This week I spoke with Adele MacLean, Regional Coordinator of Partnership for Smarter Growth. This local nonprofit “is a grassroots effort to disseminate information, promote advocacy, and provide an educational forum to address issues of growth and development, land use patterns, and transportation issues in
Central Virginia.” Founded in 2004, this organization is still very young and working to build capacity and partnerships with local communities. Using the Piedmont Environmental Council and the Coalition for Smarter Growth of Washington D.C. as models, Adele discussed in our interview how PSG is striving to focus its mission and programming in the
Richmond region to 9 localities most affected by growth issues. PSG aims to give citizens a voice and is actively recruiting volunteers and groups interested in smart growth to get involved. Civic participation and awareness of local issues are major aspects of PSG’s approach to spreading the message about smarter growth practices. As a regional organization, PSG consistently must consistently confront and emphasize the need for interdependence as a region in issues of housing and commercial development and transportation. When asked about the challenges faced by the movement to promote smart growth, Adele emphasized how the complexity of the issue makes presenting arguments and problems with clear solutions difficult. This also prevents substantial media attention because of the lack of quick sound-bytes to readily attract attention to an organization addressing problems facing the region, individuals and even the nation.

 

Currently, Adele and the Board of Representatives for PSG have a number of goals to direct the organization to raise awareness of the impacts of retail and residential development on the environment, on state and local governments and on individual lifestyles. As stated before, increasing local organizing and strengthening partnerships with existing groups to help spread the message of PSG by holding information sessions and forum discussions. PSG is also focusing on improving its media attention and online communications through its e-newsletter which provides a calendar of events, pending city and county development issues, legislative updates and information about getting involved with PSG. Their website http://www.valcvef.org/partnership/index.html provides information to contact Adele about receiving the newsletter or getting involved in a variety of ways. PSG is now preparing for a major fundraising event: PSG “Greater Richmond Then and Now” Art/Photo Auction at Art Works from 6 to 9 p.m. on June 7 so mark your calendars and visit the website to find out more!