Become a Climate Champion: Faith Sector Pilot

At this month's Climate Champions meeting, we'll focus on the Tree of Life campaign with our friends at Nature Forward. Join us on March 14th at 5:00 PM. Register here.

Although this faith sector pilot is focused on Fairfax County, we welcome everyone to join us in implementing these solutions across Virginia. Next month we'll meet on April 12th at 10am, with a focus on Creation Care Kitchens. Stay tuned, and read more about this initiative in The Fairfax Times!

Nominate a Sustainability Champion!

The call for Sustainability Champion nominations is now open! Our annual Sustainability Champions Awards celebrate and recognize the contributions of individuals, faith communities, elected officials/public sector employees, and businesses in Northern Virginia. These individuals and organizations work tirelessly toward improving the environment; contributing to a healthy, livable climate, in our community!

Nominations are due by Friday, April 14. And please save the date June 8 from 7 - 8pm for the celebration!!

Concert for the Earth

Join us for an evening of music and climate activism on April 22nd with doors opening at 5:30pm! Enjoy a concert with acts performed by Melting Virgo, Musical Scalpel, and Josh Long. Come celebrate the Earth with fellow activists and feel ignited to work towards climate solutions this spring.

Register here to join us in honoring the Earth!

Lenten Season has Begun

TH!RD ACT: Stop Dirty Banks 

Join us for a National Day of Action on March 21! Third Act (Bill McKibben's new organization,) partners, and allies across the country are staging public non-violent demonstrations and holding events to deliver a strong message to the banks funding climate destruction: if you don’t move money out of fossil fuels, we will move our money out of your banks. The DC region event will start the evening of March 20 with a vigil and orientation at a local church. To find an event, use the + and - buttons to zoom in to your area, then click on an event icon to learn more and sign up!

Nature Corner

With spring fast approaching, many of us are dreaming of flowers, birds, gardens, and possibly getting seeds. It's a great time to turn our hearts and souls towards nature. Read more to discover ways you can prepare your home and heart for the changing of seasons. 

Missed our Climate Solutions Kickoff? Watch it today!

20s & 30s Circle

Are you or do you know a 20- or 30-something looking to connect with others on climate change topics?

Our 20s & 30s Circle will feature social gatherings like happy hours, coffee socials, and local hikes for this age group. Whether you are in a career transition, planning for the future in an uncertain world, or you just want to meet other climate-minded individuals, join us! Fill out this form to be added to our email list and to receive more details on upcoming events.

Fairfax County Hub Updates

Plant NOVA Natives held the first conference for Spanish speaking landscapers, on February 15^th, supported by FACS, resulting in about 150 Spanish-speaking landscape professionals becoming fluent in native plants.

Welcome to Jim Gilmore, who has agreed to lead the Franconia advocacy team!

Fairfax County’s advertised budget has just come out, and we hope you will attend your “town hall” budget meetings and highlight the need to fund the County-Wide Climate Action Plan fully, and to put in metrics and data. Our March Hub meeting will focus on our Advocacy Talking Points. Read more here to learn about how Fairfax County is putting Faith in Action. 

If you are not already on our list, sign up for Fairfax updates here. If you have any questions, please email kristin.rosenthal@gmail.com.

Loudoun County Hub Updates

Dr. Neelu Tummala spoke on February 23rd to the Ashby Ponds community on the topic "Public Health and Climate Change." The Loudoun Hub is preparing for testimony before the Board of Supervisors in support of budgeted programs implementing the Environmental and Energy Work Plan. We have three people at this time who will be speaking March 1st. We are also planning our Earth Day programming and an Environmental Fair in June.

Sign up for Loudoun updates if you are not already on our list. If you have any questions, please email info@faithforclimate.org.

Arlington County Hub Updates

In February the FACS Arlington Hub discussed the many opportunities the new IRA funds will offer individuals and congregations to deploy cleaner energy. We also covered the current General Assembly session and shared favored organizations so we can learn more about legislative initiatives and advocate for climate actions.

Although we typically meet on the 1st Wednesday of each month, our next meeting will be on Wednesday March 8 at 7PM, via Zoom, and will be another joint ALX-ARL Hubs session with guest Robin Lewis, Director for Climate Equity at Interfaith Power & Light DMV. Robin will share IPL's programming and help us continue our discussion on climate justice opportunities we can pursue, ourselves and with our communities.

Sign up for Arlington updates if you are not already on our list. If you have any questions, please email info@faithforclimate.org.

City of Alexandria Hub Updates

Supporting Climate Action in the City Budget. The Alexandria hub will be reviewing the proposed City budget released in late February. We plan to meet with City Council members to discuss ensuring that strong and equitable climate actions are in the final budget they adopt in early May.

March 8 joint ALX-ARL Hubs meeting with guest speaker. Our monthly hub meeting will take place Wednesday, March 8, 7pm, via Zoom, together with the Arlington FACS hub. Guest speaker Robin Lewis of Interfaith Power & Light DMV will discuss environmental justice and climate justice efforts that IPL is helping congregations undertake. 

April 12 monthly hub meeting. The April hub meeting will take place on the second Wednesday, April 12, 7pm, following Passover and Easter week.

Sign up for Alexandria updates if you are not already on our list. If you have any questions, please email info@faithforclimate.org.

Northern Valley Hub Updates

We will be having our next Northern Valley Hub meeting on Thursday, March 16 at 7:00pm at Bethel Lutheran Church (2077 N. Frederick Pike, Winchester VA 22603). Our topic of conversation will be "Earth Day 2023" (April 22) and ideas for congregations and looking at plans for the future.  Also, we will be exploring how we might be able to get our high schools involved with future endeavors.

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