DPC Celebrates 99 Years, Honors Three Alexandria Changemakers
The Departmental Progressive Club recognized Robert Goss, Lucelle O’Flaherty and the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission during its September 25 anniversary celebration.
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Nearly a century after it was founded as a gathering place for Black federal employees who faced exclusion during segregation, the Departmental Progressive Club is still doing what it has long done best: bringing Alexandria together to recognize service, leadership and community spirit.
The historic club marked its 99th anniversary Friday, Sept. 25, with a celebration and three 2026 community awards. Robert Goss was named Member of the Year; Zebra Press photographer and community fixture Lucelle O’Flaherty received the Community Service Award; and the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission received a Community Service Award, accepted by its chair, Dana Colarulli.
City Councilmember Jacinta Greene, who attended the celebration, noted that many pivotal moments in Alexandria’s history are rooted in the club’s mission, advocacy and goals.
A Home for Advocacy and Fellowship
Founded in 1927, the Departmental Progressive Club emerged at a time when Black professionals working in federal departments had limited access to many social and civic institutions. The organization became a place for fellowship, professional connection and civic engagement—and, over time, a durable voice for equality and opportunity in Alexandria.
Today, the DPC remains based at 411 Gibbon St. in Old Town. Its nearly century-long record includes advocacy for fair housing and community development, as well as support for scholarships, youth mentorship and civic participation. The organization’s current mission combines its historic roots in Black professional life with a broader commitment to strengthening Alexandria through service and collaboration.
The milestone comes as the club moves toward its 100th anniversary in 2027—a rare anniversary for any Alexandria civic organization, and especially meaningful for one whose history is so closely tied to the city’s Black heritage and public life.
Three Honorees, One Community
Goss’s Member of the Year recognition celebrated his commitment to the club itself. O’Flaherty’s Community Service Award recognized her familiar face at countless Alexandria gatherings, where her camera and community-minded presence have helped The Zebra Press document the people and causes that make the city tick.
The Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission was also honored with a Community Service Award. Colarulli accepted on behalf of the commission, which advises the City on parks, recreation programs and facilities that serve Alexandrians of all ages.
The evening’s awards made the DPC’s larger point neatly: 99 years is not simply a number. It is the accumulated work of members, volunteers, public servants and neighbors who continue to invest in Alexandria—and make sure that service is seen.
Learn more about the Departmental Progressive Club at dpc1927.org.
