Vision Statement: Sustain Verona’s vision is to promote a healthy environment and a sustainable future for the City and Town of Verona. As citizens of Verona, we seek to improve sustainability efforts and encourage land preservation. To mitigate climate change impacts, we seek to promote the use of renewable energy resources within our community.
Mission Statement: We seek to work with public and private partners to:
- Encourage environmentally friendly, non-fossil fuel development.
- Preserve green spaces and farmland.
- Identify and promote sustainability measures such as renewable energy, reduced production of greenhouse gases, reusable materials, and restoration and conservation of land.
The Year in Review – 2024 and 2025
As we reflect on the remarkable strides made in 2024, we are proud to highlight the transformative work of Sustain Verona. With the commitment and energy of our dedicated volunteers, members, and partners, we have built a strong foundation for environmental stewardship, sustainability, and climate action in our community.
2024 Highlights: A Year of Growth and Impact
Our primary focus in 2024 was expanding the scope and effectiveness of our work. Below are some of the major accomplishments we’ve achieved together:
- The Birth of Sustain Verona: In the past year, we’ve come a long way in formalizing our work. We began as VEG, but soon rebranded to Sustain Verona to better reflect the broad scope of our goals. We have since grown into a vibrant organization with a website, Instagram page, and Facebook presence—tools that allow us to engage and inform the community.
- Collaboration with the City’s Sustainability Task Force: One of our proudest achievements was encouraging the City of Verona to re-establish their Sustainability Task Force. Thanks to the hard work of our members, Leyla Sanyer and Jeff Johnson are now part of this task force, where they have played an integral role in moving sustainability efforts forward. In addition to the task force meetings, we were thrilled to see the City include nearly $100,000 in the 2025 budget for solar panels on municipal buildings and funding for an electric vehicle and charging stations.
- Solar Initiatives with Verona Area School District: We began working with the Verona Area School District to bring solar panels to local school buildings. Partnering with the Sauk Prairie group that successfully implemented similar projects, we now have a clear blueprint to expand renewable energy in Verona’s schools.
- Food Waste and Composting Program: We began investigating a food waste composting program for Verona to reduce landfill waste and the harmful methane emissions that result from food decomposition. This program is essential for both waste reduction and mitigating climate change, and we are eager to move forward in collaboration with the City.
- Land Conservation in the Town of Verona: The Town of Verona saw another significant victory in land preservation, with Dane County purchasing and protecting 80 acres of land, now part of nearly 1,000 acres of permanently protected land. This work is vital for maintaining the integrity of our natural environment and ensuring long-term sustainability for future generations.
Looking Ahead: Our Vision for 2025
As we enter 2025, we have ambitious goals to build on the momentum we’ve created and make an even bigger impact in Verona. Here’s what we’re focused on for the year ahead:
- Advancing the City’s Sustainability Task Force Initiatives: Our partnership with the City’s Sustainability Task Force will continue. We hope to expand efforts on solar panel installations, increase tree planting, and further our efforts in creating sustainable prairie areas and other green spaces within the City of Verona.
- Solar Panels for Verona Area Schools: We are committed to finalizing our proposal for rooftop solar panels on the Verona Area School District’s buildings. We aim to secure funding and support to make this important project a reality in 2025.
- Land Protection for Both the City and Town of Verona: Building on our successes, we will work with both the City and the Town of Verona to develop a land protection program that aligns with current and future land development plans. This program will ensure that Verona’s natural spaces remain protected for generations to come.
- Food Waste and Composting Implementation: In 2025, we will push forward with our food waste composting program, working alongside both the City and School District to implement systems that reduce food waste and keep it out of landfills.
- Educational Initiatives for the Verona Community: A key priority for us will be educating the Verona community about the actions individuals can take to combat climate change. From installing solar panels and improving home energy efficiency to driving electric vehicles, we want every resident to feel empowered to take action.
- Expanding Our Social Media Presence: We will continue to develop our social media platforms to raise awareness about global warming and share positive, actionable steps our community can take to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. It’s important that Verona not only understands the challenges we face but also the opportunities we have to make a meaningful difference.
A Heartfelt Thank You
None of this would have been possible without the dedication, passion, and hard work of all our volunteers, members, partners, and supporters. Sustain Verona is a grassroots organization, and your efforts—whether behind the scenes or front and center—are what make these successes possible.
As we look to the future, we remain inspired by what we’ve already accomplished and energized by the opportunities ahead. Thank you for your continued support. Together, we are building a more sustainable, resilient, and environmentally conscious community for Verona. If you’re looking for more information or interested in joining us, please email sustainverona@gmail.com.