For this month’s Climate Hero of the Month we are doing things a little differently. Instead of focus on one individual, we are collectively recognizing those in the climate movement that are getting back into school in August; whether they are students, educators, professionals, or parents, we are excited to uplift everyone involved!
The many people that are involved in our education system represent the diversity and intersectionality of our grassroots organizing. Intergenerational leaders from kids to tenured professors and everyone in between, finding ways to collaborate, problem solve, and come together in community in these unprecedented times. It’s an incredible thing, and an inspiring one to say the least.
Because the fact of the matter is, our education system and the success of those involved in it are key pieces of solving the puzzle that is the climate crisis. Take students for example; regardless of their age, year after year they can build on their understanding of what needs to be done to keep the air, water, land, and people of our planet healthy and thriving. Specialties and areas of study can emerge as students consider undergraduate or graduate degrees. With each young learner is the opportunity to create a leader that feels their connection and responsibility to making the world a better place. And all along the way, they can create real change in their communities as well!
Take the Good Trouble Network for example. Founded by members of the Durango High School Green Team, they helped create a network of interconnected high school sustainability groups across Colorado that can work together to see wide scale policy change for schools and students alike. Just earlier this year during the legislative session they worked with Representative Barbara MacLachlan to help pass SB24-14 Seal of Climate Literacy Diploma Endorsement. Meaning “The purpose of the seal of climate literacy is to give a student personal agency to help the student and the student’s communities understand or adapt to the effects of climate change.” What a remarkable thing to have more and more young people learning and taking action for our climate. If I had something like that when I graduated high school in the late 2000’s it could have very well changed the trajectory of my life.
With my position at 350CO I am fortunate to get to see the work of many youth groups that contribute so much; the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Students for Climate Action had been working together since February 2021 to create a resolution for DPS to address the climate crisis, and in April 2022 they passed the policy, setting a new standard for the whole country. Fairview Highschool’s Net Zero club campaigned through most of last year to secure a Green New Deal for their school through the Sunrise Movement’s work! Our Youth Action Committee (YAC) at 350CO has been busy this year rebuilding, getting new leaders settled in, and preparing for a busy back half of 2024 that gets people geared up for the legislative session in 2025.
Then there are educators. The truly superhuman, incredible people that help shape tomorrow’s leaders and often times and go above and beyond to do so. Even in instances in which folks have retired they feel the drive to continue to work with and engage young people in the movement. I am privileged to work alongside some amazing former educators that bring their best skills to this work. Could be presenting to a class, developing content for a training, or simply engaging with people to build connection, educators are absolutely essential to the success of this movement.
The educators that reach out to us for collaboration and bringing activism into the classroom are a special group as well. Take the Colorado Mountain College in Carbondale, CO; the school has tracks for students that are looking to pursue things like environmental science, ecological justice, and other interdisciplinary studies. For three years now I’ve had the honor of working with one of their wonderful professors, Kevin Hillmer-Pegram to bring local organizing efforts and actions to the students of his class. Each year Kevin helps prime the students, whether they are new to activism or experienced, to ensure they understand the intersections of creating change and what challenges exist along the way. Positive and supportive exposure to organizing is critical, and the experiences I’ve had in that process have been incredibly rewarding.
To the professors of Denver University, CU Boulder, Naropa University, CU Anschutz, and UNC that have partnered with us before, we thank you profusely for your support and recognizing the importance of building leadership through local community action! To the teachers of Colorado High School Charter GES, Aurora Quest, and other groups, thank you for the opportunities to work together and share about what we do!
And how would any of this even work if it weren’t for the hard-working parents and caregivers, making things hum behind the scenes. The struggles of today’s world do not fall evenly on people, and injustices like racism, misogyny, and ableism (to name a few) create even more disparities. But despite the challenges, we see time and again parents that step up and get involved in this work on behalf of their families and communities. They exemplify the characteristics of care, giving, and contributing to something that is much bigger than themselves. I am in constant awe of the parents that show up to the Zoom meetings at 6pm while after school activities and bedtime routines are in full swing. I admire the parents that bring their children to actions, rallies, and events, balancing the demands of raising people while fighting the climate crisis.
For some, August signals a time to get back into routine. It’s not uncommon for people’s organizing to slow down in the summer, but once life gets a bit more scheduled things fall back into place. And for those that are new to activism, August is like a January of sorts, breathing in new energy for the rest of 2024. For others, August is such a tumultuous time of change and busyness that organizing inevitably takes a back seat.
For whatever camp you may land in, it’s important to know that organizing is a marathon with sprints in it. It’s okay to step back and get grounded again in order to come back with clearer hearts and minds – I’m saying this from experience having just returned from our organizational week-off and feeling prepared to get back into it!
We are deeply grateful for the many contributions of those in our education systems; for the innovation, the dedication, and the shared vision that we truly can create a better world together. If you’re reading this and you are one of these people know that we are celebrating you this month and beyond! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
– Written by Chelsea Alexander