| Local climate solutions powered by faith communities. |
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| Celebrate with Us at Our 9th Sustainability Champions Awards Ceremony! Thurs | June 5 | 6–9 PM | @Unity of Fairfax With tremendous excitement, we’re thrilled to celebrate our largest number of nominations yet and the debut of our brand-new Chair’s Award. This year, our keynote speaker is Rev. Laura Martin, Associate Pastor at Rock Spring UCC. Enjoy a dessert reception sponsored by Reston Strong, connect with fellow advocates, and be inspired by the individuals and organizations building a more sustainable, equitable future across Northern Virginia and Rockingham County. We’re proud to announce this year’s champions: 🌟Faith Community: CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMFORTER
🌟Individual Impact: JEFF HEIE, Founder & Director of GiveSolar
🌟Youth Leader: RYAN NISAY, Founder & Director of Loudoun Nature Conservation Project
🌟Community Group: RESTON FARMERS MARKET
🌟Government: ALLISON HOMER, Program Manager for Resilient Fairfax
🌟Business: GROUNDED COFFEE SHOP
🌟Chair's Award: BOB JORDAN |
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| Join the FACS Board or a Committee! FACS is looking for passionate individuals to help lead the way in local climate action. As a Board Member, you’ll guide our mission, support fundraising, and collaborate with a diverse, interfaith team committed to climate justice in Northern Virginia |
| | Not ready for the Board? Fill out our volunteer interest form and we’ll reach out to you about joining one of our Committees: 📣 Advocacy
🌱 Outreach & Engagement
🎯 Development
💰 Finance
🏛️ Governance & Human Resources |
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| FACS Mourns the Passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly “I still remember the day at UU Fairfax in Oakton over a decade ago when Congressman Connolly spoke at one of our first gatherings.” — Scott Peterson, FACS Co-Founder & Board Chair Congressman Gerry Connolly’s support and encouragement since our founding was critically important in helping to launch FACS into the powerful and effective nonpartisan organization that we are today. |
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| Upcoming Events & Opportunities |
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| Take Action: Stop Dominion Energy’s Six New Gas-Fired Power Plants Wed | June 18 | 6:30–7:30 PM | @Jim Scott Community Center (.5 mi. from Vienna Metro) Join advocates from across Virginia for a new statewide campaign to oppose Dominion Energy’s proposal to build six new methane gas-fired power plants—a move that threatens to prolong air pollution, increase utility bills, and undermine the state’s clean energy goals. Although Virginia law requires a transition away from fossil fuels by 2045, Dominion’s current plan would expand its gas and coal fleet instead. This campaign begins with stopping the first proposed plant in Chesterfield County, where an air pollution permit hearing is expected this summer. This event is in partnership with FACS, Sierra Club Great Falls Group, and Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Contact Douglas Stewart at [email protected] for any questions. |
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| Create Your Perfect Native Garden Summer Webinar Series: Pollinators, Low-Maintenance, and Composting Join our free summer webinar series on native plant gardening! Learn how to attract pollinators, design a low-maintenance garden, and explore composting methods that turn waste into “black gold.” Presented with Fairfax Master Gardeners, each session offers local expertise and practical tips for gardeners of all levels. TOPIC SESSIONS: - Wed, June 18, 2 PM - Making a Pollinator Garden — Whether you have a large yard or just a small patch of space, discover which native annual and perennial plants thrive in sunny, shady, or wet conditions and attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and more. We’ll cover costs, maintenance tips, helpful resources to get started, and real-life local examples, including a garden built from scratch by Fairfax Master Gardener and Northern Virginia Bird Alliance Ambassador Elaine Metlin (view her Backyard Garden with Creek Tour)
- Wed, July 16, 2 PM - Low-Maintenance Gardening — Want to grow a native plant garden but short on time, energy, or have a restricted budget? Discover how to design a beautiful space that requires minimal upkeep. VA Master Gardener BJ Frank will share simple strategies for choosing the best low-maintenance native plants, cutting down on costs, and making your garden thrive with ease.
- Wed, August 20, 2 PM - Composting: Turn Waste into "Black Gold" — Turn food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich "black gold" for your garden! Master Gardener BJ Frank will dive into the fascinating science and environmental benefits behind the practice and walk you through the pros and cons of 7 different composting methods so you can choose the one that best fits your space, lifestyle, and goals. Great for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike.
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| | - Bicycles: Loudoun County has launched a pilot bicycle exchange program at the Loudoun County landfill, which will provide a place for Loudoun residents to drop off used bicycles in good working condition and a place for people to pick up a used bicycle at no cost.
- Environment & Energy: Fairfax County just launched their Environment & Energy Dashboard to support the implementation of the Fairfax Countywide Strategic Plan. See data on GHG emissions reductions, temperature changes, tree canopy, solar installations, and more.
- Local Wildlife: If you see a white-tailed deer fawn motionless and without their mother, leave it alone. In almost all cases, fawns are only temporarily left by their mothers for protection and just need to be left alone.
- Cancellations: The National Science Foundation is canceling hundreds of taxpayer-funded grants related to climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, gender, and other research at colleges and universities, including projects at George Mason University and University of Virginia.
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| | Fill out this form to get involved with your local Advocacy Hub. You'll receive updates for county-specific meetings & events, action alerts, and more! A Hub Leader will reach out to you shortly after submitting. |
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| CITY OF ALEXANDRIA At their May meeting, the Hub heard from Samantha Heitsch, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Alexandria’s Office of Climate Action, about the City’s Eco-Homes program. The program provides a valuable tool for tracking and analyzing home energy use while also recognizing sustainable homes across the City. The Hub was also present at the Eco-City Festival, engaging residents with FACS’ mission, the Hub’s activities, and a popular recycling game for kids. Special thanks to Claudia Saunders, FACS’s Community Engagement Manager, for joining! Our next meeting on Wednesday, July 2nd will primarily be a social event. Stay tuned for further details in the upcoming Hub mailings! 📅 Upcoming Meeting: Their next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 2nd, and will be a casual social gathering. Join the “City of Alexandria” FACS Hub to learn more! |
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| ARLINGTON COUNTY At the May meeting, the Arlington Hub reviewed the County’s proposed updates to the Master Transportation Plan (MTP). With approximately 30% of Arlington’s climate emissions stemming from transportation, this is a critical opportunity to shape both the County’s emissions trajectory and its quality of life. The Hub is helping shape an informal stakeholder transportation team that will advocate for strong climate and sustainability priorities in the next MTP. 📅 Upcoming Meeting: The June Hub meeting will be held in person as a casual dinner at a local church. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register for the “Arlington County” FACS Hub to receive an invitation. The Arlington Hub meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM, typically via Zoom. |
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| FAIRFAX COUNTY At the May meeting, the Fairfax Hub heard from County staff about the proposed unified sanitation districts Fairfax County is considering—a policy with meaningful climate and community benefits. The Hub is supporting the proposal and is currently actively recruiting residents to testify at public hearings or contact their Supervisor in support. For more details, reach out to Bryan Scrafford at [email protected]. 📅 Upcoming Meeting: They will welcome a guest speaker for their virtual meeting on Thursday, June 19 at 7:00 PM. Register here to receive more information and get plugged into the Fairfax Hub’s activities. |
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| LOUDOUN COUNTY The Loudoun Hub recently participated in the Third Annual Loudoun County Energy and Environmental Forum, where the keynote address was delivered by Mike Rolband, Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Several Hub members attended, and the FACS table received visits from numerous community members, including Supervisor Sylvia Glass. At the May Hub meeting, guest speaker Mike Littman, President of the Loudoun Invasives Removal Alliance (LIRA), shared how the organization—which now includes 70 member HOAs representing more than 225,000 Loudoun residents—is working to address the economic, ecological, and public health impacts of invasive species. Their 2024 Scrape the Grape event mobilized 817 volunteers, who removed 6.5 million Spotted Lanternfly egg sacs and tagged 400 Trees of Heaven across wineries and residential communities. Join the “Loudoun County” FACS Hub or contact Hub Leader Jean Wright at [email protected] for more information. |
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| CENTRAL VALLEY The Central Valley Hub’s Earth Day Luncheon and Community Collaboration Planning event was a tremendous success, drawing more than 100 participants from across sectors—including city officials, environmental advocates, local nonprofits, farmers, university faculty and students, and business leaders. Facilitated by representatives from James Madison University, the gathering surfaced four key themes for regional climate progress: - Building inclusive interests and networks
- Advancing energy efficiency
- Transportation models that break our dependence on automobiles
- Empowering local sustainable farmers
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| FACS' Monthly Sustainability Tip |
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| Warmer weather means more mosquitoes! Learn how to make a mosquito larva trap with buckets or mason jars to target controlling mosquito populations rather than indiscriminate spraying of toxins that kills all insects, like butterflies and bees. Northern Virginia Bird Alliance’s comprehensive picture guide includes detailed steps, images, and a Q&A. |
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| Inspired to give beyond time and talent? |
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| | | Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
PO Box 2012 | Reston, Virginia 20195
703-239-3748 | [email protected] |
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