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Image for event: Backroom Deals in Our Backyards

Backroom Deals in Our Backyards

Author Talk with Miranda Spivack

2025-06-01 14:00:00 2025-06-01 15:00:00 America/New_York Backroom Deals in Our Backyards Join us for a discussion with author Miranda Spivack and activist Queenie Cox about the book Backroom Deals in our Backyards. Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Large Meeting Room

Sunday, June 01
2:00pm - 3:00pm

Add to Calendar 2025-06-01 14:00:00 2025-06-01 15:00:00 America/New_York Backroom Deals in Our Backyards Join us for a discussion with author Miranda Spivack and activist Queenie Cox about the book Backroom Deals in our Backyards. Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Large Meeting Room

Join us for a discussion with author Miranda Spivack and activist Queenie Cox about the book Backroom Deals in our Backyards.

Miranda Spivack's book, Backyard Deals in our Backyards, received a Publishers Weekly starred review which called it "a stunning survey of 'accidental activists' who faced down harm to their communities arising from malfeasance and deception in local government. Spivack argues that lack of transparency is the main avenue by which fraud and incompetence are able to flourish at the local level, and that the problem is growing, contributing to the erosion of the American public’s trust in democratic governance." The review concludes that her examples are "deeply upsetting, each one more indicative of a society whose priorities have gone dangerously out of whack than the last."

Miranda grew up in Fairfax County,  and went to St. Paul's nursery school in Alexandria, Hollin Hills Elementary, Bryant and Groveton before decamping for Sarah Lawrence College in New York, and eventually Yale Law School, where she was a journalism fellow. Most recently, she was an editor and reporter on the Metro staff of The Washington Post. You can read more about her at www.mirandaspivack.com

In addition to The Post, her work has appeared in The New York Times, Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, USAToday, the McClatchy Newspapers group and Washingtonian magazine. She is a four time grantee of the Fund for Investigative Journalism.

Queenie Cox, whose activism is featured in the book, is a native of Gum Springs, the oldest African American community in Fairfax County. She works tirelessly to enhance the quality of life for Gum Springs residents, aiming to achieve parity with other communities within the Mount Vernon Magisterial District. Queenie has served as the Mount Vernon representative on various Fairfax County boards and task forces.  Queenie has been acknowledged by various organizations for her community service to include Fairfax County Police Department and:

  • 1999 Lady Fairfax for Mount Vernon alongside Earl Flanagan as Lord Fairfax.
  • 2022-2023 Omega Psi Phi, Inc. Psi Alpha Alpha Chapter Citizen of the Year.
  • 2023-2024 National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Northern Virginia Chapter Ebone' Image Award for Community Service.

You can place a hold on a library copy of Backyard Deals in our Backyards here.  You can purchase a copy in advance of the event here.

AGE GROUP: | Teens | Seniors | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Summer Quest | Special Event | Local History | Author Talks |

TAGS: | author talk |

Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library

Phone: 703.746.1702
Fax: 703.746.1763

Hours
Mon, May 05 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, May 06 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, May 07 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, May 08 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, May 09 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, May 10 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, May 11 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Parking: The library has a large parking lot with 175 spaces.

Public Transit:

  • Metrorail: King Street Station (Yellow & Blue Lines 3.2 miles); Van Dorn Station (Blue Line 2.1 miles)
  • Metrobus: 29K/N, 21C
  • DASH Bus: 30, 32

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact jgregorio@alexlibraryva.org or call 703.746.1701 or TTY 703.746.1790.

Upcoming Events

Wed, May 07, 10:30am - 11:05am
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2

Wed, May 07, 11:30am - 12:05pm
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2

Wed, May 07, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Story Room
Do you want to practice reading aloud? Do you like dogs? Sign up for a 15-minute reading slot to read to a dog by calling (703) 746-1753 or by stopping by Beatley's Children's Desk. Ages 6-12.

Wed, May 07, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Large Meeting Room
This volunteer-led workshop provides a space for intermediate speakers to practice English and build confidence. No registration required. No certificates of completion are issued.

Thu, May 08, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Beginning English practice for English language learners. No registration needed or prior level of English. These workshops are led by volunteers and do not include certificates of completion.

Thu, May 08, 1:15pm - 2:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Baby storytime, plus opportunities to build relationships with other caretakers of young children! For ages 0-12 months, accompanied by an adult. After your first birthday, please attend 1s and 2s.

Thu, May 08, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Large Meeting Room
Join Miss Amy for stories, songs, movement, and activities just right for preschool children. Ages 3-5 with adult.

Thu, May 08, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Small Conference Room
NEW EXTENDED TIME! 3-5 PM! Attention all handcrafters! Join us to share what you are working on, see what others are creating, and just chat while we craft together!

Thu, May 08, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden,Large Meeting Room
Join Jorge Banales as he gives instruction on the Yang Style 24 Movement Tai Chi form on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. Free and open to the public.

Thu, May 08, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots -- and check out some of our coding books for kids! Ages 6-12.

Sat, May 10, 10:30am - 11:30am
Small Conference Room
Ages 12-18. Make a difference in your library and community by sharing your opinions, volunteering, and more!

Sat, May 10, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Picture Book Area
Check out the Library’s selection of tabletop games. (Ages 5-18) Echa un vistazo a la selección de juegos de mesa de la Biblioteca. (De 5 a 18 años) Área infantil de Beatley Library

Mon, May 12, 11:00am - 11:30am
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Children love to be outdoors! Join us in Beatley Central Library's beautiful outdoor Reading Garden for stories, songs and movement. Ages 0-5 with an adult.

Mon, May 12, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Small Conference Room
This volunteer-led workshop provides a space for intermediate speakers to practice English and build confidence. No registration required. No certificates of completion are issued.

Mon, May 12, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Large Meeting Room
Ages 12-18. Learn more about volunteering with Alexandria Library.

Tue, May 13, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Beginning English practice for English language learners. No registration needed or prior level of English. These workshops are led by volunteers and do not include certificates of completion.

Tue, May 13, 11:00am - 11:45am
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Meet your old friends and make new friends at an unstructured, outdoor playtime in the library's Reading Garden! Toys will be supplied. Ages 0-5 with an adult.

Tue, May 13, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Story Room
Join us for a play hour to build, create, and explore! Ages 5-12. Kids under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Únete a nosotros en una hora de juego para construir, crear y explorar. De 5 a 12 años.

Wed, May 14, 10:30am - 11:05am
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2

Wed, May 14, 11:30am - 12:05pm
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2

Wed, May 14, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Large Meeting Room
This volunteer-led workshop provides a space for intermediate speakers to practice English and build confidence. No registration required. No certificates of completion are issued.

Thu, May 15, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Beginning English practice for English language learners. No registration needed or prior level of English. These workshops are led by volunteers and do not include certificates of completion.

Thu, May 15, 1:15pm - 2:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Baby storytime, plus opportunities to build relationships with other caretakers of young children! For ages 0-12 months, accompanied by an adult. After your first birthday, please attend 1s and 2s.

Thu, May 15, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Large Meeting Room
Join Miss Amy for stories, songs, movement, and activities just right for preschool children. Ages 3-5 with adult.

Thu, May 15, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots -- and check out some of our coding books for kids! Ages 6-12.

Sat, May 17, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Picture Book Area
Check out the Library’s selection of tabletop games. (Ages 5-18) Echa un vistazo a la selección de juegos de mesa de la Biblioteca. (De 5 a 18 años) Área infantil de Beatley Library

Sat, May 17, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Attention all handcrafters! Join us to share what you are working on, see what others are creating, and just chat while we craft together!