Summer Youth Art Contest

Youth Lobby

Contest Details: Children and teens from throughout Vermont are invited to submit original artwork responding to one of three prompts: Show us your favorite place in Vermont (any season) Show us your favorite outdoor activity (any season) Show us what you want the future to look like Submissions are considered for a chance to appear in our 2020 year-end brochure, which is sent to thousands of Vermonters who care about our natural environment. In addition to appearing in our brochure, winners and runners-up in each age category will receive a $50 or $25 gift certificate to a local bookstore, art supply store, […]

Climate Press Conference Remarks by Gabe Groveman – January 10th

Gabe Groveman

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

Lili Platt

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 […]

An Introduction to Climate Legislation in Vermont

Gabe Groveman

An Introduction to Climate Legislation in Vermont By Sophia Jerome, Montpelier High School 2023   “It’s inspiring yet frustrating that young people have to spend their days instead of hanging out with their friends or going to school or going skiing or spending time with their families… at the State House asking people to take this urgent issue, [climate change], as seriously as it is warranted,” says Johanna (Joey) Miller, Energy and Climate Program Director at VNRC. With all of the chaos caused by the novel coronavirus, it has become easy to forget that our previous struggles are still relevant […]

Climate-Focused Writing Contest – Win $1000

Youth Lobby

Create a Climate Vision Sustainable Montpelier Coalition Invites you to A Competition for Creative Writers and Artists “Hard times are coming…We will be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now. What if we could see through our fear-stricken society to other ways of being and imagine some real grounds for hope?” Ursula K. Le Guin On a ____day in the year 2047, George and Gina looked out their bedroom window and saw….” Or…….. Writers, help us create a new kind of story! The Sustainable Montpelier Coalition is inviting writers and graphic artists of […]

CANCELLED – 5th Annual Rally for the Planet!

Youth Lobby

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

Youth Lobby

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

Youth Lobby

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 […]