RTC Social Squad Creates A Community At Reston Town Center

By Kamana Mathur

When I moved to Reston, I learned that among the tall buildings at the town center, there was a very diverse community. Often when I walked around, I would see the same faces. But we didn’t know each other. It seemed like an impersonal space, primarily an area for entertainment, music, and restaurants. We would walk around as bystanders, just observing the wonderful events that took place there, but knowing little about the others who lived here.

So shortly after moving here, I decided to do something about it. We needed to create a sense of community. A place where we would not just glance at familiar faces in passing, but really get to know each other. Having lived and worked around the world, I quickly learned how important this was. And no matter how diverse our group was, we had more in common than we knew.

Thus began the RTC Social Squad. After getting together an amazing group of very talented women — Karin, Barbara, Nicole, Tricia, and Donna — the Squad was born. It was successful beyond our wildest dreams. From our first meeting at Not Your Average Joe’s to numerous Happy Hours and special events at various venues, we’ve drawn large and diverse crowds. We’ve started putting names to the faces we see around RTC. And have truly changed the nature of Reston Town Center – from a commercial center to a real neighborhood. A place where we can laugh, learn, play, and support each other.

RTC Executive Director Robert Goudie has done an amazing job, creating a venue with so much to offer. Good public transport, great ethnic food, walking and biking paths, a wonderful library, and world class entertainment. With the impressive array of concerts, restaurants, happy hours, street festivals, and a hospital, Reston Town Center is a great walkable community. Move over Arlington – RTC is the place to be. So glad to call this home.

Residents of Reston Town Center who wish to learn about Squad activities are invited to join our Facebook group, the RTC Social Squad. As the group is exclusively for RTC residents and to preserve our members’ privacy, those requesting to join will be asked where they reside.