“The Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab suffered a significant setback in the early morning hours of August 26, when a vehicle crashed into the Lab’s green infrastructure along Colley Avenue. The collision destroyed the electric vehicle charging station and damaged the RAFT rain garden system, two important features that demonstrate sustainability, resilience, and environmental stewardship in action.

While these systems can be repaired, the incident is a reminder that operating a public education facility comes with unexpected challenges and costs. Beyond physical repairs, recovery requires staff time, labor, and resources that are not always budgeted for.

We’re working closely with our insurance provider to ensure a safe and timely restoration of the damaged features. In the meantime, we’re grateful for the incredible support of our neighbors. Elation Brewing, the Eco District, and the North Colley Business Association have come together to host a community fundraiser to help offset repair costs and support the Lab’s recovery.”

Join us this Saturday, September 5th at Elation Brewing to support the effort.

Enjoy live music, enter a raffle, and round up your purchase of “Larchmont Lager: Resilient by Nature” to benefit the Ryan Resilience Lab.

Donations will help cover the significant time and resources needed to coordinate reconstruction, as well as expenses that may fall outside insurance coverage. Every contribution helps us restore these valuable community assets and get our curbside eco-services back up and running as quickly as possible.

Thank you for helping us repair, rebuild, and continue demonstrating what a resilient future looks like for our community.”