Wild Virginia announced that it has selected participants for its Fall 2024 class of Clean Water Advocates. This free online environmental education initiative empowers and equips individuals, communities, and organizations to protect Virginia’s water quality. Wild Virginia launched a successful pilot version of the program last year and saw more than 40 applications to the program for the second class being held this fall; a 50% increase over 2023. The program teaches graduates about legal and technical frameworks for water pollution control and gives them practical tools to advocate effectively.

“We are thrilled to welcome 24 new Advocates,” stated Clean Water Advocates Co-Director, Jacqueline Goodrum. “This is not only our largest class yet, but also our most diverse. We have people from all across the Commonwealth participating in this program, ranging in ages from 20 to over 60 years old, people of different races and gender identities, as well as people with a variety of educational backgrounds.”

“Wild Virginia fights for full protection of our waters, a vital part of our common wealth, insisting that state and federal agencies do their jobs to enforce state and federal laws—a task that they fail at much too often,” said David Sligh, Wild Virginia’s Conservation Director. “As Clean Water Advocates, graduates will work on local and statewide issues and have the knowledge and skills to be effective at representing and getting results that reflect their interests and the concerns of their communities.”

Advocacy for full protection of Virginia’s waters is more important now than ever and all residents have an important opportunity insist that their resources be preserved. Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions have weakened citizens’ and regulators’ abilities to stop pollution on the federal level, but state laws are still strong and we intend to keep them that way. Further, many people, including these new Advocates, see that they have vital roles in making sure the law works for us all. That’s what Wild Virginia intends to support through this program, now and in years to come.

For more information about Clean Water Advocates, including how to apply for next year’s program, visit https://wildvirginia.org/wild-virginia-clean-water-advocates-program/ or contact advocates@wildvirginia.org.