Everything Greens

Thank You and Farewell

Sarah Perry, our Executive Director for 10 years, is moving on!  While we will miss her, we are grateful for the time, sweat, and tears she has put into our organization. We know she is going to do great things!

We managed to grab her for a few minutes to ask her a few things about her time here…

Proudest moment? The first Youth Farm Program Dinner.  Watching the kids proudly making and serving food that they grew to their families still brings tears to my eyes. It was so rewarding.

What goals did you achieve? I saw the potential of the space and the opportunity to engage with our community through youth programming and other programs.

Favorite Programs DTG? Currently the Cocktail Workshop series. Past favorites are the rain barrel class with Friends of the Rappahannock, cheese workshop with DeLaura, the Ayurveda class, too many to name. Our programs are community driven. If you can dream it, you can do it.

Hopes for the future of DTG? Too many to list but seeing the New Land fill its potential and become an even bigger benefit to the community is definitely one.

Biggest Lesson Learned? Patience. Everything takes time.

Now let’s hear a few words from the lady herself… 
It is with bittersweet feelings that I announce that I will be stepping down from my position as Executive Director of Downtown Greens in September of this year. Downtown Greens has always been much more than just a job for me, it has been my passion. The people and mission will remain a permanent and very cherished part of my life.
It’s been such a joy to witness the positive effects of youth and adult programming thanks to our talented educators bringing people closer to nature and the food that they eat. At its base, though, the garden is a community space and respite, a forever-protected urban oasis for all to enjoy. One seven-year-old neighbor who I met when I first arrived on the job, reminisced, 10 years later,  “I could never forget the one place where I always felt comfortable and free.”
I am excited for the future of Downtown Greens.   I will forever be grateful for the many volunteers who helped and the 520 donors who came together, even when many thought we couldn’t do it, to raise the capital needed to secure Downtown Greens’ new 56-acre parcel of land in the City of Fredericksburg. Saving the land from development was a forever accomplishment that will endure for generations to come. The newly acquired land creates a strong foundation into which the organization can grow its mission and vision. 
I believe deeply in this organization and its mission. I am confident that the next person who steps into this role will come in with fresh ideas and energy and will be able to take DTG to the next level. 
​It was an honor to serve as executive director for the past 10 years. I’m proud of how far we’ve come and I’m excited to see what’s next. Thank you to the staff, board of directors-past and present, volunteers, donors, grantors, neighbors and children for support, guidance, company, fun and friendship.

With Gratitude,
Sarah Perry

Janet Douberly is excited for the future at Downtown Greens.

This article was originally published in the August 2023 edition of Front {porch Magazine. Use the button below to see the full edition.

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Front Porch Magazine