RCE Shenandoah Valley - Introduction and Overview

Shenandoah Valley RCEVirginia, United States

Virginia, USA

The Shenandoah Valley RCE

• The total area of is 7,943 km2;

• An estimated population of 317,000;

• The valley is classified as a rural area; however, 25% of the RCE population lives in the two cities of Harrisonburg (population 50,000) and Staunton (population 25,000).

The partners• Bridgewater College• Eastern Mennonite

University• International Beliefs

and Values Institute• James Madison

University• Mary Baldwin

University

Commitments

The mission: Fostering collaborative partnerships for a sustainable Shenandoah Valley.A sustainable Shenandoah Valley preserves and enhances our unique educational, social, environmental, and economic resources to ensure the future well-being of Valley residents and our children.

The people

• 42 different languages spoken in Harrisonburg schools;

• Refugee population has doubled in Harrisonburg in the last 6 years;

• A large community or Old Order Mennonites live in the valley;

• While the cities are somewhat racially diverse, the counties are overwhelmingly White;

• Vocal members of the community have expressed concerns about government “intrusion” and what role the UN is trying to play in the region.

The region

The region

Concerns

• Conserving the unique agricultural, geographic, architectural, and cultural features

• Shenandoah River

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline

• Won’t pipe down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92mf_uBjrE0

Environment

Government

Education

Business/for profit

Poverty

Health/wellness

Local challenges

• As a watershed, the region continues to confront major issues with respect to local surface water quality and runoff to the Chesapeake Bay.

• The region is urbanizing with land values rising. Changing land use patterns have resulted in continued loss of agricultural land, open space, and natural areas.

• Maintaining the rural history and culture of the region is a challenge with industrial, commercial, and agricultural development threats.

Local challenges cont.

• Small family farms are becoming increasingly non-competitive because of global forces and corporate agriculture.

• The increasing diversity of the region requires cross-cultural competency and more effective integration.

• Poverty threatens the well-being not just of the poor, but our communities at large.

What’s next…

• Identify theme and community priorities

• Stakeholder Circle

• Regional Sustainability Award