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Interview with New Sustainable Fairfax Board President- Scott Valentino |
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 As Communications Chair on the Board of Sustainable Fairfax, I had the opportunity to sit down and interview our newly elected President Scott Valentino.
I found to him to be a very genuine and interesting guy who was very down to earth. He really wants to clarify that making a difference in the world is not hard, and can be done by anyone. Scott describes his approach to sustainability as “incrementalism” meaning that he has done a little more each year to make a difference. He started doing one thing and upon finding it easy did more and more.
Ultimately, Scott is like most folks who simply give some of their time to make our community a better place.”
Scott, please tell me your history of sustainability and what drew you initially to come to Fairfax?
I began my sustainability journey while attending the New College of California’s Culture, Ecology & Sustainable Community program. Over the summer of 1998, I literally traveled the country seeking a
vibrant, small community because I wanted to make a difference in a
small town. I was living in San Francisco and finally decided to leave the man-made sounds of the city (after 9 years) to seek out a “sustainable community”. Six months later, I was invited to spend New Year’s Eve with a friend in Fairfax. As a bicycle commuter I had never stopped in Fairfax before, and had dinner at Fradelezio’s afterwards before heading to 19 Broadway. Everyone was so friendly! The atmosphere was that of community. The next morning I happened upon the Marin County Bike Coalition release party at Bikadelic for the first Marin County Pedestrian and Bicycling Map and I realized then that I found the “spotted owl” of small towns (rare, and deserving of preservation), Fairfax, Ecotopia. This small town had everything I had been looking for and I thought, Wow! The potential’s here. I moved to town a few moths later and after ten years I couldn’t be happier.
Can you briefly describe your personal history?
I came from the “hi-tech” world and have studied Eco-psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies. I am a Fairfax homeowner and small business owner. I’ve worked with many non-profits (including being part of the original Sustainable Fairfax). I’m a certified teacher of English as a Second Language, who’s passionate about travel and I view the world through the eyes of a socio-cultural anthropologist. I have a long history of volunteerism and community service. But, I’ve definitely learned more about making positive change and social transformation since moving to Fairfax than I ever could in graduate school.
What made you join the original Sustainable Fairfax & what brings you back?
Well, the original Sustainable Fairfax was created by a committed group of people who were really focused on a few core issues, such as global warming, recycling and the Community Choice Law. I wanted to focus on deep ecology and personal empowerment issues and Sustainable Fairfax offered a great venue. As the board grew, each member brought their own energy and intention into the group. Over time, the organization changed shape, trying to define itself. We accomplished so much, but recognized that our pace was unsustainable. The organization needed to transform, and a few of us we went through a formal re-visioning process. That process helped me realize that I wanted more hands –on work and so I left Sustainable Fairfax to join the board of the Fairfax Volunteers.
I continued to watch the evolution of Sustainable Fairfax and the new Center from afar and I saw a new, healthier organization taking shape. When Pam approached me (to re-join the board) I felt honored. Their drive, and sense of community are awesome and I believe Sustainable Fairfax has come full circle. I hope that I can help them continue to gauge the pulse of the community and the planet. Rather than contribute to “eco-anxiety” I want to encourage a movement towards greater sustainability, by advocating for reasonable changes, doing what folks are comfortable with - even if it is a little at a time, and demonstrating that it can be fun to save the planet.
What do you see as Fairfax’s future and how Sustainable Fairfax fits into it?
I still think that Fairfax has everything a town needs to be a model of sustainability and organizations such as Sustainable Fairfax are key to moving the town in that direction. Sustainability is an umbrella that people gravitate to. It holds promise and deals with people’s hope. I welcome and encourage that hope, but recognize how fragile hope can be. The board of Sustainable Fairfax don't have all the answers, but together as a community we can discover them. I want Sustainable Fairfax to help foster a participatory democracy, to help the folks here in town reclaim the concept of citizenship, rather than consumerism. We are all a part of something larger, and while that something requires us to act responsibly, it can also deepen our appreciation, and bring us pride. Check us out and see for yourself how easy it is to make a positive difference!
By Rachel DeMicco
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Water Conservation Program
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Soyara and Sonia are sisters (hence '