2008 AYEA Art in Action Training: Telling Our Stories

Teens using art to create powerful environmental change

The AYEA youth that attended the 2007 Summer Institute: Telling Our Stories know that the combination of training in art, media, politics, and environmental action was definitely a success for everyone involved. This year AYEA promises that the 2008 AYEA Art in Action Training: Telling Our Stories will be even better! The 2008 Telling Our Stories will take place from Thursday, September 11, to Sunday, September 14, 2008. Although the AYEA summer training is traditionally held earlier in the summer, we are excited for a fall training which promises to be the most unique, creative, and valuable training AYEA has yet experienced.

For this Training, AYEA is collaborating with an innovative organization called Art in Action from Oakland, California. Art in Action is similar to AYEA, as it is a youth leadership program. Art in Action trains youth by creating hope and opportunity through socially relevant popular education, community building, and creative expression geared towards developing solutions. Five fantastic Art in Action instructors will come to Alaska for this week only to work with AYEA on several areas of creative expression, including dance, theater, music, spoken word, poetry, painting, storytelling, and media. The training will focus on leadership development in areas chosen by AYEA youth, like environmental activism and civic engagement in the political process.

During the 2008 AYEA Art in Action Training: Telling Our Stories, the 20 youth that participate will be able to

• Explore different forms of art (music, dance, drawing/painting, poetry/writing)
• Explore digital storytelling, a new exciting form of media
• Learn about issues that affect our environment, cultures & way of life
• Spend time in the outdoors and be inspired by guest speakers and performers
• Share ideas/interests and network with other youth from across the state

If you are an AYEA member or adult mentor and are interested in being a part of the 2008 Telling Our Stories Planning Advisory Committee, we are currently looking for an enthusiastic group of volunteers and peer leaders for a variety of roles during the Institute. Please contact Anna Barnwell if you are interested!

Sponsored by

Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA)
program of National Wildlife Federation and
Art in Action

Youth Environmental Leadership Training

Are you interested in starting an AYEA chapter? Do you want to get more youth in your community engaged with environmental issues and leadership? AYEA works in a collaborative process with interested school groups, tribes, and community leaders to design these two-day leadership workshops. Youth Environmental Leadership trainings focus on local/regional environmental concerns and leadership sessions chosen by the community and local youth. Possible topics/workshops may include: effective leadership, Traditional Environmental Knowledge and western perspectives on issues, introduction to media tools, public speaking/communication, and community action project planning.

These trainings are only available on demand and generally take up to six months to schedule. If you are interested in having a YEL training in your community, please contact us.

2009 Civics & Conservation Summit

Spring 2009

The Summit is an innovative training that inspires young people from diverse Alaskan communities to discover their power to influence positive change. The Summit empowers youth who care about our environment and future to make a difference through the political process. During this event, Alaskan teens will take action on environmental issues facing their communities.

Core Components: Each day of the Summit focuses on

• Environmental justice/health/conservation issues
• Government function and political processes
• "Civic action tools" to help youth engage decision-makers & make their voices heard
• "Focus bills" — legislation that affects our environment and is currently being considered

Cost: The cost of the summit is TBA. This includes meals, local transportation, accommodations, and training/supplies. This does not include travel — scholarships ARE available. Contact Polly Carr at car...@nwf.org for more information

Location: The Summit takes place in Juneau, Alaska, our state capital! We generally lodge at the Juneau International Youth Hostel and conduct training in building space located downtown.

Who should apply? Teens from rural and urban Alaskan communities are welcome to apply. We will accept up to 20 youth in grades 8-12.

For more information: contact us.

AYEA Teens Rocked Civics Summit '08

Hello AYEA friends/colleagues,
 
I am pleased to share the following summary of the 2008 Civics and Conservation Summit in Juneau. This year, 20 youth from fifteen communities convened in Juneau to learn about the political process and address environmental issues being considered by our state legislature. The teens focused on the issues of renewable energy, mixing zones, and, to coincide with AYEA's statewide theme--plastic pollution. Highlights:
 
*Meeting with Governor Sarah Palin and Special Assistant Joe Balash: Teens led a question and answer session with the Governor's staff addressing the administration's role and position on mixing zones, plastics, and renewable energy. They presented the Governor a "Step Up" certificate for the allocation of $250 million toward renewable energy; gave her a RED "Chico" reusable bag to promote their 'Rethink Plastics' campaign; and over 100 postcards signed by Alaska residents promoting legislation banning mixing zones in salmon spawning areas.
 
*Solutions to Plastic Pollution: AYEA teens engaged Representatives Andrea Doll and Kurt Olsen, and store managers from Rainbow Foods and Safeway in a lively discussion about the current legislation to tax plastic bag use. AYEA teens led a question and answer session and placed a respectable amount of pressure on lawmakers to identify viable means for reducing plastic consumption and waste.
 
*Community Dinner and Legislator Awards: On Wednesday March 12, AYEA hosted a Community Dinner attended by conservation leaders, legislators and staff, parents, and Juneau community members. Teens gave a plastics presentation and then gave five legislators "Step Up" Awards for their leadership to promote healthy communities and youth. Awardees included Senator Bill Wielecowksi, Senator Albert Kookesh, Representative Andrea Doll, Representative Les Gara, and Representative Woodie Salmon.
 
*AYEA Donors take the Civics Challenge: This year, several donors provided Alaska Airlines miles to make the summit a reality for our participants. Special thanks to Martha Levensaler, Ian Dutton, Carol Hazeltine, and Ryan Zinn for this support!
 
*Teens Exercise their Right to Vote: On the last morning of the summit, we registered all eligible teens to vote. You can be sure they'll be exercising their political muscle in the coming months!
 
Teens from the following communities attended: Arctic Village, Anchorage, Chefornak, Homer, Kasilof, Wasilla, Palmer, Ketchikan, Port Alexander, Petersburg, Sitka, Kotlik, St. Michael, and Fairbanks.
 
The Summit is a collaborative leadership event and its success depends upon many volunteers and organizational partners. Special thanks goes to: Juneau Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (JAYEA), trainers Claire Fordyce, Mikayla Saito, Sue Ely, Megan McBride, Megan Waggoner, Charlee Lockwood, Bryce Timm, Madelin Siedler, Joe Okitkun, Tracy Ralston, and volunteers Rob Cadmus, Beverly Anderson, Kimberly Abraham, and Russ the DJ. Thanks also to Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling, Barbara Hood, Rainbow Foods, Taku Smokeries, Alaska Conservation Alliance, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, Alaska Center for the Environment, Martha Levensaler, Ian Dutton, Carol Hazeltine, Ryan Zinn, Cleverdon Family Fund, and The Skaggs Foundation for their generous support of our youth and the summit.
 
Together we are supporting the next generation of environmental leaders!!!
 
Best,
Polly Carr