Projects & Advocacy

Bridging the Gap in Virginia (BTGVA) is excited to announce our Voter Information and Education Rallies, taking place in the BIG 6 Public Housing Projects in Richmond in preparation for the 2024 elections. These rallies aim to empower residents with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions at the polls.

In partnership with Richmond Crusade for Voters and the Richmond Democracy Center, our rallies will focus on critical issues such as criminal justice reform, emphasizing the importance of voting to voice your opinions and drive change. We will also address environmental justice and the urgent need for sustainable practices that benefit all communities. Additionally, we will highlight the value of education in fostering a more informed and engaged electorate.

Join us as we take a stand for a better future. Your voice matters, and your vote is the key to making it heard. Together, we can create a more just and equitable society. Stay tuned for dates and locations, and learn how you can get involved in these vital efforts to shape our community's future.

Bridging the Gap in Virginia (BTGVA) is thrilled to announce our partnership with the City of Richmond Mayor's Youth Academy to provide a comprehensive 6-week Solar Training Program for high school students in Richmond. This innovative program is designed to equip young individuals with essential skills and knowledge in the burgeoning field of renewable energy.

The program includes:

- NABCEP Solar Installation Training: Participants will receive training aligned with the standards of the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), preparing them for certification and careers in solar energy. NABCEP training is provided via Sean White Solar.

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- OSHA10 Certification: Students will earn their OSHA10 certification, ensuring they understand the safety protocols necessary for working in the renewable energy industry.

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- Hands-On Training: Participants will engage in practical, hands-on training in community gardens, applying their newly acquired skills in real-world settings.

In addition to technical training, the program features speakers from various environmental groups across Virginia. These experts will broaden participants' understanding of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the environmental impacts of our energy choices.

This partnership underscores our commitment to empowering the next generation with the tools they need to succeed in the green economy while fostering a deeper appreciation for sustainability and environmental stewardship. We are excited to see the positive impact this program will have on the youth of Richmond and the broader community.

Stay tuned for more details on how to get involved and support this transformative initiative.

BTGVA's innovative Community Garden Solar and Rain Catching Irrigation Project is a testament to our commitment to environmental sustainability and community empowerment. In collaboration with Richmond's Office of Sustainability, we are outfitting 11 community gardens with solar panels and rain-catching systems at no charge to the communities. By harnessing solar energy and collecting rainwater, we create an environmentally friendly irrigation system that promotes water conservation and energy efficiency. This project not only supports the growth of healthy, organic produce but also reduces reliance on traditional water and energy sources, contributing to a greener, more resilient community. Through this initiative, BTGVA demonstrates its dedication to environmental stewardship and empowering communities to cultivate thriving, sustainable gardens.

The Virginia Renewable Energy Alliance makes an annual award recognizing an individual or organization for significant contributions advancing renewable energy in Virginia. This year, Richard Walker was nominated and chosen for the award.

The Virginia Renewable Energy Alliance cited the following when presenting the award to Mr. Walker: “Richard Walker is a mental health professional and Founder and CEO of Bridging the Gap in Virginia, a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to empower ex-offenders, veterans, persons in substance abuse recovery, and those experiencing chronic homelessness. A strong advocate for environmental justice and renewable energy, Richard developed a green workforce development program that has already facilitated free clean energy career trainings to 52 vulnerable individuals and returning citizens, providing them a crucial path to overcoming barriers to change; as well as a Virginia Energy Workforce Consortium committee member for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Richard’s work across Virginia as an advocate for rights restoration and “Ban the Box” (Fair Chance hiring) ordinances has assisted over 10,000 individuals in getting their civil rights restored. Richard has served on the Stakeholders Group for Restoration of Rights for three governors and is a Federal Bureau of Prisons Certified Offender Workforce Development Specialist. He also serves as a Committee Member for multiple Regional Reentry Councils, facilitated “Overcoming Barriers” employment workshops for the City of Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building, and is a certified VADOC Statewide Volunteer for Cognitive and Reentry Community Units. He has advocated for Expungement, ending Solitary Confinement, fair access for public housing, and other legislation that has adversely affected all Virginians. For many years, Richard has been a strong community advocate and through his work, Richard continues to uplift vulnerable individuals and advance justice.”

Opponents of a five-year-old plan to build a natural gas compressor station in a historically black community of Virginia say they've scored a "major victory" for environmental justice after a federal court invalidated a key permit for the project.

In announcing its decision, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond unanimously agreed that Virginia's Air Pollution Control Board failed to consider how the project would disproportionately affect residents of Union Hill, some of whom can trace their lineage to slave ancestors and freedmen who settled in rural Buckingham County after the Civil War.

The ruling is a setback for Dominion, which has seen its larger effort — a 600-mile, multistate natural gas pipeline project known as the Atlantic Coast Pipeline — hampered by delays. 

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In the end Dominion Energy abandoned the project due to public protest, legal issues, and exorbitant delays.