60th Anniversary
- 60th Anniversary
The City of Virginia Beach celebrates 60 years of growth in 2023 with a new community network initiative, a modernized logo and several community activations for residents to participate throughout the year.
Mayor Bobby Dyer’s Helping Our People Excel (H.O.P.E.) Initiative seeks to recognize and strengthen those who are committed to making their community and Virginia Beach an even better place through a certification program and cross group networking.
Individuals, community groups, faith-based organizations and corporate entities are encouraged to apply to become "Champions of H.O.P.E." at virginiabeach.gov/hope.
Once reviewed, applicants will receive a digital certificate, promotional social media graphics package, notifications for collaboration opportunities based on their needs and invitations to tabletop discussions with the mayor.
This is an ongoing initiative, and applications can be received on a continuous basis.
Mayor Dyer selected his first "Champions of H.O.P.E." and recognized them at his 2023 State of the City address on March 15, 2023.
- Individual Honoree: Batrice Buttler-Brown
All on her own, Batrice began going out into the community to provide snacks to anyone she met that was in need. She found that something as simple as a small snack can go a long way towards improving a person’s mood. These interactions also give Batrice an opportunity to engage with the people she meets and to hear their stories. If there’s a way that she can assist someone, Batrice never hesitates to do so with the assistance of her network of helpers and friends. - Community Group Honoree: Girls on the Run Hampton Roads
Girls on the Run, led by Executive Director Ellen Carver, offers after-school youth development programs for girls throughout Hampton Roads. They teach young girls critical life skills and inspire them to strengthen their confidence through interactive lessons and physical activity. Their mission is to empower girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident while creatively integrating running as a free and accessible form of stress release. - Business/Corporate Honoree: Sprouty LLC
Led by Stephanie Sprouty, Sprouty LLC provides clinical and behavior skills training, individual and staff consultation, and mentoring support for practitioners in the behavioral health field. The training provided readies behavioral health care professionals to meet the complex challenges faced when providing guidance through the treatment process.
Residents are invited to share their ideas for the future by answering the question “What do you hope for Virginia Beach in the next 60 years?” via a public input survey on speakupVB.com. The survey will be open through April 1, 2023, and results shared with City Council. The City of Virginia Beach will be partnering with Virginia Beach City Public Schools in 2023 to have students answer the same question via sticky note art installations.
The City of Virginia Beach organizational logo has been refreshed in 2023. Key features include:
• a fresh color palette inspired by the City seal
• a modernization of the ‘VB’ wave symbol
• a contemporary font to improve readability and compliance
Local businesses are invited to use the 60th logo on their promotional signage, restaurant menus, retail specials and more to attract consumer interest.
60th Anniversary Commemorative Logo Usage Policy
The City of Virginia Beach 60th anniversary commemorative logo is owned by the City of Virginia Beach. In general, the use of the logo should be limited to Virginia Beach businesses and organizations and is recommended to be used for promotional and marketing purposes directly related to the local Virginia Beach businesses and community organizations. The City of Virginia Beach strives to maintain the integrity of the logo and therefore restricts the use of the logo to promotion of supporting local businesses and community organizations in Virginia Beach. However, the City of Virginia Beach reserves the right to approve any alternative uses or variations of the logo. Any request to use the logo or a variation of such should be submitted to the Virginia Beach Communications Office via email at brand@vbgov.com.
Here are some ways businesses can celebrate Virginia Beach's 60th anniversary with us:
- Download resources from our 60th Anniversary Toolkit
- Add the 60th logo on your promotional signage
- Use the 60th logo social media graphic on your social channels with the hashtag #VB60years
- Update your business marquee in celebration
- Share nostalgic photos of Virginia Beach and/or your business on your social channels. Don't forget to use the hashtag #VB60years.
- Offer in-store specials or a discount such as "Buy One, Get One 60% Off"
- Restaurants and food establishments: Create a special menu or food item in celebration
- Share some history of your business in the past 60 years on your social channels. Did we mention the hashtag, #VB60years? :)
In lead up to the celebration of the City's 60th Anniversary in January 2023, we honored Virginia Beach pioneers and proud residents through a collection of documentary shorts that tell the story of Virginia Beach—then through now—called Nostalgic VB. Each installment in this 12-episode collection chronicles a five-year snapshot of the City’s memorable moments and history makers.
Sgt. Charles C. Pace
Fort Story Train Memories
Seatack Fire Department
Ash Wednesday Storm
The Dome
East Coast Surfing Championship
Cavalier Hotel
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
Throughout 2023, several City departments are creating unique activations in support of the 60th celebration. Some of the activations include, but are not limited to:
- Cultural Affairs will provide new VB logo stickers at several historic locations, cultural events, the Sandler Center and education centers (while supplies last) and unveil a 21st Street/Pacific Avenue surfboard art installation to celebrate the City and our 60th anniversary, as well as welcome visitors to the resort area (installation date TBD).
- Emergency Medical Services will feature volunteers and career members via social media who are 60 years of age and begin its 60th EMT Academy in January 2023.
- Housing and Neighborhood Preservation will highlight via social media 60 partner organizations/individuals who are making an impact to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring.
- Libraries is celebrating “60 Reasons (Beyond Books) to Love Your Library,” spotlighting free library services for residents, including 3D printing, career coaching, personalized tech help, and local history and genealogy resources, plus items like board games, Wi-Fi hotspots, telescopes, GoPro cameras and digital scanners that residents can borrow with a library card.
- VB Parks & Recreation Foundation invites individuals and businesses to make a positive impact for the next 60 years by planting a tree, installing a bike rack or sponsoring a park bench. Less than 13 bike rack installation locations remain. Learn more about the Tree Buddies, Bike Buddies or Bench Buddies programs at www.VBgov.com/PRprojects.
- Police will create a yearbook and have commemorative 60th anniversary badges and patches on uniforms.
- Public Utilities will educate residents via social media on “How to Save 60 Gallons of Water Each Day.”
- Public Works will distribute 60 reusable totes filled with reusable goodies to 60 people who visit the West Neck Recycling Center in January (in conjunction with Zero Waste Month).
- The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center will name stranded turtles rescued in 2023 after well-known VB landmarks, areas and icons.
Find yourself here in 2023! The City of Virginia Beach is hiring and offers a competitive benefits package. Learn more about our career offerings at virginiabeach.gov/careers.
