Youth Lobby Updates

Matt Henchen

Updates from the Youth Lobby (03/02/18)   1) Don’t forget to organize a field trip to the Youth Rally on Thursday, April 12th! Has you school organized a field trip to the 3rd Annual Rally for the Planet?  The youth rally will take place from 8:30am – 1:30pm on Thursday, April 12th.  Drop-off will be at Montpelier High School and the march to the Statehouse begins at 10am.  Registration is not required, but it is helpful for planning REGISTER NOW! http://www.youthlobby.org/rallyfortheplanet/   2) Join us at the next planning meeting on March 11th! Join us in the Montpelier High School library from 3pm-6pm for our 3rd Planning Coalition Meeting.  There is still a ton of work to get done, and many important decisions to be made.  One of the most important decisions we need to make is who will be invited to speak and perform this year.  We have a […]

The Youth Lobby Honors Young Racial Justice Activists at MHS and BHS

Matt Henchen

The Vermont Youth Lobby strongly supports the students at Montpelier and Burlington High Schools who lobbied so hard for the ability to fly the Black Lives Matter flag over their schools as part of a concentrated and growing effort to raise awareness of implicit bias, privilege, and the need to build greater equity in our schools and broader communities. We appreciate the clear rejection of any anti-police sentiment or purported violence associated with the Black Lives Matter movement. Congratulations to the young racial justice activists at Montpelier and Burlington High Schools for raising awareness and promoting honest, candid, and civil discourse on the issue of racial justice in Vermont and beyond. Read more here – Mic.com Article

Announcing the 2018 – Youth Rally for the Planet – CLIMATE JUSTICE!

Matt Henchen

Join us at the 2018 Youth Rally for the Planet Climate Justice Thursday, April 12th, 2018 Video Invitation Schedule of Events (subject to minor changes) What will the day look like? 8:30am-10:00am – Drop-Off, Staging, and Activities Busses drop students off at Montpelier High School.  There will be a number of activities for students to engage in, such as making signs for the march, face painting, learning more about climate-related legislation, and participating in various art projects. 10:00am – 10:30am – March! Vermont youth and their allies will march in a parade to the Statehouse lawn. 10:30am – 11:15am  – Youth Speak Out!   Listen to young performers and speakers share their thoughts on climate change and hear the Youth Lobby’s legislative demands. 11:15am – 12:00pm – Tabling, Lobbying Prep, Activities, and Lunch Students will have the opportunity to visit informational booths to learn more about climate-related legislation currently under consideration at […]

We Could Use Your Help to Plan the 3rd Annual Rally for the Planet – Climate Change Rally

Matt Henchen

The Youth Lobby Needs Your Help!!!   The Vermont Youth Lobby is pleased to officially announce the 3rd Annual Rally for the Planet, to be held on Thursday, April 12th.  All permits and funding are in place and we are ready to rally!!!   Our goal this year is to put even more pressure on lawmakers to take greater action on climate change in 2018.  We hope to do this in the following ways: 1) Bring even more young citizens to the rally on April 12th. Our goal is 3,000 strong! 2) Increase the amount and improve the quality of interactions between VT youth and their elected officials 3) Put earlier and more sustained pressure on our elected officials through a widespread letter writing and advocacy campaign. 4) Encourage students in other New England states to rally along with us.   The Youth Lobby is planning on holding four Planning […]

Check out Al Gore’s Latest Film, An Inconvenient Sequel, at the Mountain Top Film Festival

Matt Henchen

Join us this Sunday, January 14th, at the Big Picture Theater for a screening of “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power,” at the MountainTop Film Festival! Here are the details: What: “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power,” at the MountainTop Film Festival Where: Big Picture Theater, 48 Carroll Rd, Waitsfield When: This Sunday, January 14th, 1:00-3:00 PM Ticket information: http://www2.suncommon.com/e/95162/tickets/2w1kst/161870340 This film comes a little more than a decade after “An Inconvenient Truth,” which launched a global movement and inspired thousands to join former Vice President Al Gore in his mission to spread the word about the climate crisis and its solutions. “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” tells us that NOW is the time for all of us to fight like our world depends on it.

Vermont Youth Lobby’s Magic School Bus Campaign in the News!

Matt Henchen

Check out the coverage of our Magic School Bus Campaign  http://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/vermonts-youth-lobby-petitioning-for-electric-school-buses/886528096 And don’t forget to let the VT Agency of Natural Resources know that you want electric school buses! We only have two more days to encourage the VT Agency of Natural Resources to spend 85% of the VW settlement on Electric School buses! You’ve signed the petition, now we need you to do one more thing!!! Please fill out the Public Input form located on the ANR website. Feel free to skip any lines you do not have an opinion on and get right to the point – we want electric school buses! FILL OUT THE ANR FORM VPIRG has also provided us with a simpler form we can use to show the ANR we support electric school buses! FILL OUT THE VPIRG QUICK FORM Either one would be great – both would be even better!

Only 3 Days Left to Push for Electric School Buses!

Matt Henchen

We only have three more days to encourage the VT Agency of Natural Resources to spend 85% of the VW settlement on Electric School buses! You’ve signed the petition, now we need you to do one more thing!!! Please fill out the Public Input form located on the ANR website. Feel free to skip any lines you do not have an opinion on and get right to the point – we want electric school buses! FILL OUT THE ANR FORM VPIRG has also provided us with a simpler form we can use to show the ANR we support electric school buses! FILL OUT THE VPIRG QUICK FORM Either one would be great – both would be even better!

Great Opportunity for Grassroots Organizer Training!

Matt Henchen

~ The Vermont Climate Union and the VT Poor People’s Campaign Present ~ Grassroots Organizer Training @ The UU Church ~ 130 Main St, Montpelier Tuesday and Thursday Nights from 7-9 Starting January 16th.   Organizers, Activists, and Volunteers, ages 16-100+, are invited to a series of workshops to develop core organizing skills and increase our capacity to work for Justice in Vermont. All are welcome to come to one or many classes. These workshops offer instruction in a variety of needed skills and services common to grassroots organizing and social change efforts, and our coordinating team will work with participants to apply the skills learned in collaborative organizing environments. We will offer classes on Tuesday and Thursday Nights from 6-8 at The UU, Starting Tuesday January 16th.  Please review our Calendar  as there are number of events at other times and locations. View the CALENDAR Here and take a […]

Don’t Forget to Sign the Electric School Bus Petition and Contact the ANR!

Matt Henchen

From our friends at Renewable Energy Vermont The Vermont Youth Lobby is asking for 85% of the $18.7 million Volkswagen settlement to be spent on electric school busses and charging equipment. We want MAGIC SCHOOL BUSES! Please TAKE ACTION by doing the following things: Sign our Online Petition at change.org!  It only takes a minute of your time! Download our paper petition and get as many signatures as possible at your school and in your local community.  Please scan your completed petitions to youthlobbyvt@gmail.com or mail them to VT Youth Lobby, 141 Wade Road, Moretown VT, 05660. Please scan or email all petitions to us by January 5th, 2018.  A group of Youth Lobby students will hand deliver these petitions to the ANR and Phil Scott’s office during the week of January 8th.  (let us know if you are interested in being part of this crew..) Send a comment to the decision makers at the VT […]

UPDATE – The Youth Lobby’s Stance on Electric School Busses in Vermont

Matt Henchen

The Vermont Youth Lobby is asking for 85% of the $18.7 million Volkswagen settlement to be spent on electric school busses and charging equipment. We want MAGIC SCHOOL BUSES! Please TAKE ACTION by doing the following things: Sign our Online Petition at change.org!  It only takes a minute of your time! Download our paper petition and get as many signatures as possible at your school and in your local community.  Please scan your completed petitions to youthlobbyvt@gmail.com or mail them to VT Youth Lobby, 141 Wade Road, Moretown VT, 05660. Please scan or email all petitions to us by January 5th, 2018.  A group of Youth Lobby students will hand deliver these petitions to the ANR and Phil Scott’s office during the week of January 8th.  (let us know if you are interested in being part of this crew..) Send a comment to the decision makers at the VT Agency of Natural Resources.  […]