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Image for event: The CHAT

Register 5 Seats Remaining

The CHAT

Change Happens with Alexandria Teens

2026-05-30 10:30:00 2026-05-30 12:00:00 America/New_York The CHAT Ages 14-19. Participate in this special recorded conversation about being a teen in Alexandria. Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Second Floor

Saturday, May 30
10:30am - 12:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-05-30 10:30:00 2026-05-30 12:00:00 America/New_York The CHAT Ages 14-19. Participate in this special recorded conversation about being a teen in Alexandria. Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Second Floor

Ages 14-19. Participate in this special recorded conversation about being a teen in Alexandria.

  • Are you between the ages of 14-19?
  • Do you live in Alexandria?
  • Do you have opinions about what it means to be a teen living here, how you spend your time, what you wish you could change?
  • Do you like freebies, food, and creative expression?

Join us for The CHAT, one of eight recorded small group (4-6 people) conversations taking place at Alexandria Libraries in April, May, and June!

Each conversation will be moderated by our teen Youth Fellow, recorded and uploaded into Cortico, a community conversations platform, and used to create an audio archive and roadmap for improving lives of Alexandria teens. During the conversation, you'll be able to eat provided snacks and participate in open-ended creation (think clay, painting, beading, and more!).

As a thank you for participating, each teen will take home their creative project and a goody bag including a $25 gift card!

Please note: All teens 14-17 must have their guardian complete a release/ permission form allowing collection of their recorded participation and future use by Alexandria Library, Cortico, MIT, and PBS Frontline. Permission slips will be emailed upon registration. Teens are only identified by their first names and may use pseudonyms. For more information, please contact El Simmons at esimmons@alexlibraryva.org.

The CHAT: Change Happens with Alexandria Teens is part of the Teen Dialogue Accelerator Grant Program and made possible by Cortico, in partnership with MIT Center for Constructive Communication and PBS Frontline. The Teen Dialogue Accelerator program is made up of 10 public libraries from across the country that are working to amplify teen voices by exploring emerging technologies and identifying crucial connections in their community conversations.

For more information on The CHAT and other conversation dates, visit https://alexlibraryva.org/chat.

Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library

jcahill@alexlibraryva.org
Phone: 703.746.1703
Fax: 703.746.1708
Branch manager
James Cahill

Hours
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Mon, Apr 06 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Apr 07 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Apr 08 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Apr 09 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Apr 10 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Apr 11 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Apr 12 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Parking: No library parking lot.  Street parking is available.  A paid parking lot is available on the 100 block of North Alfred Street. 

Public Transit:

  • Metrorail: Yellow and Blue lines at Braddock Road (1 mile) and King Street Stations (1.1 miles). 
  • Metrobus: A11, A12, F19
  • DASH Bus: 30, 31, Old Town Circulator
  • King Street Trolley:  King & Columbus

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

Upcoming Events

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Fri, Apr 10, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Sat, Apr 11, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Sat, Apr 11, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Second Floor
Join us for a "High Society" (1956) showing!

Sat, Apr 11, 11:00am - 3:00pm
Celebrate America 250 with board games about the states. Ages 6-12

Sat, Apr 11, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Outdoors
Manumission Tour Company will lead a 90-minute Black History walking tour leaving from outside Barrett Library.
Registration is now closed

Sat, Apr 11, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Second Floor
AWLA's Behavior and Training Manager will provide tips for living harmoniously with your dog or cat at home, answer specific questions about your pet, and chat about AWLA's Alexandria Animal Academy.

Sun, Apr 12, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Mon, Apr 13, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Rescheduled
Mon, Apr 13, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
New date Wednesday, April 22, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Let's eat pizza, talk about "Freewater" by Amina Luqman-Dawson and share additional recommendations for Historical Fiction books set in the United States of America!

Tue, Apr 14, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Tue, Apr 14, 10:30am - 10:45am
Youth Services Area
Start your morning with stories, rhymes, and songs in English and Spanish ¡Empieza su mañana con cuentos, rimas y canciones en inglés y español!

Tue, Apr 14, 11:00am - 11:35am
Youth Services Area
Just right for ages 0-23 months. Songs, games, movement activities, and bubbles.

Tue, Apr 14, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Second Floor
Ambassador (ret.) Richard D. Kauzlarich will review the current Administration's foreign policy as it affects relations with the states of the former Soviet Union and energy.

Wed, Apr 15, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Wed, Apr 15, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Youth Services Area
A lap-sit and playtime just for babies ages 0-12 months and their grownups.

Thu, Apr 16, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Thu, Apr 16, 11:00am - 11:40am
Youth Services Area
PreSchool Story Time celebrates our country with traditional songs and stories.

Thu, Apr 16, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Contribute to Barrett Branch’s fiber arts group making scarves to donate. Visit our display in honor of America250 and our work to build a community of care. Add your scarf to the collection.

Thu, Apr 16, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Second Floor
Looking to join a Dungeons and Dragons group? Look no further!

Cancelled
Thu, Apr 16, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Looking for a Dungeons and Dragons group? Look no further!

Fri, Apr 17, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Sat, Apr 18, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Sat, Apr 18, 11:00am - 3:00pm
Celebrate America 250 with board games about the states. Ages 6-12

Sat, Apr 18, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Second Floor
Dr. Tseng, Professor of Spanish and Linguistics at American University, will discuss the history of Latin American immigration to the DC Metro Area and how its shaped a unique regional language.

Sat, Apr 18, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Second Floor
Come play Dungeons & Dragons. No experience necessary. Open to ages 8-13.
This event is full

Sun, Apr 19, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Mon, Apr 20, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Mon, Apr 20, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Second Floor
Do you like scary movies, books, tv shows, or video games? Do you enjoy making horror themed DIY projects? This is the event for you!

Tue, Apr 21, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Tue, Apr 21, 10:30am - 10:45am
Youth Services Area
Start your morning with stories, rhymes, and songs in English and Spanish ¡Empieza su mañana con cuentos, rimas y canciones en inglés y español!

Tue, Apr 21, 11:00am - 11:35am
Youth Services Area
Just right for ages 0-23 months. Songs, games, movement activities, and bubbles.

Tue, Apr 21, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Second Floor
Take part in a group-led discussion about death and dying without any set agenda, objectives, or themes. Tea and sweets will be provided.

Wed, Apr 22, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Wed, Apr 22, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Youth Services Area
A lap-sit and playtime just for babies ages 0-12 months and their grownups.

Wed, Apr 22, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Second Floor
Let's paint at the Library! Enjoy a tutorial with instructions on how to create the monthly painting or create your own unique work of art!

Wed, Apr 22, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Second Floor
Let's eat pizza, talk about "Freewater" by Amina Luqman-Dawson and share additional recommendations for Historical Fiction books set in the United States of America!

Thu, Apr 23, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Thu, Apr 23, 11:00am - 11:40am
Stories, songs, movement and more for ages 2-5.

Thu, Apr 23, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Second Floor
The Barrett Branch Mahjong group meets the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Space is available for up to 12 players, so it's first come first served as game tables fill.

Thu, Apr 23, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Second Floor
Looking to join a Dungeons and Dragons group? Look no further!

Fri, Apr 24, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Sat, Apr 25, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Sat, Apr 25, 11:00am - 3:00pm
Celebrate America 250 with board games about the states. Ages 6-12

Sat, Apr 25, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Second Floor
As we celebrate our country's founding, local Virginia Master Naturalists will share information about some regional gems where you can discover history and nature together. 

Sun, Apr 26, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Mon, Apr 27, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Mon, Apr 27, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Second Floor
Do you like scary movies, books, tv shows, or video games? Do you enjoy making horror themed DIY projects? This is the event for you!

Tue, Apr 28, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Tue, Apr 28, 10:30am - 10:45am
Youth Services Area
Start your morning with stories, rhymes, and songs in English and Spanish ¡Empieza su mañana con cuentos, rimas y canciones en inglés y español!

Tue, Apr 28, 11:00am - 11:35am
Youth Services Area
Just right for ages 0-23 months. Songs, games, movement activities, and bubbles.

Tue, Apr 28, 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Looking for a space to talk about climate change and the things affected that we love? Join us for a monthly discussion focused on a relevant topic. Register to receive the materials suggestions.

Wed, Apr 29, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Wed, Apr 29, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Youth Services Area
A lap-sit and playtime just for babies ages 0-12 months and their grownups.

Wed, Apr 29, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Second Floor
Office of Historic Alexandria staff will join us to help unpack the differing concepts of ghosts, ghost stories, and other spirits raised in Jesmyn Ward’s novel "Sing, Unburied, Sing."

Thu, Apr 30, All day
Running through Earth Month, Barrett Branch will feature art created by the Dunbar Boys & Girls Club accompanied by facts on plastic pollution and its impact on our planet.

Thu, Apr 30, 11:00am - 11:40am
Youth Services Area
PreSchool Story Time celebrates our country with traditional songs and stories.