FACS' 10th Annual Sustainability Champions Awards Ceremony

Thu | June 4 | 6–9 PM | @Unity of Fairfax

Join us in recognizing and celebrating individuals and organizations working to create a more sustainable future in Northern Virginia and Rockingham County. Be inspired by stories of climate action from fellow local advocates and connect with community leaders.

Keynote Speaker: U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw
Congressman James R. Walkinshaw is serving his first term in Congress representing Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. The district includes most of Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the towns of Vienna and Herndon. Congressman Walkinshaw serves on the influential House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which oversees the federal workforce, government operations, and federal IT management—areas that are critical to Northern Virginia’s economy.

Over 70 Attendees at Burke UMC Energy Expo!

Burke United Methodist Church hosted a special FACS and CCAN energy efficiency showcase on Sunday, April 19. This hands-on event highlighted practical ways to reduce household energy use from simple DIY weatherization tips to appliance upgrades and clean energy options. Staff from Fairfax County's Office for Environmental and Energy Coordination attended to discuss the Energy Compass and Charge Up Fairfax programs, as well as the Sustain Fairfax Challenge. 

Interested in hosting a similar event at your congregation? Reach out to caroline@faithforclimate.org to learn more about bringing this program to your community!

FACS at GMU: Interfaith Panel with Diverse Faith Leaders

In partnership with GMU's Student Environmental Justice Alliance, more than 20 students and organizational leaders came together for a thoughtful conversation on how different faith traditions approach creation care and saw real-world examples of values-driven climate leadership. Speakers included Rev. Aileen Fitzke (Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston), Sevim Kalyoncu (Green Muslims), Pastor Hwang (Full Gospel First Church of Washington), and Stacey Remick (St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church).

Sneak Peek for May: FACS During Earth Month!

Earth Month was packed with energy, connection, and climate action. Look out for a special May email featuring photos from across our community, highlighting the people and impactful moments.

What Makes a Building Green?

Wed | May 6 | 7 PM | Virtual

Join our Alexandria Hub for a conversation on what it really means for a building to be “green.”

The program will feature David Peabody of Peabody/Fine Architects, whose work focuses on high-performance homes, deep energy retrofits, community housing. His firm is at the forefront of creating energy-positive structures that lead the way in sustainable architecture. Also presenting with David will be Steve Walz, co-leader of the Alexandria Hub, who has deep environmental policy and energy expertise.

Mapping the Future of Sustainable Transit in Northern Virginia

Thu | May 7 | 7–8:30 PM | @Virtual

We are lucky in our region to have an amazing Metro system and an expansive network of bus lines. But it’s no accident. It’s the result of hard work by the agencies, elected officials, and advocates. Come join experts from Northern Virginia to learn about local and regional transit initiatives and opportunities and challenges to create an even more convenient, connected, and sustainable transportation network at this online talk moderated by Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director, at Coalition for Smart Growth.

This event is co-sponsored by Coalition for Smarter Growth, EcoAction Arlington, Sierra Club Potomac River, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, and Sustainable Mobility for Arlington.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY (CENTRAL SHENANDOAH VALLEY)

It was a busy month in the Central Shenandoah Valley as they organized two very different Earth Day events!

• Ecumenical Earth Day Worship Service: Several hundred people from more than six participating congregations worshipped together on a Sunday morning at Turner Pavilion in Downtown Harrisonburg.
• Renew Rocktown Earth Day Luncheon: Brought together 140 environmentalists, government officials, farmers, and business leaders to network and join a panel discussion on strengthening our ecosystem. FACS Executive Director Chris Topoleski traveled from Northern Virginia to participate in this conversation.

Sign up for the “Rockingham County (Central Shenandoah Valley)” FACS Hub’s mailing list to get connected and stay tuned to what’s happening in the Shenandoah Valley.