Dear {{ FirstName | default: ‘Friend’ }},
This past April 23rd, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day by announcing the winners of our 2020 Sustainability Champions Awards. These annual awards, chosen by a committee composed of FACS leadership and prior award winners, highlight the people and organizations that have made significant contributions towards the FACS mission of creating moral and equitable solutions to climate change in Northern Virginia.
The winners will be honored Thursday, June 4th at 12:00 p.m. during an online ceremony featuring remarks from Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay and Fairfax County School Board Chair Karen Corbett Sanders.
The 2020 winners are:
- Individual: Debra Jacobson, JD
- Faith Community: Mount Vernon Unitarian Church
- Elected Official: Karl Frisch, Fairfax County School Board
- Local Business: GreenFare Restaurant in Herndon Virginia
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Fairfax County 2021 Budget Hearings
The Fairfax County FY 2021 Updated Budget Proposal anticipates reduced revenues coupled with increased expenditures associated with the county’s response to the corona virus pandemic. FACS applauds the efforts of the county, nonprofits, first responders and the countless volunteers that have stepped up to meet the needs of our community and prioritize our most vulnerable neighbors. Read our blog to learn about a few local organizations that are responding to this call and how you can help.
Four FACS activists testified during the virtual public budget hearings on April 29th, highlighting creative approaches to continuing to address climate change despite the challenging economic environment. Our four video testimonies make it clear that clean energy, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency upgrades protect those who are most vulnerable to the health consequences of climate change. Innovative financing strategies such as Green Banks can provide the market to get these projects implemented and scaled. You can read the written transcripts on our blog post.
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Protect #everyneighbor from Environmental Harm
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions joins with Interfaith Power and Light (DC.MD.NoVA) and Virginia Interfaith Power and Light to celebrate passage of the Virginia Environmental Justice Act and to call for continued protections at all levels of government for #everyneighbor. The importance of environmental justice has become painfully clear as we witness the increased death and suffering from COVID-19 of those who live in communities of color and are exposed to higher levels of toxic air and other pollutants. This is not the time to reduce environmental protections under cover of economic hardship- but rather the time to increase our commitment to clean air, water, sustainable housing and healthy communities- to save lives. Make your voice heard for environmental justice.
Be part of our joint social media campaign- find out how you can post and tweet to support #everyneighbor in having a clean, healthy environment.
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Housing and Human Services Coalition
What can be done to support the most vulnerable in Fairfax County during the Covid-19 crisis and into the future? This coalition of human service organizations, affordable housing developers, members of faith communities and housing advocates, coordinated by the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance, are coming together to respond to the critical and rising needs of residents in our community.
Read this letter to the Fairfax Board of Supervisors, of which FACS is a signatory, and support their requests to leverage local, state, and federal resources to prioritize assistance for vulnerable people in need of food and shelter, and nonprofit organizations struggling to sustain their operations during this pandemic.
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May 9: Mother’s Day Climate Rally
In 1870, Julia Ward Howe began the tradition of an American Mother’s Day, proclaiming a day of political resolve in which mothers, grieving over the loss of their sons and husbands in the Civil War, would unite to demand the abolition of warfare. Today, we grieve over the loss of so many due to climate disasters and the toxic health effects of pollution. Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions joins with our partners to declare this Mother’s Day a day of action to stop climate change.
Join us for the 4th annual Mother’s Day Climate Rally – the virtual edition on Saturday, May 9th at 3:00 p.m. Featuring some of the biggest names in climate action: Wenonah Wauter, Founder and Executive Director of Food & Water Action, Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, and Alexandria Villaseñor, founder of Earth Uprising, and her mother Kristin Hogue, Board Chair of Earth Uprising.
Click here to learn more.
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May 13: FACS Monthly Advocacy Webinar
All are welcome to participate in FACS’ monthly advocacy webinar on Wednesday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. The webinars are a great opportunity to quickly get up-to-speed on FACS’ advocacy initiatives and opportunities for action to bring back to your faith communities.
NEW – Registration Requirement. Due to security issues with Zoom, you will need to register for the Advocacy Meetings. Once you register you will be given the link to join. You only need to register once, and you will then be able to join Advocacy Meetings for the rest of the year. Click here for the registration link.
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June 4: FACS Sustainability Champions Awards Program
Our 2020 award winners will be honored Thursday, June 4th at 12:00 p.m. during an online ceremony. With a theme of “Vision 2030” Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay and Fairfax County School Board Chair Karen Corbett Sanders will speak about their vision for climate action by 2030. Award winners will inspire with their stories of going the extra mile for sustainability. Register for this free event here, and the Zoom information will be sent to you.
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Ramadan: April 23- May 23
Green Muslims features resources on their webpage and Facebook for a green Ramadan.
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Laudato Si
May 24th marks the 5th anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si, or Praised Be. Visit the Laudato Si Week 2020 website for resources.
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FACS Tree of Life
Looking for ways to get your faith community involved in acting on climate change, deepening engagement or sharing resources? See what is available in the Tree of Life earth stewardship program.
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In Peace,
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
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