Letter from the Executive Director
The Minnesota state climate office recently reported that MN had a wonderful summer, thanks to a limited number of hot days, lower humidity and cooler temps. Meanwhile, however, the west saw a deluge of wild land fires, drought, and some of the hottest temperatures on record, especially in the month of August. 2015 is looking like it may surpass 2014 to be the hottest year on record.
Did you happen to see us in the Variety section of the Star Tribune? The Sunday edition of the Star Tribune Scene + Heard featured our Wine & Dine for Climate event in late August at Alexis Bailly Vineyard. Thank you for joining us at Wine & Dine for Climate, helping us raise over $3,700. We enjoyed greeting long-time supporters and welcomed new friends to engage in our climate change efforts. Read more about the evening and see photos on our event recap.
Get your North hat while supplies last and support our work! Askov Finlayson recently introduced their Keep The North Cold, a campaign to combat climate change through the power of education. For each North product sold, Askov Finlayson will make a donation to support the education of one high school student to become a leader on climate change. Learn more about our partnership and check out their collection of North products: http://askovfinlayson.com/north
With the arrival of September and a new school year, we also marked the beginning of a new fiscal year. We launched Climate Minnesota: Local Stories, Community Solutions in April that builds community engagement in climate change solutions. During our four spring convenings, 90% of participants reported that they have taken steps towards mitigating and/or adapting to climate change since the convening. Join us for one of our fall convenings, as well as our tpt film premiere MN Stories in a Changing Climate on Oct. 6th at 7 pm at St. Anthony Main.
Together we are making a difference! Thank you for supporting our work!
Sincerely,
Nicole Rom, Executive Director
Education
We’re Headed to Paris
Recognizing that educators are critical messengers of climate and energy literacy for hundreds of students each year, Climate Generation is committed to engaging educators in the international climate negotiations as both learners and climate change communicators back to their educational settings and communities. We have selected a delegation of 10 Education Ambassadors through our Window into Paris program, in conjunction with the UN climate change negotiations in Paris, France, December 6-December 11, 2015. These ten teachers represent diverse subject areas, grade levels, and educational settings from each of the following states: New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Minnesota, and Colorado. Stay tuned for our Ambassadors’ daily blogs and webcasts while they are in Paris!
Check Out our Curriculum Suite
If you’re a teacher or you have children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews, neighbors or friends in school- don’t forget about our curriculum suite! For Grades 3-12, our curricula resources support Next Generation Science Standards and cover climate change science, communication, solutions and international policy. If you’re looking for ways to integrate this year’s international climate negotiations in Paris, our Citizen Climate curriculum is the perfect starting point.
Climate Minnesota
Climate Minnesota is back on the road this fall with 3 convenings scheduled for September, 1 in October and 4 in November. We’d love to see you at one of them. Check www.climateminnesota.org for a list of convenings and their recaps!
Emerging Leaders
YEA! MN Kicks of New Program Year
Introducing our 2015-16 YEA! MN co-chairs, Kendra Roedl and Addie Welch. Every year, the YEA! MN youth Steering Committee votes for two new co-chairs. Kendra and Addie both attend Minneapolis South High school and are already planning for the program year. The two student leaders met with Nicole Ektnitphong, YEA! MN Program Coordinator, to plan and facilitate two September Steering Committee meetings with the goal of welcoming new student leaders and re-engaging students who participated in last year’s program. Over the course of the year, YEA! MN co-chairs will continue to help facilitate Steering Committee meeting, reach out to new partners, and plan a range of events including our Annual Youth Lobby Day at the Capitol next spring.
YEA! MN Student & South High Junior Presents at Clean Power Plan Celebration
Kendra Roedl, YEA! MN Co-Chair and Intern at Climate Generation prepared bold remarks for Congressman Keith Ellison’s Clean Power Plan Celebration, held earlier this month in Minneapolis. Addressing a full auditorium with local dignitaries including Senator Franken, Representative Hornstein, and Representative Thissen, Kendra reminded the crowd that the Clean Power Plan “is not just a moral obligation to future generations, but to my generation.” She went on to say, “Already, at 16 years old, 14 of the hottest years on record have occurred in my lifetime.” The YEA! MN program will continue to follow and support a strong Clean Power Plan as it moves through the MN state implementation process.
Midwest Youth Climate Convergence: Registration Open!
Calling youth climate organizers across the Midwest! Are you an active member of the fossil fuels divestment movement? Are you organizing to stop tar sands oil extraction and oil pipeline expansion? Are you organizing to re-invest funds in climate change solutions and healthy communities? Nominate yourself and your peers for the Midwest Youth Climate Convergence, Oct 31-Nov, at the Minnesota American Indian Center in Minneapolis, hosted by Climate Generation, in partnership with MN350, Grand Aspirations, Energy Action Coalition, and others. Read more and register here.
In the News
Event geared towards educating the community about climate change coming to Owatonna
On Tuesday, September 15th, Owatonna community members will have the opportunity to learn how climate change impacts them and what work is being done in their community to move towards local climate solutions. Education Coordinator Jothsna Harris and local storyteller Darryl Hill shared information about the vision for the event as well as what attendees could expect.
Climate Minnesota featured on 8/26/15 edition of the Owatonna Today Show
Communications Coordinator Katie Siegner spoke with the Owatonna Today Show about the upcoming Climate Minnesota: Owatonna Convening, sharing information about the project, as well as the specific details of the event on September 15th.
What’s your local climate story?
In anticipation of the Climate Minnesota: Iron Range Convening, Hometown Focus highlighted Will Steger’s keynote talk at the event and put out a call for Iron Range residents to submit their climate stories to the Climate Minnesota online storytelling collection.
Scene + Heard: Wine + Dine for Climate at Alexis Bailly Vineyard
Our end-of-summer fundraiser, Wine & Dine for Climate, made it into the Sunday Star Tribune’s society page, Scene + Heard, with an array of photos and a short write-up of the evening.
Campaign seeks to “Keep the North Cold”
This winter, Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy is partnering with Askov Finlayson in their “Keep The North Cold” campaign. The Dayton brothers’ store will donate $1 for every North product they sell to benefit Climate Generation’s education and youth empowerment efforts.
Photo of the Month
Introducing Keep The North Cold, a campaign to combat climate change through the power of education. For each North product sold, Askov Finlayson will make a donation to support the education of one high school student to become a leader on climate change. Kendra Roedl, pictured, is a senior at Minneapolis South High School and co-chair of YEA! MN, our local network of high school environmental clubs. Photo credit: Askov Finlayson.
Action
This December, world leaders will meet in Paris to determine the future of our planet. The first step is a global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Paris. Join Climate Reality Project in demanding that world leaders sign a strong agreement at the Paris climate negotiations in December.
Add your name to the petition here.