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Flying into DCA (Regan National)? There's a hotel shuttle! Hop on at baggage claim 7 and exit through door 7.
The DMV — Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia — is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the United States, shaped by global influences, deep historical roots, and vibrant local traditions. As the nation’s capital region, the DMV draws people from around the world, creating a dynamic mix of cultures that are reflected in its neighborhoods, food, music, festivals, art, and community spaces. Visitors can experience a rich tapestry of identities and stories within just a short distance of one another.
The District is a global crossroads, home to longstanding African American communities, international diplomatic populations, and generations of immigrants. Historic neighborhoods like U Street and Anacostia reflect the city’s Black cultural legacy, while areas such as Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, and Mount Pleasant showcase Latin American, Caribbean, African, and Asian influences. Cultural institutions, museums, bookstores, and music venues throughout the city celebrate voices from across the world.
Maryland’s diversity shines through its suburban and urban communities surrounding D.C. Cities like Silver Spring, Rockville, and Hyattsville are known for their multicultural populations, international cuisine, and vibrant arts scenes. The state is home to strong Ethiopian, Salvadoran, Korean, Nigerian, Indian, and Caribbean communities, as well as historically significant African American neighborhoods. Cultural festivals, markets, and community hubs make Maryland a place where global traditions thrive side by side.
Northern Virginia is a cultural powerhouse, especially in cities like Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, and Annandale. The region is nationally recognized for its Korean, Vietnamese, Persian, Afghan, Ethiopian, and Latin American communities. Visitors will find cultural centers, family-owned restaurants, international grocery stores, and community celebrations that reflect both recent immigrant stories and deep-rooted regional history.
Conference Land And Labor Acknowledgement
Conference Land And Labor Acknowledgement
Land Acknowledgement
Land Acknowledgement
The ASCA recognizes that the 2026 Annual Conference is being hosted on the ancestral lands of the Nacotchtank (Anacostan) people, as well as the Piscataway and Pamunkey nations. These Indigenous communities stewarded the Potomac and Anacostia River region for thousands of years, cultivating thriving societies long before the founding of Arlington, Virginia. Through colonization, broken treaties, land seizure, and forced displacement, these nations were pushed from their homelands by federal and colonial policies that denied Indigenous sovereignty and cultural continuity. Today, members of these nations, and many other Indigenous peoples, continue to live, work, and resist in the region. We acknowledge that all members of the ASCA community have benefited from the use and occupation of this land, and we honor Indigenous nations past, present, and future.
Labor Acknowledgement
Labor Acknowledgement
The ASCA also recognizes that the 2026 Annual Conference is being hosted on lands that once passed legislation that did not value the labor of those who were not white. Legislations such as the Black Exclusion Law of 1857, banned slavery but also made it illegal for Black people to own real estate, make contracts, vote, or use the legal system. Along with the legalization of public segregation, the Black Exclusion Law of 1857 created injustices that perpetuated the idea of being able to work on the land but not have any ownership or fair access. It was not until 1965 that Black people had all of their restrictions lifted. Legislations such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, banned the immigration of Chinese Laborers for 10 years with the exception of merchants, teachers, students, travelers, and diplomats.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 created unequal and inequitable access to these lands and was then made permanent by the Geary Act in 1902. It was not until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 that exclusionary and restrictive immigrant policies were lifted for Chinese immigrants. We recognize that policies like these continue to plague marginalized communities. As guests on these lands, we respect and give honor to the marginalized groups that have labored and been denied access to opportunities past, present, and future.
The National Museum of the American Indian located at 4th St SW, Washington, DC 20560
Northern Virginia sits on lands with thousands of years of Native American history, shaped by Algonquian-speaking peoples who lived along the Potomac River and its tributaries long before European colonization.
For centuries, tribes such as the Patawomeck, Doeg, Piscataway, and Nacotchtank (Anacostan) relied on the region’s rivers, forests, and fertile soil for fishing, farming, and trade. The Potomac River served as a major transportation and cultural corridor, connecting communities throughout the Chesapeake region. Villages were typically located near waterways, and seasonal movement reflected deep environmental knowledge and stewardship of the land.
With the arrival of English colonists in the 1600s, Native communities in Northern Virginia faced displacement, disease, warfare, and forced treaties that dramatically reduced their land holdings and visibility. Over time, many Indigenous peoples were pushed out of the area or absorbed into colonial society through coercive policies, leading to the false narrative that Native people “disappeared” from the region.
Despite this history, Native presence did not vanish. Descendant communities—most notably the Patawomeck Indian Tribe, now state-recognized—continue to preserve their heritage, language, and traditions. Today, Native American history in Northern Virginia is increasingly acknowledged through archaeology, place names, educational initiatives, and partnerships with tribal nations, affirming that Indigenous history is not just the past, but part of the region’s living story.
While at conference, you can learn more about the rich history of Native American's by visiting the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC.
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