Jeremy Scott Hoffman is a forceful climate justice advocate for Scott’s Addition and the city of Richmond. He credits his father with sparking his interest in conservationism, although he says the notion of creating better spaces has been in the background of every aspect of his life.

“My dad taught me how day-to-day experiences are directly tied to the environment around you,” he explains. “I’m interested in hiking, traveling to beautiful spaces and seeing the world as connected spaces.”

Born in the Chicago suburbs and raised in rural Iowa with cornfields across the street, Hoffman believes he’s the quintessential Mid-Westerner.

He came to Richmond in 2016 and met his wife, a Toronto native, the following year. Hoffman relishes the idea of making Scott’s Addition his lifetime home.

It may be fate because Scott County, where he grew up in Iowa, was named after Gen. Scott, for whom Scott’s Addition also is named. When he moved to Scott’s Addition, he didn’t realize he would be near some of the best biking infrastructure and neighborhoods with connected sidewalk networks and restaurants. He enjoys walking, biking and utilizing public transportation.

Hoffman’s passion for a greener Scott’s Addition stems from his work for climate justice at Groundwork USA. This national nonprofit is dedicated to promoting the natural and built environment of low-resource communities, areas that often lack the resources and infrastructure needed to support a healthy environment. He also teaches Planetary Health at the University of Richmond and works with the Urban Planning Department at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Meet the passionate climate scientist, conservationist, and advocate for green spaces whose professional and volunteer work directly impacts his neighborhood and this week’s Personality, Jeremy S. Hoffman:

Volunteer position: Chair of the Livability Committee for the Greater Scott’s Addition Association.

Occupation: Director of Climate Justice and Impact, Groundwork USA; Affiliate Faculty at VCU and UR.

Date and place of birth: Oct. 1988 in Hinsdale, Ill.

Where I live now: Richmond.

Education: Doctorate, Oregon State University, 2016; bachelor’s with distinction, Augustana College, 2011.

Family: My wife, Catherine, my dog Betty, my very cool in-laws, my older brother, Joshua, my older sister, Tiffany, my four step-siblings Gretchen, Tim, Josh, and Jessie (and their families), my Mom and stepdad Laura and Ed, and my Dad and stepmom Marty and Cheryl. Maternal grandparents, Deserre and Henry.

The Greater Scott’s Addition Association is: The organization that represents the Scott’s Addition Historic District and the Greater Scott’s Addition region.

Mission: Our mission is to be the collective voice and driving force of Greater Scott’s Addition. Through advocacy, information, and community engagement, we aim to enhance the neighborhood experience.

When and why founded: It was formed in the early 2000s by a group of long-time neighborhood business owners and helped to get the neighborhood’s historic district designation.

Scott’s Addition is: The Scott’s Addition historic district is bounded by the 195 overpass to the west, Arthur Ashe Boulevard to the east, Broad Street to the south, and the CSX railroad to the north.

When did Scott’s Addition begin to evolve into a hot place to live, work and play: In the early 2010s when Isley Brewing Company and the first few apartments opened. Since then, it has grown upward at an extremely fast pace.

When and why I chose Scott’s Addition as my neighborhood: I don’t think there’s a better neighborhood in Richmond for being able to live car-lite near so many amenities and other great neighborhoods.

It’s been almost 10 years, and I couldn’t imagine moving to a different part of Richmond.

The GRSAA Livability Committee is: A subcommittee of the GSAA board that engages in the design, execution, and oversight of advocacy and action projects for increasing access to neighborhood green space and bike/pedestrian infrastructure while promoting a litter-free neighborhood.

Why is it necessary: Scott’s Addition has very few public, free spaces for people to just exist in. For all its attractions, you basically are required to spend money to enjoy them! We think the definition of a livable neighborhood includes having several free, open green spaces that you can use for a variety of things. So, our committee really came out of our residents’ and businesses’ desire for more green in a neighborhood that is nearly full of gray.

Recent and future projects: The Rosemoore Pocket Park (2020), The Science Museum ProtoPath (2021), West Broad Street Green & Pollinator Park (2021), Moore St. Alley Cleanup (2023), West Broad Street Pop-Up Park (2024) and the helping communicate the installation of the bike lane network (2023-2024) have all been recent successes. We’re looking forward to seeing the rest of the ProtoPath completed along with safety improvements at the Leigh Street crossing into Movieland, we’re excited about helping with the pedestrian/bike connectivity conversation with the Diamond District & Arthur Ashe Blvd / CSX Overpass bridge project, the rollout of another $2M in infrastructure investment in the neighborhood by DPW, and hopefully making the Pop-Up Park permanently open to people and closed to cars!

I initially got involved with the Greater Scott’s Addition Association: Through advocacy around our urban heat island work, which showed that the neighborhood was among the hottest in the city during heat waves. I was asked to join the board after I brought several VCU student projects to bear on our goals around tree canopy and green space improvements. I was interested in having a direct impact on my neighborhood using the data I was collecting through our projects at the Museum and VCU.

No. 1 goal and strategy as chair of the Livability Committee: Have a clear vision of what’s possible but be willing to roll with unexpected changes and obstacles.

Biggest challenge: How to effectively and consistently maintain a two-way conversation about a changing and evolving neighborhood with a large, growing, and high turnover population of residents in the neighborhood.

Scott’s Addition and trees, heat and the City of Richmond: These places tended to be poorer and communities of color, but also neighborhoods like Scott’s Addition.

We’ve since found that most heat illness responses by the ambulance go to these hotter spots, they are called around 3 to 5p.m. (the warmest part of the day), and a disproportionate amount of these emergencies are experienced by Black residents. Extreme heat is a clear environmental justice issue in Richmond.

No. 1 joy I have witnessed through the Livability Committee: Seeing people use and enjoy the places you’ve worked with others to make is a really special feeling – especially when you know what it looked like before you did anything.

Ways to get involved with GRSAA and the Livability Committee: Come to our bi-monthly public meetings, join our neighborhood newsletter, and reach out to livability@scottsaddition.com.

Upcoming events: We’ll be hosting a mayoral forum later into the fall.

How I start the day: I start my day with a coffee and breakfast, followed by a bit of movement/stretching/calisthenics or a bike ride to warm the body up and get a little sweat going.

The three words that best describe me: Determined, goofy, curious.

Best late-night snack: Dill popcorn.

A quote that inspires me: “Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works.” – Carl Sagan

The best thing my parents ever taught me: My dad taught me how to observe the natural world and predict outcomes from environmental indicators, which was a fundamental skill that helped me through all of my academic work.

Book that influenced me the most: “The 99% Invisible City” by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt. Everything around you has been designed in some way. This book puts all of that – the good and the bad – into perspective in a really compelling narrative that makes it feel like you’re discovering unknown secrets.

Next goal: Finalize this semester’s syllabus at University of Richmond!