Steve Brooks (1946 - 2024) was a founding member of The Clinch Coalition and was its guiding force from 1998 to 2024. To honor his lifelong dedication to protecting and preserving our natural environment The Clinch Coalition has established the Steve Brooks Legacy Fund. This fund will support paid internship opportunities to provide knowledge, skills and real-world experience in the movement to protect our Appalachian environment. 

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Beginning in the fall of 2025, an intern will receive training and mentorship and participate in educational and recreational activities of The Clinch Coalition. The internship application will be available in April and will be open to anyone dedicated to advocating for environmental protection and justice. Financial support to the Steve Brooks Legacy Fund can be made on this website by clicking Donate or by sending a check to The Clinch Coalition P.O. Box 2732 Wise, VA 24293 with legacy fund on the memo line. Donations are tax deductible.

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 Steve's leadership in environmental protection and justice led to TCC to educate and advocate for sustainable forest management, protection of old growth forest, elimination of logging on public lands, protection of wetlands and waterways, trail maintenance, clean air and water, renewable energy sources and cooperation with other environmental organizations.

 

True to his dedication, Steve and his wife, Maxine Kenny, established the Clinch Mountain Preserve, a 108-acre        hardwood forest located on the Clinch Mountain in Scott County Virginia. This area in southwestern Virginia        is part of the Clinch River Bioreserve. Steve and Maxine, both longtime environmentalists, modified their      already donated land conservation easement in 2005 to designate The 500-Year Forest Foundation as their conservation partner. The Foundation works in partnership with private landowners to help ensure their        mature forest and biologically diverse species they nurture are protected into the future.

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