FACS in Action at Conservation Lobby Day: Leading Over a Dozen Meetings with Virginia Legislators

By Andreana Jinjue Lin

On February 4, FACS headed to Richmond for a jam-packed day at the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN)’s largest Conservation Lobby Day of the year. FACS staff and supporters met with their state legislators to advocate for our legislative priorities and advance science-based climate policies, a powerful opportunity to lift up faith voices in the Capitol while putting our values into action.

FACS Advocates in Action: Success Stories & Highlights

FACS led impactful meetings with over a dozen legislators during our day at the Capitol. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our legislative priorities with members of the General Assembly, including the following:

The morning and afternoon programs featured remarks from David Bulova, Secretary of Natural Resources in Governor Spanberger’s Cabinet, and Jessica Sims, Executive Director of the Virginia Conservation Network, along with partners from the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Appalachian Voices, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and more. The energy from the stage carried into the halls of the Capitol, with FACS advocates actively shaping the day.

• A board member had a one-on-one meeting with Delegate Garrett McGuire, a new member of the House of Delegates who had just won a special election weeks prior. Having a constituent connect with him so early in his tenure was a meaningful opportunity to begin building that relationship, especially on issues like electric vehicles, one of our advocacy pillars this session.
• A FACS advocate brought a friend to participate in Conservation Lobby Day for the first time and demonstrated strong leadership throughout the day. When a staffer suggested holding their meeting in a busy hallway instead of an office, she remained calm, thought quickly, and made her points clearly despite the surrounding noise and activity.
• A Leadership Circle member spoke to the full VCN gathering, sharing that this was their first lobby day and how meaningful the experience had been. At a time when so much feels uncertain, their message about stepping into advocacy and raising their voice felt both timely and encouraging.

It’s Not Too Late to Get Involved in All the Action!

You can contact FACS Advocacy Director Bryan Scrafford at bryan@faithforclimate.org and check out our General Assembly Hub webpage for ways to engage, one pagers, FACS supported bills, and more.

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