Original piece done by Reese Brogden

When it comes to climate action, youth have a unique and powerful voice. In order to protect our future, Colorado youth have shown out in great numbers for strikes, phone-banks, lobby days, and more, relentlessly proving to lawmakers that we won’t give up until they take the necessary actions for a more just and sustainable planet. At 350 Colorado, there are multiple ways youth can get involved, find community, and work together for a fossil-free future.

Youth Action Committee (YAC)

A 350 Colorado committee, we are a team of youth that organizes to discuss the climate crisis in Colorado and what we can do about it. Whether it’s phone banking, making a petition, hosting a training, or planning an event, we do it with youth power and energy!

Our upcoming meetings are:

–>YAC: Tues 4/23 from 7-7:30pm – Join by Zoom here<–

–> Movement Building Committee: Wed 4/24 from 6-7:30pm – Join by Zoom here <-

Phoebe Dominguez, 16

“As soon as YAC started, I realized that this is really what the climate movement is about. It is about the youth and the people taking a stand. It’s incredible to see us working together side by side fighting for our future.” – Phoebe, YAC Co-Chair

Our goals in 2024:

• Build a strong coalition and community of youth across all of Colorado
• Give youth opportunities to have a say in the future and direction of Colorado
• Organize strikes, host educational events and webinars, etc. in order to further Colorado climate action from a youth-led perspective  

What have we done together already?

• We co-lead the Colorado Climate Strike Coalition, recruiting over 10,000 strikers, 30+ strike events, and even hosted world-renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg!
• We have hosted phone bank trainings to prepare youth climate activists to encourage voting. 
• We have organized Youth Climate Lobby Days in 2021 & 2022 to advocate to our legislators the importance of prioritizing our future when designing policy and passing laws. 
• Continued to participate Digital Climate Strikes during the pandemic.
• Organized and hosted a ‘Youth Climate Lobby Day’ training on Sunday, March 6th 2022, and hosted Representative Meg Froelich to learn why lobbying is important, how to lobby your legislators, how to set up a virtual meeting with them and much more. Watch the recording here!
• We planned a ‘Fridays for our Future’ strike and demonstration as a part of the global climate strikes on Friday, March 25th, 2022 in Denver at the state capitol building and one of the Chase bank locations.
• Moderated statewide ‘Truth About Ozone’ webinar on Monday, July 25th, 2022 – check it out here!
• Organized, led, and hosted the ‘For Our Future: Youth Climate Conference’ on Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 in Denver to empower youth to take climate action! There were resources from local organizations, food and drinks, music, youth speakers, and breakout reflection discussions for attendees. The open mic at the end of the day provided a safe and inclusive space where youth could share their stories and experiences with climate anxiety and empowerment.
• Organized and hosted a ‘Youth in Activism’ webinar on Monday, March 27th, 2023 to create a more inclusive, intersectional movement for youth activists – Watch the recording here!
• Planned three statewide actions with youth leaders in Colorado in June 2023 to create chalk murals as a part of the People vs. Fossil Fuels national weekend of action to End the Era of Fossil Fuels! President Biden, Governor Polis, and our regulatory bodies must be held accountable to their climate promises!

Current YAC projects:

• Building a statewide coalition of youth groups to pressure Governor Polis to adhere to his Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction roadmap for the state; we demand true climate action!
• Connecting with schools and environmental clubs across the state to build a stronger coalition of youth activists! Interested in having a YAC leader or someone from 350 Colorado come speak to your group about activism or ways to support the climate movement? Email us at youth@350colorado.org and volunteer@350colorado.org and we’ll be in touch!

How to Get Involved:

1. Sign up here to join YAC – don’t worry! There is no requirement for meeting attendance, although we do encourage you to make them so you can make connections and stay updated. We’ll send emails with actions, opportunities, and ways to grow your activism and have an impact.
2. Apply to be a YAC co-chair! We are looking for passionate and determined youth leaders that can organize with 350CO staff, interns, and other activists to help guide YAC members and realize our goals for a fossil-free future. Email youth@350colorado.org to learn more! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): 

Do I have to be a certain age in order to join the Youth Action Committee (YAC)?

As we want to keep this committee youth focused, anyone that is 24 or younger is welcome and encouraged to join YAC! However, adult mentors are also welcome! Just email volunteer@350colorado.org first. 

Where in Colorado do I have to live to join YAC?

Anywhere! No matter where you’re from in Colorado, you can join YAC. We have youth involved from all parts of the state as most of our meetings are held over Zoom.

When does YAC meet?

YAC meets every month on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 7:00-7:30pm. YAC is an essential committee that operates within, and in relation to, our Movement Building committee, which meets every other month on the fourth Wednesday from 6-7:30pm. Between both of these committees, there are always opportunities for youth to participate, lead, and help guide the organization’s work and campaigns! 

Internships

Interning at 350 Colorado is a great way for older youth to become more deeply involved with grassroots organizing. Interns work closely with 350 Colorado staff and team leaders to recruit, retain and engage volunteers, as well as have the opportunity to work on statewide and local campaigns. These unpaid positions can range from 5-30 hours per week, with a minimum requirement of 100 hours up to a total of 200 hours.

Maya Beauvineau, 18

 

“Interning with 350CO has opened the door to many resources and connections that have allowed me to structure my environmental work and maximize my impact, especially regarding fracking in Boulder County. The best part of interning with 350CO, however, is the people. Everyone is always on board to make a project idea into a reality and the reason 350CO makes an impact is the intelligent, motivated, and supportive community.”

 

Megan Neufeld, 18

 

“During my senior year of high school, I interned with Julia Williams, 350 Colorado’s former Communications Director. I loved every minute of the internship; it helped me further my skills in press outreach, social media, and leadership, deepening my involvement in climate activism along the way while still not being too overwhelming for a high school senior!”

Find out more about 350 Colorado Internships here!

Not a youth? Here’s how you can still support us:

• Donate to our campaigns and help us strengthen the climate movement!
• Tell youth you know about the Youth Action Committee and have them come to a meeting! 
• Uplift and center youth voices, perspectives, and efforts in your climate activism and organizing. 
• Follow us on social media and share our page with your networks.

See what we are up to on Facebook and Instagram!