- Welcoming and Connected Communities
- Kindergarten-Ready Children
- Academically Successful Youth
- Career-Ready Young Adults
- Healthy Youth and Stable Families
By aligning around these outcomes, Opportunity Neighborhoods build lasting systems of equity and support.
How Opportunity Neighborhoods Works
Opportunity Neighborhoods use a collective impact model built on trust, shared data, and community leadership.
- Community-Driven: Residents and service providers identify local issues and root causes through an equity and trauma-informed lens.
- Collaborative: Partners co-design solutions, align goals, and share accountability.
- Strength-Based: Each site builds on local assets — meeting communities where they are.
- Data-Informed: Partners use data to track progress, measure results, and close information gaps.
- Coordinated: Efforts build on what already works to avoid duplication and maximize impact.
- Multi-Level: Residents and partners drive change across individuals, communities, and systems.
- Sustained: Relationship-building, advocacy, and capacity development are funded and prioritized.
Together, these practices form a coordinated network where every resident and organization contributes to shared success.
How United Community Supports the Initiative
As the lead nonprofit for Opportunity Neighborhoods in Mount Vernon, United Community works with local residents, schools, and partner organizations to:
- Strengthen relationships across schools, neighborhoods, and agencies.
- Coordinate programs that connect families with education, food, housing, and workforce resources.
- Empower resident leaders to take active roles in shaping equitable community transformation.
Together, we’re building stronger pathways for children and families across the Route 1 corridor and beyond.
Specific Area of Service: Prioritized communities in zip codes 22306 and 22309, and schools in the Mount Vernon and West Potomac pyramids that serve those communities
Learn More & Get Involved
To learn more about the Opportunity Neighborhoods Initiative or connect with the Mount Vernon site, email [email protected]
Ready to Learn More or Enroll?
A strong start leads to a lifetime of possibilities.
Whether you’re a parent seeking care or a supporter looking to give back, you can help shape brighter futures today.
