General Assembly Preview

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Join online from 9:15-10:50AM to stream presentations.
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Standard Price$20

Agenda

December 7, 2024

Main Schedule

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Watch Party Welcome (In-Person Only)

Doors open for regional watch parties around the state. Coffee and breakfast provided!

9:15 AM - 10:50 AM

General Assembly Preview Presentations

Whether at home or streaming at a watch party, join to hear environmental experts share what legislation we expect to see during the 2025 General Assembly session.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Regional Discussions (In-Person Only)

Join a regional discussion with local conservation advocates in your area, led by our regional hosts.

Speakers

Mary Rafferty

Executive Director of Virginia Conservation Network

Josephus Allmond

Associate Attorney at Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC)

Julie Bolthouse

Director of Land Use at Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC)

Jay Ford

Virginia Policy and Grassroots Advisor at Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)

Victoria Higgins

Virginia Director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN)

Chris Leyen

Lobbyist at Blue Ridge PRISM

Trip Pollard

Senior Attorney and Land and Community Program Leader at Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC)

Blair St. Ledger - Olson

Director of Advocacy & Campaigns at Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VALCV)

Mary-Carson Stiff

Policy Director of Wetlands Watch

Ken Wright

Virginia Policy Director of Potomac Conservancy

Josephus handles solar cases at the State Corporation Commission (SCC), which regulates utilities in Virginia. He assists with air and energy related work in front of the SCC as well. He participates in agency-led stakeholder processes on behalf of SELC and in agency-led rule making and permitting processes.

I am so grateful that I get to work with an organization that is doing the difficult work to address climate change.

Josephus also works with the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative and a highlight of his SELC work was the State Air Pollution Control Board’s denial of an air permit for the Lambert Compressor Station on environmental justice grounds.

“Since I began to learn more about climate change as an undergrad, I’ve felt strongly that climate change is the most pressing issue for our generation,” he says. “I am so grateful that I get to work with an organization that is doing the difficult work to address climate change.”

Josephus grew up in Chico, Calif. and now lives just outside of Charlottesville in Troy. He and his girlfriend enjoy being so close to all that Charlottesville has to offer, but love the space that they and their dogs have in Troy.

Previous experience
J.D., Duke University School of Law; Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic
M.S., Northern Arizona University, climate science and solutions
B.A., Northern Arizona University, magna cum laude
A.A., Butte Community College
With SELC since 2020

Victoria Higgins (she/her) is the Virginia Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Victoria grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey and studied psychology and neuroscience at Princeton University. Her career in environmental advocacy began with Green Corps, a rigorous training program for environmental organizers. She worked on campaigns with Mighty Earth, Conservation Colorado, and Environment Virginia to hold corporate polluters accountable, pass state climate policy, and limit plastic pollution in Virginia’s waterways. After falling in love with Virginia, she moved to Richmond to work with Virginia Conservation Network as their Civic Engagement and Grassroots Campaigns Manager.

She received a Master of Science in Energy Policy and Climate at Johns Hopkins University. In her free time, she plays Ultimate frisbee, issues unsolicited opinions about pizza, and carries around a deck of cards in hopes that someone will play spades with her.

A former ecologist turned climate policy advocate, Blair comes to the Virginia League of Conservation with extensive environmental policy experience - both in Virginia and numerous states nationwide. Blair received her Master’s of Science degree from the University of Virginia in Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Behavioral Ecology, and her undergraduate degree is in Environmental Studies with a minor in Mathematics from Hollins University. As the new Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, Blair will continue VALCV's work to protect resources important to all Virginians: clean air and water, thriving communities and rural landscapes, productive farms and forests, historic battlefields and Main Streets, and ample public lands and recreation. Blair calls Charlottesville, VA home and lives with her husband and their two dogs and two cats. In her spare time she can be found volunteering on campaigns, enjoying Virginia's outdoors, and paddle boarding as often as possible.

Watch Parties

Join hundreds of Virginians and learn what issues we expect to come up during the 2025 General Assembly session. This is your best chance to hear about anticipated environmental legislation from statewide environmental experts and meet other conservation advocates from your area on the same day!

Join one of the in-person watch parties listed below (breakfast included!) or tune in online. In-person attendees will be able to network with other local community members and advocacy leaders during breakout conversations on how state-level policy impacts decisions at the local level and how to make an impact!

Regional Watch Parties

Arlington - hosted by Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
Charlottesville - hosted by Community Climate Collaborative and Blue Ridge PRISM
Harrisonburg - hosted by Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
Leesburg - hosted by Loudoun Climate Project
Norton - hosted by Appalachian Voices' New Economy Network
[SOLD OUT] Richmond - hosted by Virginia League of Conservation Voters & Mothers Out Front
Roanoke - hosted by Blue Ridge Land Conservancy
Spotsylvania - hosted by Friends of the Rappahannock
Virginia Beach - hosted by Lynnhaven River Now
Warrenton - hosted by Piedmont Environmental Council
Woodbridge - hosted by Prince William Conservation Alliance & National Parks Conservation Association

You will receive the exact address of your Regional Watch Party in mid-November.

Virginia Conservation Network

Contact us

Tickets

Stream Virtually

Agenda

December 7, 2024

Main Schedule

Speakers

Mary Rafferty

Josephus Allmond

Julie Bolthouse

Jay Ford

Victoria Higgins

Chris Leyen

Trip Pollard

Blair St. Ledger - Olson

Mary-Carson Stiff

Ken Wright

Watch Parties

Regional Watch Parties

Hosts

Community

Connect with 448 people attending this event

Virginia Conservation Network

Contact us

General Assembly Preview

Tickets

Stream Virtually

Agenda

December 7, 2024

Main Schedule

Speakers

Mary Rafferty

Josephus Allmond

Julie Bolthouse

Jay Ford

Victoria Higgins

Chris Leyen

Trip Pollard

Blair St. Ledger - Olson

Mary-Carson Stiff

Ken Wright

Watch Parties

Regional Watch Parties

Hosts

Organizer

Regional Hosts

Community

Connect with 448 people attending this event