Our guests today were Sofia Valdez and Climate Generation’s Director of Community Engagement, Jothsna Harris.
President Edeth James’ Quote of the Day: “It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” – Mahatma Gandhi
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Note that the Board meets at 11AM on Tuesday, January 25th.
Our presenter for today is Jothsna Harris, Director of Community Engagement for Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy. Climate Generation empowers individuals and their communities to engage in solutions to climate change. Founded by polar explorer Will Steger in 2006 as the Will Steger Foundation, the non-profit changed its name in 2015 to better reflect this mission. Climate Generation believes that individuals and communities must develop their climate change knowledge and appreciate their personal connections to climate change in order for meaningful and sustainable change to take place. Their approach involves collaboration and partnership with youth, educators and the public, and focuses on personal stories and eyewitness accounts in addition to conventional scientific reasoning. Climate Generation has several programs designed to educate and activate people interested in climate change.
- The Climate Change Education Program provides educators with curriculum and professional development opportunities.
- The Community Engagement Program provides a model for public meetings about climate change.
- The Youth Environmental Activists (YEA!) Program for high school students provides mentorship, education and support for individuals and the entire club.
- The Storytelling Program provides an opportunity to share your personal climate change stories.
- The U.N. Climate Delegation Program sends delegates to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s annual Conference of the Parties (COP).
- The Trainings Program offers public workshops to give individuals climate change solutions that they can incorporate into their daily workflow and life.
Jothsna mentioned several climate change events in the near future. Information on each of them is available here.
Geoff Hollimon reported that the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition has received three preliminary grant requests. The Coalition will be holding a Virtual Run/Walk fundraiser this spring. Donations are needed to continue the important work of the Coalition. You can contribute here.