Transcript Document 468680

www.blsyouthcan.org
Youth CAN Green Jobs Page
Founded in 2007, BLS Youth Climate Action Network (Youth CAN) is a student-led
high school environmental club at Boston Latin School. It focuses on education,
facilities improvement, and youth outreach. The Youth CAN network now has
more than 20 different Youth CAN clubs in schools across eastern Massachusetts.
Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy
What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are fuels formed by the natural decomposition of buried
dead organisms. When burned to create energy, these fuels give off
greenhouse gases that trap solar energy in the Earth’s atmosphere.
The excessive use of fossil fuels as an energy source is a major
contributor to global climate change.
What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy is energy which comes from sustainable,
naturally replenished sources such as the sun, wind, and geothermal
sources. There is a lot of promising research seeking to increase the
feasibility of renewable energy as a major source of power.
http://youtu.be/GAlYVoWPkDY
Youth CAN members created a video to explain fossil
fuels and the benefit of renewable energy.
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Although the renewable energy industry is
growing exponentially each year, there is little
awareness among teens about its viability as
a career choice, and little opportunity for
interested teens to explore the field.
Most schools and community centers within
the United States are still extremely energy
inefficient. They are often not well-insulated,
and do not implement highly effective
energy-saving measures. This leads to
excessive use of fossil fuels.
 Youth
CAN launched a comprehensive paid green
jobs training program for teens in the summer of
2011, in partnership with National Grid Foundation
and the Dorchester Bay Youth Force. The program
taught teens about energy and trained teams to
conduct simple energy audits at their school or
community center. Teams did the audits and
created audit action plans in the fall.
is a process by which a building’s energy efficiency is
evaluated. The auditor through a walkthrough identifies how energy is
wasted within a building, and then outlines viable solutions. This will
reduce use of fossil fuels and potentially encourage use of renewable
energy, leading to reduction of the building’s carbon footprint and a
more sustainable model of living.
Youth CAN wanted to:
 Demonstrate the power of youth leadership and
green youth jobs in bringing about effective
change and a more sustainable future.
 Provide under-served youth with the resources and
skills they need to explore green jobs and execute
energy audits.
 Engage communities in energy conservation and
reduce energy consumption in these communities.
 Foster youth leadership and environmental
stewardship.
 The
three intrinsic goals of
the Youth CAN mission
are:
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Educating for Sustainability
Engaging Youth & their
Communities
Modeling Facilities Improvement
 The
green jobs program
furthers all three of these
goals.
1) Planning & Funding the Green Jobs Program
a) Partner with Dorchester Bay Youth Force on Green Jobs Program.
b) Brainstorm and discuss components of program.
c) Write grant and budget proposal to National Grid Foundation
2) Advertising & Recruitment
a) Recruit presenters, organizers, and auditors for summer training program.
b) Partner with DBYF and city agencies to recruit teens for program.
c) Create a detailed plan of the program.
3) Execution of Program
a) Run the summer green jobs training program.
b) Host closing celebration attended by City Councilor John Connolly.
4) Support Teams & Present Findings
a) Support participants in pursuing their team audits.
b) Plan and present findings at 12/14 presentation.
c) Create plans for next year.
1.
Grant Writers:
Wrote grant to National Grid Foundation
Sydney Kyne, Jordan Freundlich
2.
Communication Liaisons:
3.
Summer Program Assistants:
Contacted presenters, students, etc.
Adrianne Smith, Krishana Abrahim
Assisted summer program
Carol Bowe, Allie Kennelly, Maddie Kilgannon
4.
Team Supporters:
Helped student teams execute planned audits.
Laura Dowd, Adrianne Smith, Thienan Dang
5.
12/14 organizers & presenters:
Planned 12/14 presentation
All team members
6.
Lexus Grant Organizer:
Will Byrne
Documented & recorded for Lexus Grant.
 Youth
CAN will judge the success of
green jobs program based on:
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Ten program participants (grouped into 5
teams of two) completing the summer
training program.
The five teams completing their energy
audits and their audit action plans.
The 12/14 presentation of team audit
action plans.
Continued funding of program next year.
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In 2008, Boston Latin School became an NSTAR
benchmarked school, receiving a benchmarking
training from Kellie Phelan and an audit from Colin
O’Dell, both of ICF Int'l. The free audit required us to
share our learning with other schools in the system.
BLS’s energy-efficiency rating was only 59! Through
improvements by BLS Youth CAN and the
administration, that rating is now 92.
The experience led Youth CAN to want to replicate this
powerful audit process and to “green” public schools
and youth centers across the city.
We wanted to give other youths the opportunity to
become community leaders and take action on an
energy issue not yet addressed by city officials.
Youth CAN members meeting with Kellie
Phelan and accompanying auditors and
school administration on the energy audit.
http://youtu.be/o30lC6BOGHE
A video documenting the changes we made to our
school after the three energy audits BLS received.
Step 1: Planning & Funding
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The Dorchester Bay Youth Force is a youth leadership
initiative that trains teens to be leaders and organizers in
their community. Their focus is on teen jobs, violence,
and engagement.
Youth CAN had
preliminary
meetings with
DBYF about a
possible
collaboration
before partnering
for a green jobs
initiative for
underserved
youth.
The Dorchester Bay Youth Force (DBYF)
Step 1: Planning & Funding
Youth Can
members
barnstorming
for the green
jobs program
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Youth CAN students began brainstorming components
of the green jobs program.
National Grid Foundation, who also funds Youth CAN’s
Climate Change Summit, showed interest.
We submitted:
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Budget proposal
(Tentative) schedule of program
Description of program, purpose, and impact.
They agreed to fund the 2011 green jobs pilot!
Step 1: Planning & Funding
Budget & program
description submitted
to the National Grid
Foundation.
Step 2: Advertising & Recruitment
 BLS
Youth CAN partnered with DBYF to recruit
students from their network. Students
interested in green energy responded!
 Five
teams (ten students in all) from 9th-12th grade
representing schools around Boston.
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Jeremiah E. Burke, H.S.
John D. O’Bryant H.S.
Madison Park, H.S.
Match Charter Public H.S.
Blue Hills Regional H.S.
Stoughton H.S.
Community Academy of Science & Health
Step 2: Advertising & Recruitment
Marie Meralus
Mireya Colon
Karise Thomas
Keiawanna Meadows
Steven Nguyen
Jaquel Ely
N'Dea Jackson
Anthony Ware
Sarah Osunde
Jaelle Sanon
The ten participants and program coordinators
in the 2011 Green Jobs Program
Step 2: Advertising & Recruitment
 BLS
Youth CAN also invited individuals from several
different organizations to teach participants.

Rowenna Lamm (Alliance of Climate Education):
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Debbie Fitton (Cape Light Compact):
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Lead students on walkthrough of BLS, focusing on electricity & water.
Erin Taylor (Mass Energy Consumers Alliance)
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Lead students on walkthrough of BLS
Sergio Mazon (Mazon Lighting Design)
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presenter on energy and energy systems
Steve Di Giacomo (Energy Management Associates)
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presenter on climate change
Train students to plan an energy action plan.
Ron Gwaizda (TrIntuition)
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Equip students to create simple website with TrIntuition technology.
Step 2: Advertising & Recruitment
 After
recruiting
presenters, students
finalized a detailed
schedule of the
program.
Step 3: Execution of Program
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The program ran for four
weeks at Boston Latin School.
Students:
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Explored energy, climate
change, and auditing.
Learned how to create a
simple website.
Accompanied an auditor on
an audit of Boston Latin
School and developed
energy-saving measures.
Practiced presentation skills
by presenting a PowerPoint
outlining these measures
Students learning and presenting
during the program
Step 3: Execution of Program
Rowenna Lamm (of ACE)
presenting about climate
change.
Debbie Fitton
(of Cape Light Compact)
introduces energy and
energy systems.
Step 3: Execution of Program
Students learning about energy and accompanying Sergio Mazon
(of Mazon Lighting Design) on a practice audit of BLS.
Looking at BLS’s 28- PV array
Exploring energy
Examining BLS’s heating
Looking at BLS’s roof
Step 3: Execution of Program
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On 08/11, students presented suggestions to reduce Boston
Latin School’s energy consumption.
City Councillor John Connolly spoke to the participants
about the program and awarded prizes to the teams for
completing the training.
Students with John Connolly
A participant presenting her
suggestions for BLS.
Step 3: Execution of Program
Participants with BLS Youth CAN members and John Connolly
Step 4: Support Teams
& Present Findings
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Students began planning their audits
during the program.
In the fall, BLS Youth CAN members kept in
contact with the student teams (at other
schools); matched them with professional
auditors from Constellation Energy.
Adult advisors supported each team of two
in planning and securing audits at their
community centers.
Each team created Powerpoint, reports,
and other documentation about their
audits, and presented them on 12/14.
Each member was awarded their final
paycheck at completion of audit and
presentation.
Step 4: Support Teams
& Present Findings
 Youth
CAN members:
 Wrote invitations to
guests of honor.
 Prepared materials
for the event.
 Helped prepare a
media release.
 Organized the
logistics of the event.
Step 4: Support Teams
& Present Findings
 On
December 14th, The
green teams
presented the results of
the audits at their
schools or community
centers to a wide
audience at Boston
Latin School.
 Recognition was given
to those who have
helped the program.
Step 4: Support Teams
& Present Findings
 BLS
Youth CAN members also gave their remarks on
the inspiration between the Green Jobs Program.
 Guest speakers included:
 Richard
K. Sullivan, Secretary of Energy for Massachusetts
 Phoebe Beierle, Boston Public Schools Sustainability
Coordinator
 Lynne Mooney-Teta, BLS Headmaster
 Matthew Bruce, City of Boston Green Jobs Program
 Sergio Mazon, Mazon Lighting
 Nate Bolton, Constellation Energy
Step 4: Support Teams
& Present Findings
The Secretary of Energy Richard K.
Sullivan making a speech
A participant being awarded by BLS
headmaster Lynne Mooney Teta and
Secretary Sullivan
Step 4: Support Teams
& Present Findings
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Teams are pursuing
implementation of their
energy recommendations in
their respective community
centers.
BLS Youth CAN is currently
making a video about the
Green Jobs program.
We are preparing to
continue the program in the
summer of 2012.
http://youtu.be/8Vs0IoDmucQ
Trailer of Youth CAN’s video on the
green jobs program.
 All
of the teams successfully completed their
audits and created energy action plans.
 The Stoughton Journal wrote a story on the
Green Jobs program.
 The Green Jobs program was highlighted in a
segment on the Boston Neighborhood News
Network (BNNC).
 The program plans to continue next year, with
possible funding from National Grid Foundation.
 The program received support from important
individuals such as Secretary Sullivan, Phoebe
Beierle (BPS), Jim Hunt (Boston’s Chief of Energy).
http://youtu.be/8Vs0IoDmucQ
The BNNC segment highlighting the green jobs program.

Youth CAN encountered difficulty:
 Funding the program: through National Grid’s generous
donation, we were able to overcome this hurdle.
 Supporting the green teams: through the help of many
individuals, such as professional auditors and the teams’
adult advisors, we were able to help the teams reach their
goals.
 Coordinating events for
large groups of people:
we learned persistence &
planning led to results in
the end.

The Green Jobs program helped Youth CAN members learn to:
 Plan and organize long-term programs and events.
 Network with the many organizations around Boston for the
most enriching experience for other teens.
 Reach out to other teens about sustainable education and service
learning. The program also helped reduced their communities’
carbon footprint.
Example of sides from the teams’
presentation on their audits and
action plans.
http://blsyouthcan.org/BLS_Youth_C.A.N./Green_Jobs.html