Scheduled for March 29, the event will engage students in vital discussions about sustainability challenges and solutions.
Residents Forward is set to host its fourth Youth Climate Summit tailored for students in grades 8 through 12 on Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will take place at the Port Washington Public Library and aims to engage local youth in discussions around pressing sustainability issues.
Participants at the summit will have the opportunity to hear from environmental leaders and engage in various workshops. Key topics will include circular fashion, local drinking water concerns, and strategies for waste reduction. Students will also have the chance to create their own Climate Action Projects, reflecting their commitment to sustainability.
The circular fashion panel will feature notable speakers such as Stacey Saltzman of My Style Camp, Haley Lieberman from ClimateHaven, and Lexie Sachs of the Good Housekeeping Institute. This panel will address the transition from traditional linear fashion models, which often lead to high waste levels, to more sustainable circular models. According to the Residents Forward website, “The linear model promotes mass production and consumption of clothing made from fossil fuel based materials that are not designed to be reused or recycled. We will explore the negative impacts of these textiles as many end up in landfills or incinerators.”
In another session titled “WaterVision,” water specialist Sarah Meyland, planner Dan Yannaccone, and Brian Schneider from the U.S. Geological Survey will discuss regional challenges surrounding drinking water, including issues related to pollution and overuse. The panel will also explore innovative conservation strategies, such as native planting and sustainable landscaping.
The third discussion, “Innovations in Waste Reduction: Less Waste, More Impact,” will feature Michael White, founder of Curbside Compost, and Marjorie Spitz, who heads the sustainability initiative Table2Ground. This panel seeks to inform attendees about food and residential waste management innovations and effective methods to minimize personal waste.
In addition to these panels, students will have access to a workshop focusing on college majors and career opportunities within sustainability fields. Representatives from Columbia University and Farmingdale State College will provide insights into aligning attendees’ educational aspirations with potential career paths.
The Youth Climate Summit has been organized by a dedicated Student Planning Committee, led by Kelsey Heyne, a science teacher at Weber Middle School. The group has been preparing for this event for over seven months, highlighting the commitment to fostering environmental awareness among youth.
Previous editions of the Youth Climate Summit have resulted in impactful projects, such as The Climate Awareness Garden at Schreiber High School, which involved students cultivating a vegetable garden to support food-insecure individuals. Another initiative, “The Bus is For US,” provided complimentary public bus rides to students during Earth Month in April.
While registration for the summit has closed, interested individuals can learn more about Residents Forward’s initiatives and future events by visiting their website.
Source: Noah Wire Services
