Climate Press Conference Remarks by Gabe Groveman – January 10th

Hi, my name is Gabe Groveman, I’m a sophomore at Montpelier High School and a member of the Vermont Youth Lobby. I’d like to bring this all home with a few points on specific upcoming Climate Change legislation that the Youth Lobby would like to see passed. Now that the legislature is back in session, we have the ability to put our words into action and actually pass meaningful climate legislation in this state. Already, we have 5 different bills, each trying to do their part to help with the Global Climate Crisis we’re facing right now. First, there’s the […]

Youth Lobby Testimony to House Transportation Committee – January 10th

Testimony by Hope Petraro & Lili Platt Organizers, Vermont Youth Lobby 1/10/2019     Thank you, committee members, for the opportunity to meet with you today. My name is Hope Petraro, and I am a senior at Montpelier High School and a member of the Youth Lobby. Some of you might recognize me not just because I’m frequently in the building because of my advocacy and activism, but because I’ve interned with Mollie Burke for the past two years, a person who I am truly grateful to have had the ability to work with.    Thank you for your time […]

CANCELLED – 5th Annual Rally for the Planet!

UNFORTUNATELY, THE 2020 YOUTH RALLY HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE THREAT CAUSED BY THE CORONA VIRUS. Save the date and plan your field trips! After five years of outstanding youth advocacy, there are now several climate-related bills working their way through the Statehouse.  If you want Vermont to become a leader in climate action, this is THE year to rally.  Please join us as we, once again, Rally for the Planet!  More information coming soon…  

Youth Groups Increasingly Impatient Over Climate Inaction

Co-written By: Beck Andersen and Matt Henchen 11/13/19 On November 17th, hundreds of Vermont youth, from middle school to law school, will converge on the statehouse to create a “Declaration of Independence” from fossil fuels. “We’ve been asking for bold and comprehensive climate-related policies for the past several years and most of our political leaders have been slow to respond,” Harwood Youth Lobby member Sydney Kulis argued, “so now we’re going to show them what we expect them to do this legislative session” “We just hope they listen.” “Young people are the least responsible for the climate crisis, but we […]

Register for the Vermont Youth Climate Congress

Let’s show them how it’s done! Sunday, November 17th at 12:30 PM Vermont State House 115 State Street, Montpelier WHAT: A civil, civic gathering of students that builds on some of Vermont’s greatest traditions to show lawmakers what climate courage can look like. HOW: Students from across Vermont will unite at the State House to pass a declaration of freedom from fossil fuels and a resolution urging policymakers to protect the future by taking immediate action to the climate crisis. WHY: Vermont youth hold the moral high ground in the climate debate. We are least responsible for the crisis, yet […]

Help Us Plan a Youth Climate Congress!

The Vermont Youth Lobby is working with members of the Sunrise Movement and the Vermont Climate Caucus (a group of Vermont lawmakers who are committed to climate action) to organize a Youth Climate Congress.  The goal of this event is to bring together 150-200 youth representatives (with an emphasis on under-represented and frontline communities), 20-30 Vermont lawmakers, community climate activists, and the media together to draft, refine and endorse a unified message — in the form of a resolution — to Vermont lawmakers that they must do more to address the climate crisis. We hope this event will send a […]

Check Out These Amazing Opportunities this Fall!

UVM Extension/ 4-H Program has a lot of opportunities for students this Fall. Registration now open! www.uvm.edu/extension/youth/announcements   Between a Rock and a Soil Place (VTeen 4-H Science Cafe) – register by September 25 Learn about soil, the building block of ecosystems, at the first teen science cafe of the year. Register by next Wednesday, September 25. This program is FREE.   Youth Environmental Summit – register by Oct 18 YES is an annual conference for students in grades 6-12 what want to learn about environmental issues and take action in their communities. Register by October 18. Check out a short video from last year’s conference. We encourage schools to bring […]

Join the Youth Climate Strike!

Earlier this year, Greta Thunberg and 46 other youth activists issued a call to everyone around the globe to join them in a massive climate strike on September 20th. The Climate Strike will kick-off a week of mass, actions between Sept 20-27. In most countries, the youth strikers have chosen Sept. 20th as the day of their Climate Strike, while in a few other countries they have chosen Sept 27th. In the US, the coalition of youth strike groups, the Future Coalition, chose September 20th as the date. Students from the Vermont Youth Lobby are standing in solidarity with Greta […]

Support the Race Against Racism!

The 3rd Annual Race Against Racism will take place on Sunday, September 22, 2019 at Montpelier High School!    The Race Against Racism is a state-wide annual anti-racist event, organized by youth from several Vermont high schools. All are welcome to a public rally, comprised of a short list of notable speakers, and lots of live music and performances beginning at 10:45. An optional 5k run or walk will begin at 11:30 on a scenic loop through the city of Montpelier. The goal of the event is to further a conversation surrounding racial justice in Vermont and to ensure the […]

Please Consider Joining the Vermont Youth Lobby!

The Vermont Youth Lobby needs your help to plan a series of actions that might finally persuade Vermont lawmakers to pass serious and bold climate legislation this year!     We are holding our first planning meeting of the year with three goals in mind: Grow the movement by recruiting Youth Lobby Officers from as many high schools as possible. Consider how we might help support and promote upcoming climate activism – in particular, the Global Climate Strike on Sept. 20th-27th. Begin planning our own climate actions for the upcoming year, which may include: Working directly with Vermont Lawmakers to organize […]