We are one of Third Act’s oldest working groups, with deep roots in the state. Some of us began working together before Third Act was founded while fighting to stop the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) in southwestern Virginia.
We have since grown to more than 300 enrolled members across the state. We often collaborate with TA working groups in Washington DC and Maryland on actions in the nation’s capital as part of an informal alliance we call Third Act DMV.
We are an inclusive bunch that warmly welcomes Virginians of diverse ethnicities, cultures, faith traditions, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, and communities.
Fill in this form to be added to our mailing list. You will receive regular updates and invitations to our monthly all-hands video call.
Monthly State-Wide Welcome Zoom Call and Local Working Groups
Joining one of our monthly Zoom meetings is a great way to get started.
We meet the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm. Register here.
Contact a Local Coordinator for ways to plug in. Please let us know your interests, impressions and how you’d like to be involved.
- Lisa Finn in northern VA – elizabethcf4@gmail.com
- Beth Hedquist in Richmond – bethh1902@gmail.com
- Donna Shaunesey in Charlottesville – shaunesey@hotmail.com
- Deborah Kushner in Staunton – drkinva@gmail.com
- Connie Fitzsimmons in SW VA – cfitzsimm@gmail.com
- Susan Feathers in Tidewater – susanleefeathers@gmail.com
If you’d like to start a new local group in your area &/or help with statewide-level tasks for our TAVA group, please let Lisa Finn (email above) know! If you’d like to help with your local group, let your Local Coordinator know – there’s always a lot to do!
We’re on social media, so check out our actions from the last 2+ years:
- Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ThirdActVA,
- Instagram at @thirdactva
Third Act works on three campaigns:
- Advance Fossil Free Finance – Cutting off the money pipeline to fossil fuel development. Our targets are the major banks, asset managers, and Costco because of its partnership with Citibank.
- Power Up Communities – Expanding local public participation in energy decision making to shift climate policy, legislative actions and IRA distribution support. This includes the rapid adoption and expansion of electrification.
- Uplift Democracy & Voting – Focused on maintaining a democracy, fair elections, informed voters and getting out the vote.
What We Do and How We Do It
Our activities range from writing postcards and making phone calls to get out the vote; to public actions demanding that banks stop investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure; to organizing #TeslaTakedown protests, Third Act participation in #HandsOff rallies, and other activities to protect democracy. Third Act DMV invented the “Rocking Chair Rebellion” — elders sitting in brightly painted rocking chairs at climate action demonstrations. We turn up in rocking chairs at our events and in support of actions organized by younger allies in the fight for climate justice.
Like other working groups, we participate actively in ThirdAct’s national campaigns and are committed to following ThirdAct’s Working Principles and abiding by the Third Act Working Group Agreements.
Changing everything needs everybody. We welcome everyone who shares our values of restoring and passing along a livable planet and a thriving and fully participatory democracy. This is no time for elders to take a back seat and expect others to address these problems. Our time is now!
Email us: Virginia@ThirdAct.org