Staunton Green 2020

EMAIL US: StauntonGreen AT gmail.com (to avoid spam please insert @ in place of AT in this address, no spaces!)

Staunton Green 2020 is a non-partisan citizens coalition devoted to green jobs and clean energy for all, to help Staunton become a model city for its beauty, humanity, and economic and environmental sustainability.

About a century ago, Staunton, Virginia was a bustling railroad town, with local manufacturing, a downtown with shops open until 10 p.m., and a thriving arts scene of live theatre, film houses, and visual artists.

With the spread of the family car, Staunton, like many towns in rural America, felt the tide of history leave it behind as attention shifted to suburban boomtowns built more for automobiles than for people.

Today, with the clean energy revolution, the tide of history is now coming back in — and Staunton is poised to ride the wave. With a priceless legacy of well preserved Victorian architecture and a central location that is a meeting place for North and South, Staunton can once again take its rightful place as the Queen City of the Shenandoah, boasting a reborn downtown and an even more vital arts scene than in the past.

Staunton resurgent! — the best of America’s past and the best of America’s future.

Steering Committee

Gena Adams
Bruce Dorries, Ph.D.
Steve Grande
Chris Schooley
Meghan Williamson
Reid Oechslin

Bruce Dorries, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Communication Bruce Dorries serves as chair of the department. In addition to teaching Public Speaking, Mass Communication, Media Writing, Principles of Public Relations, Principles of Advertising, Communication Theory, and Senior Seminar in Communication, he writes a bi-weekly column about environmental issues for Staunton’s The News Leader, and contributes to other regional publications as a feature writer and photojournalist. His research interests include media coverage of people with disabilities and community service learning/civic engagement. Bruce earned his BA in Journalism and History at Baylor University, his MA from The University of Corpus Christi State University (now Texas A&M at Corpus Christi), and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. Prior to graduate work from 1990-95 to earn a doctorate in communication, Bruce worked for six years in the public relations and journalism industries. His interests and hobbies include: child rearing, tree raising, aerobics, yoga, cycling, paddle sports, camping, gardening, and study of Eastern philosophies and world religions. Bruce is also a Founding Member of SG2020.

Steve Grande Steve Grande is director of civic engagement at Mary Baldwin College. In the early 1990’s Steve Grande fell in love with Staunton and one of its residents. He moved to Staunton in 1999 with his Sweetie and they live in Gospel Hill with their two girls. Steve joined the Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement at Mary Baldwin College in September 2008 to be the Director of Civic Engagement. Steve oversees efforts to enhance an already resilient community service-learning program, develop a civic engagement minor, initiate domestic and international community service trips, bolster campus environmental initiatives and strengthen the relationship between the college and the local community. Steve is also a Founding Member of SG2020.