Our Mission & Vision
Mission
To enhance the well-being of our community by connecting people with nature through education and the preservation of greenspaces.
Vision
One day, we will live in a world where the community feels a deep connection with each other, nature, and the food they eat.
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Our Values
● Sustainability- We are intentional in the use of all resources and mindful of how our actions impact the community and the world.
● Inclusion - We honor diversity by respecting the innate worth of all persons, cultures, and abilities. We are stronger because of the varied contributions of all.
● Stewardship – We accept responsibility to care for the land and to educate and encourage the community to become active contributors to a healthy environment.
● Optimism – We believe in our community, and the ability to bring change for the better through our actions, words, and intentions.
● Service – We dedicate ourselves to creating opportunities for the advancement of the community.
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Lynda Allen
Office Manager
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Lynda is a creative spirit with two degrees in communications and an affinity for birds, the Rappahannock River, and communing with nature. She brings computer skills and compassion to her work for Downtown Greens.
Lynda is also a poet and the author of the Liv Wilde Mystery series set in Fredericksburg in which menopause is a superpower!
Em Ford
Land Manager
Em Ford, Land Manager and South Floridian transplant, is an Environmental Scientist with a focus on native plant ecology. They want to connect people with nature because slowing down, taking a closer look, and having a little more consideration could help make the world a better place for all of us.
Janet Douberly
Outreach Manager
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Janet Douberly has a degree in horticulture with a focus on food production and is a Virginia Master Naturalist. Janet's favorite part of their job is sharing weird and fascinating facts about plants and insects with anyone who will stand still long enough to listen.
Khalilah Brooker
Education Manager
Khalilah Brooker is a transplant from Philadelphia. She has cultivated gardens in four different regions of the United States. She continued her garden education at the College of Lake County in Illinois, as well as through multiple classes, seminars, and plant shows. She is trained in floral design, greenhouse management, and basic horticulture and is an avid companion garden follower.
Khalilah's favorite part about working at Downtown Greens as our Education Manager is the children and the look on their faces when they discover something new.
Janelle Kennedy
Executive Director
As Executive Director of Downtown Greens, Janelle brings almost two decades of hands-on experience in nonprofit development and education, community growth, and local history. As a long-time Fredericksburg resident and Mary Washington College graduate, her roots in Fredericksburg run deep. Janelle's background includes serving as an interpretive historian with the National Park Service at the local battlefield park and running the volunteer and education programs at the Fredericksburg Area Museum.
At Downtown Greens, she manages our daily operations, community garden programs, fundraising, and greenspace conservation, while spearheading the vision for the future of our Belman Road Campus. Janelle prioritizes working in authentic partnership with all of Fredericksburg’s residents and community organizations to ensure everyone has a voice in our shared future. An avid gardener who loves getting her hands in the dirt, she is passionate about creating welcoming local spaces where neighbors can gather, grow fresh food, and build a stronger community together.
Meet our dedicated staff
Our Team
Meet our dedicated Board of Directors
Our Board
Christie Hoerneman
President of the Board
Teresa M. Towle
Vice President
Kimberly Cartier
Board Member
Mark Reid
Board Member
Rachel Walsh-Mattson
Board Member
Shawn Phillips
Board Member
Our History
Downtown Greens began when Laura Shepherd, our first Executive Director, transformed an unused lot at 206 Charles Street—now home to our offices—into a thriving garden. Her efforts sparked the curiosity and enthusiasm of neighborhood children, laying the foundation for what would become a lasting community resource.
With support from local residents, Downtown Greens became a nonprofit organization in 1995. This allowed the organization to purchase the land behind 206 Charles Street, now known as the Lower Garden. Four years later, an additional parcel at Princess Anne and Dixon Streets was acquired, creating the Upper Garden.
In 2015, the entire 2.8-acre garden property was placed under a conservation easement to ensure its permanent protection. In 2021, Downtown Greens purchased more than 56 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and agricultural fields, now known as the Belman Road Campus, and placed the property under conservation easement as well. In recognition of this unique urban conservation effort, Downtown Greens was named Conservation Steward of the Year by the Land Trust of Virginia in 2024.
Today, Downtown Greens protects more than 58 acres of land—nearly 1% of the City of Fredericksburg—preserving these gardens and natural spaces for community use and enjoyment for generations to come.
We strive to be the leading resource for school-aged children and adults in the Fredericksburg area to learn about sustainable gardening while fostering a strong sense of belonging for all who visit our spaces.
Since launching youth programs in 2016, we have expanded our educational offerings to include Garden Sprouts, developed with Fredericksburg Head Start and the Virginia Preschool Initiative, Youth Farm Program, homeschool field trips, and Gardening for Nature workshops for adults in partnership with the local public library.
