Mayor Derrick Wood’s Remarks

Town Council Meeting – March 5, 2024

Our vision for Dumfries is simple but powerful: to have a well-managed government, a thriving downtown, and a community that is engaged with its town. Everything we do—every decision we make—is centered around this vision, and February was a strong month of progress toward that goal.

February Accomplishments

We had the opportunity to celebrate Black History in several meaningful ways last month. The Town of Dumfries hosted a Black History Program, and I want to extend my appreciation to our staff for putting together such an impactful event.

I also had the honor of speaking at Potomac High School’s Black History Program alongside Delegate Candi King, Supervisor Andrea Bailey, and Superintendent Dr. LaTanya McDade. We spoke on the power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, reinforcing to our youth that their differences are not just accepted but celebrated. It was a powerful moment, and I’m proud to see our students embracing the strength that comes from diversity.

In addition, I had the pleasure of attending Forest Park High School’s Multicultural Festival—and let me just say, at this rate, I think I’ve spent more time in schools without my kids than I did when they were actually in school! But in all seriousness, events like these highlight the rich cultural fabric of our community, and it was great to see so many young people embracing and sharing their heritage.

Advocacy & Legislative Work

Last month, Councilman Young and I had the privilege of representing Dumfries on Capitol Hill and at the Black History Commonwealth Coffee Event with our U.S. Senators and Virginia Congressional Delegation, including Congressman Eugene Vindman. One key takeaway from these meetings was that we can and should put pressure on this administration to listen to our needs.

Many of you have reached out, asking what we are doing to support our residents during these federal workforce actions. I want to be clear: we hear you.

While we continue to advocate at every level, I want to ensure our residents are aware that Prince William County, of which we are a part and to which we pay taxes, has created a dedicated website with resources to help those affected. I encourage everyone impacted to visit that page and take advantage of the assistance available.

The resource page, provided by the Prince William County Office of Communications and Engagement, is titled:
"Resources for Residents Impacted by Federal Workforce Actions. "

Since the website link is quite long, I will ask our Town staff to add it as a link on our website and share it through our town app to ensure easy access for everyone.

Business Growth & Community Engagement

February also marked a great milestone for our town with the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Dumfries Workout Anytime Gym. Health and wellness are a top priority for us, and having this new facility is another step toward making Dumfries a healthier community. I can personally say that a few of us up here on the dais have already started working out there, so if you see us in the gym, don’t be surprised!

This past week was also Read Across America Week, and as always, it was a joy for me to visit Dumfries Elementary to read to the second and third graders. Shout-out to Councilwoman Peterson, who reached out and made sure I got to be part of it this year. I also had the privilege of visiting another elementary school—big thanks to our PIO for setting that up! I got to speak to kindergarten through fifth grade about what it means to be a Mayor. And let me tell you, if you want to learn patience, spend a day in an elementary school cafeteria! Every ten minutes, a new group of kids rotated in, and I had the chance to sit with them, listen, and answer questions. It was a great experience, and I love engaging with our students and future leaders. Potomac High School also had a Black History program where our Delegate King, Supervisor Bailey, Dr. McDade and I spoke on the power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our youth left out knowing that we celebrate their differences.

Looking Ahead – Women’s History Month & Nutrition Awareness Month

This month, we recognize Women’s History Month, and tonight, we will be honoring some incredible women’s organizations that continue to make a difference in our community. Later this month, we’ll also turn our focus to Nutrition Awareness Month, which ties directly into our commitment as a Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) community.

Closing – Food for Thought

I want to close with this: Nothing is permanent. Every season changes.

To our federal workforce members feeling the weight of uncertainty right now—I want to encourage you. This is a season. It will pass, and we will get through it together. Dumfries is here for you, and we will continue to support and advocate for you at every level.

Thank you, and let’s keep moving Dumfries forward.