Welcome back! It's that exciting time of year again - the 2024-2025 school year is in full swing, and we are thrilled to be here supporting the next generation of environmental leaders. Our National Youth Council and Green Schools Society programs, along with a host of other fantastic opportunities for students and schools in the Fall and Spring, are ready to inspire, empower, and help create healthy, equitable, and sustainably-minded green students, schools, and communities. | |
Meet Arjun and Carolyn, our new National Youth Council Co-Presidents! | |
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Project Green Schools is excited to announce Arjun Desai and Carolyn He as the new Co-Presidents of our National Youth Council!
Arjun and Carolyn are outstanding young environmental leaders who have made a tangible impact on their peers, schools, and communities. We are confident that the National Youth Council will flourish under their leadership and eagerly anticipate their inspiring contributions!
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Meet Arjun:
Arjun Desai is a high school senior from Shreveport, Louisiana. This is his fourth year on Project Green Schools’ National Youth Council, having served as Vice President and News Editor over the past two years. At the local level, Arjun serves as the president of his school’s environmental advocacy club, or Greens Club...
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Meet Carolyn:
Carolyn, a senior at the Academy for Mathematics, Science and Engineering, is proud to serve a third year on Project Green School’s National Youth Council and as Co-President this year. Whether it’s researching wildfire-induced disruptions to vegetation health with NASA or reducing paper consumption through her environmental organization, A Sustainable Future, Carolyn is committed to bridging the gap between scientific evidence and environmental advocacy...
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Introducing our new Board & Advisory Members | |
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We have some exciting updates, and some new (and returning!) faces joining the Project Green Schools Board of Directors and Advisory Board!
Board of Directors
We are thrilled to announce that Michael Isenberg, a long-time PGS advisor with a strong commitment to our organization and a co-founder of our Outdoor Classroom Challenge, has officially joined our Board of Directors as Co-Vice Chairman! Additionally, we are also pleased to extend a warm welcome to Noah Sorin, Founder and CEO of Idori and another valued PGS advisor, as he takes on the role as our newest member of the Board of Directors!
Advisory Board
Please join us in welcoming our new Advisors!
Elliott Bennett
Tiffony Cesero
Steve Minard
Phanida Phivilay
Also, we are pleased to share that former National Youth Council Co-President Molly Gun is returning to Project Green Schools as a Board Advisor!
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Project Green Schools is headed to New York for Climate Week! | |
UNITE 2030's Changemaker Summit | |
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Our Executive Director, Robin Sidman, will be speaking at the 3rd annual Changemaker Summit on September 14th, hosted by UNITE 2030, where leaders and innovators come together to drive real impact. Robin will be joining the panel on “Turning Ideas Into Action,” where they will dive deep into the steps needed to transform bold ideas into tangible solutions. The goal of this panel is to break down the often-overwhelming process of going from concept to execution.
The panel will explore strategies for navigating challenges, finding the right support, and keeping momentum as you scale your impact.
Our National Youth Council looks forward to participating in this engaging event during Global Goals Week and engaging with visionary leaders and changemakers working to drive sustainable change!
Space is limited, so register soon!
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8th NYC Green School Conference
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Our Founder and Executive Director, Robin Sidman, and our National Youth Council will be speaking at the 8th NYC Green School Conference during Climate Week!
Where: NYC Conference Center at Cornell ILR
570 Lexington Avenue #12th floor New York, NY 10022
When: Sept. 23rd from 10am to 5pm EDT
In the wake of a changing global environment, the 8th NYC Green School Conference, scheduled for September 23-24, 2024, at the ILR School, Cornell University, New York, emerges as a critical platform.
Coinciding with the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly and the Summit of the Future at UNGA, the conference aspires to pivot educational practices towards sustainability.
The 8th NYC Green School Conference is anchored in the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership's vision of greening 50% of all schools by 2030.
This event will feature:
- Educational Workshops
- Keynote Insights from thought leaders
- Interactive Panels discussing current challenges and solutions
- Student Showcases highlighting innovative projects
- Sustainability Expo featuring the latest in sustainable technologies and initiatives
- Networking Opportunities with peers and leaders in the field
- Policy Dialogues to shape the future of green education
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Featured Pathway: Green and Healthy Schools and Communities | |
September kicks off our Pathways to Greening Your School! This month’s theme is Green and Healthy Schools and Communities, which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Quality Education. Within this pathway, you will find links to curriculum, games, apps, videos, days to celebrate, and more! | |
Climate Resilient Schools: Applications open for new youth cohort! | |
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Climate Resilient Schools is launching a new youth cohort for the 2024-2025 school year! The Climate Resilient Schools Coalition is a network of students, teachers, school districts, and social justice groups working towards equitable climate resilience in Massachusetts schools.
The group is recruiting up to 15 high school students from across Massachusetts to advocate for climate solutions in their school districts. Youth cohort members will develop leadership and organizational skills, learn how to write a climate resolution or policy, and become a climate action leader in their communities.
Students who are accepted and complete the program will receive a stipend of $1,500.
Applications are due September 30th!
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The Climate Reality Project: Join former U.S. Vice President Al Gore in a special virtual leadership training! | |
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Join former Vice President Al Gore and The Climate Reality Project for a special online leadership training October 17-23 and discover how together we can build a more perfect union for our nation and a better tomorrow for our planet, powered by clean energy.
At the Climate Reality Leadership Corps Virtual US Training, participants will have a chance to make strategic connections that will help them with their work, teach them new skills and improve existing ones, and increase the visibility of their organization’s work and mission. This includes:
- Gaining a deeper understanding of the climate crisis and how we can solve it from Vice President Al Gore and world-renowned scientists, activists, innovators, and policymakers.
- Working with field-leading organizers and experts to become a more effective advocate and leader, equipped with the skills to influence decision makers, shape public opinion, mobilize your community, and more.
- Learning about the relationship between the climate crisis and wide-ranging environmental justice issues from air pollution to loss and damage.
- Connecting with Climate Reality Leaders and joining a global community of climate advocates.
- Networking with individuals and organizations leading the charge for solutions to the greatest challenge of our time.
The training is free, with a flexible schedule of live broadcasts, on-demand skill-building videos, and interactive workshops.
Speakers include:
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Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Founder and Chairman of The Climate Reality Project
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Jamie Raskin, Member of Congress, US House of Representatives; Lead Democrat, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
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Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, Professor, Texas Tech University; Chief Scientist, The Nature Conservancy
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Dr. Marshall Shepherd, Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor, University of Georgia; Director, Atmospheric Sciences Program
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Staci Roberts-Steele, Managing Director and Executive Producer, Yellow Dot Studios; Producer, “Don’t Look Up”
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Lily Palmer, Program Organizer, Green Schools Campaign Advisory Team
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American Climate Leadership Awards: Applications open Sept. 16th | |
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Our friends at ecoAmerica will be opening applications for their annual American Climate Leadership Awards (ACLA) on September 16th! Since 2019, the ACLA has recognized more than 150 local and national leaders, and awarded over one million dollars to individuals and organizations that are activating a broader diversity of Americans on climate solutions.
This year, the ACLA has three categories:
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Leadership: Open to any individual or organization doing effective climate engagement of advocacy. Scale of reach and impact can range from local to national
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Youth: Open to youth (14 to 24 years old) working at the school, community, or state level.
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Honor: This special category is bestowed on one climate leader who has profoundly advanced national progress on climate action and solutions.
The American Climate Leadership Awards will award more than 40 individuals and organizations with more than $200,000 in recognition of their success in accelerating climate change advocacy and activation across the United States.
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Youth Outdoor Equity Leadership Fund | |
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The Children & Nature Network invites young leaders in the U.S., Mexico and Canada between the ages of 16 and 30 to request up to $500 to grow professionally as a leader in the movement or to implement projects that create change in equitable access to nature, community health and well being, and justice.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
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Apply to Your State to Become a 2025 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School! | |
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Launched in 2011, the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools is a recognition award that honors public and private schools ranging from elementary, middle, and high schools to districts and postsecondary institutions. The Green Ribbon program honors schools and districts that are demonstrating leadership in three Pillars: 1) reducing environmental impact and costs; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.
Deadlines vary by state. Applications for many states will close around the winter holidays.
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Power Your Future Challenge | |
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The Power Your Future Challenge is a nationwide challenge inspiring high school students to envision clean energy careers. The U.S. Department of Education invites teams to submit innovative action plans that will advance the use of clean energy in their schools and communities. Through this challenge, students can explore clean energy and connect career and technical education (CTE) programs with a wide variety of clean energy career pathways.
By participating, teachers and students will get hands-on experience envisioning and designing clean energy solutions that can make a real-world impact. The challenge will also connect CTE students to the vast career opportunities in clean energy and other vital infrastructure industries.
Submissions due November 19th.
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Youth as Solutions (YaS) is creating a generation of citizens who are passionate about making a positive impact in their schools and communities. Their self-paced service-learning program provides students and educators with the opportunity to positively impact their communities by addressing one of these impact areas:
- Education equity
- Community health
- Environmental justice
- Civics and democracy
Leadership teams should consist of at least two youth (grades 6th-12th) and an adult mentor from a public school, school district, government entity, or nonprofit.
Through the program, teams receive:
- Leadership training for youth
- Service-Learning training for adults
- Resources and tools
- Learning community & networking
- Coaching through the IPARD process (Investigation-Preparation & Planning, Action, Reflection, Demonstration)
- Activity funding is available ranging from $250 to $1,000
Applications are due September 13, 2024.
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Reminder: Bow Seat's True Blue Fellowship: Apply for a chance at $2,500 in funding for youth-led projects | |
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Bow Seat's True Blue Fellowship aims to connect and empower youth around the world to leverage the creative arts to enact change in local communities to safeguard the ocean, waterways, and the climate.
The True Blue Fellowship provides mentorship, capacity building, and funding of up to $2,500 for 10 youth-led projects that address ocean, waterways, and/or climate change issues in their local communities through a creative arts lens.
Projects must meet the Fellowship goals:
1.) Utilize the creative arts as the primary method for awareness and/or action
2.) Co-create with and engage others in your local community.
3.) Have a tangible impact on your local community and environment.
Who Can Apply?
- Youth ages 13-24
- Young people worldwide (applications must be in English)
- Individuals or classes, groups, clubs, or organizations
- New or emerging projects that are less than two years old (clubs or organizations that are more than two years old may apply so long as the proposed project is less than two years old)
Applications are due on September 1st at 11:59 PM EST.
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Calendar of Events/Days to Celebrate
September
- 4th: National Wildlife Day
- 21st: International Day of Peace
- 21st: Zero Emissions Day
- 22nd: World Car-free Day
- 22nd/23rd: Fall (Autumnal) Day
October
- 1st Week: Junk Mail Awareness Week
- 1st: World Vegetarian Day
- 4th: World Animal Day
- 8th: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Day
- 17th: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
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Project Green Schools |3 Village Green North #311 PMB 191, Plymouth, MA 02360 | info@projectgreenschools.org www.projectgreenschools.org
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