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.  […]

We Need Your Help! Please support the Youth Lobby’s campaign for electric school buses!

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.  […]

Last Week to Register for the VT Youth Climate Leaders Academy!!

Matt Henchen

Do you want to take action on climate change? The Climate Leaders Academy is designed to guide and support high school students in planning and implementing a project related to climate change. If your students have climate-related goals reflected in their Personalized Learning Plans, or if you have a club devoted to environmental issues then you can’t miss this opportunity. We’ll help students figure out where to start, how to plan, and how to develop the transferable skills they need to complete a successful project. The academy will start December 7–8 at Lake Morey Resort, where students will have fun, collaborate, get inspired, and build skills to grow as a current and future climate leader. Follow-up meetings will offer additional community and technical support to keep projects moving forward, with a final gathering April 12–13 in Central Vermont. Registration closes November 6, so sign your students up now. Learn more and register now at veep.org/YCLA. The Youth […]

Adirondack Youth Climate Leadership Retreat – Open to Vermont Students!

Matt Henchen

There are several spots available for Vermont students to attend the first ever Adirondack Youth Climate Leadership Retreat August 9-11. All the information you need is in the attached save the date. Please disregard the registration deadline and feel free to send the registration link to any students you think might be interested.  It is on a first come, first serve basis and there are only a couple of spots left so get the word out as soon as you can! If anyone has any questions please don’t hesitate to shoot an e-mail or  call Katie O’Reilly Morgan (315) 742-7229kmorgan@wildcenter.org http://www.wildcenter.org/our-work/youth-climate-summit/ — Katie O’Reilly Morgan Youth Climate Program Coordinator THE W!LD CENTER Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks 45 Museum Drive Tupper Lake, NY  12986-9712

Race Against Racism!

Matt Henchen

A Statewide Race and Community Event for Equality DATE – September 17th, 2017 TIME – 11:30 PLACE – Montpelier High School The Race Against Racism is a youth-led, inclusive community running event that brings together social justice and athletics. Runners will run a 5k scenic loop around Montpelier High School, encompassing the track and nearby bike path. Running is optional! There will be other highlights – including refreshments and speakers from various groups around Vermont. Any funds raised will be contributed to various organizations statewide that advocate for racial justice. Racism, a concept so pervasive, is still alive and well in modern America, including Vermont. People of color often struggle to feel represented and supported. It is clear that this is a time when we all need to stand together and fight for inclusion and equity. We’re asking for schools and organizations to support by helping publicize this event, mobilize […]

Hands-on Fun! Join Us At The Natural Resources Management Academy!

Matt Henchen

Looking for something to do this summer! Check out the Natural Resources Management Academy at www.uvm.edu/extension/youth – a really fun program for teens entering grades 7-12. Join other teens from all over Vermont for hands-on learning workshops led by Vermont natural resource professionals. All activities are outside, using nature as our learning lab. Free time will be spent swimming, canoeing, fishing and eating s’mores! Registration deadline is June 20 – so act now! Go to www.uvm.edu/extension/youth learn more and sign up! Lauren Traister 4-H Teen & Leadership Program Coordinator University of Vermont Extension (802) 888-4972 x 402

Opportunity to Engage in Leadership Training!

Matt Henchen

Youth Lobby leaders have been invited to attend the 350VT Building Ground Leadership Training. We will spend a full weekend learning, deepening, and building the skills necessary to undertake powerful climate justice work within our communities.  The Building Ground training specifically focuses on sharing fundamental frameworks about climate justice and building the relationships that empower effective leaders.  Register for the program now! At Building Ground, you can expect sessions where you will: Explore the complex definitions of climate justice and the myriad approaches that individuals and groups undertake to achieve this goal, Deepen your own understanding of racial justice and its fundamental connection to the climate crisis, Learn in detail about 350’s specific approach to changemaking and organizing, Begin to articulate your own leadership and changemaking approaches and identify personal goals and next steps for your return home, Learn specific strategies to support your work (frameworks, facilitation techniques, and core […]

Road Trip! Great Opportunity for Citizen Journalism

Matt Henchen

Conversations From The Open Road is an opportunity for Vermont high school and college students to experience, and compassionately participate in, our world in a meaningful way. We are a traveling citizen-journalism, digital storytelling media program engaging with communities on the front lines of significant economic-environmental-cultural justice issues. By the end of each 2 week exploration, each student creates a documentary short about a thread of the people, place and struggle. Together, this collection is shown at film/media festivals around Vermont. Please check out their website for info, applications and contact email. UPCOMING TRIPS: August 11-25: Minnesota – 1 spot open Come and document this exciting moment with us – From Standing Rock and beyond! More than 10,000 people came to show solidarity with the people of the Standing Rock Sioux protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline proposed (and now completed) to be built under the Missouri River, within their reservation’s lands.This is […]