PROG

RAM

Schedule

8–8:30amDrop-off/Registration

8:30am:Meet&Greetw/lightBreakfast

9am:Welcome,WNYClimateYouthFellows,andHaudenosauneeMessage

10am:WorkshopSession1

11am:KeynoteWeatheringChangeinWNY

11:45am:Lunch

12:40pm:Tour/Gen1-2Conversations+PosterMaking

1:40pm:WorkshopSession2

2:40pm:WorkshopSession3

3:40pm:KeynoteGettingtotheRoots

4:15pm:EnvironmentalOrg.Exhibits/PosterSession

4:45pm:OpenSpaceMeetings

5:30pm:CommunityActionPlanning

7pm:MissBuffaloCruiseandDinner*

9pm:EndofSummit/Pick-up

Keynotes

HaudenosauneePropheciesastheyrelatetoClimateChangeMorningWelcomeandEveningClosing

David Arquette:

Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force

DavidArquette,Bearclan,MohawkNationatAkwesasnehasbeenthedirectoroftheHaudenosauneeEnvironmentalTaskForce(HETF)forthepast10years.HewasappointedasadelegatetoHETFfromtheMohawkNationsinceitsformationbytheHaudenosauneeGrandCouncilin1995.HegraduatedfromRochesterInstituteofTechnologywithaBTinCivilEngineeringandaminorinEnvironmentalStudiesin1991.AftergraduationheworkedfortheSt.RegisMohawkTribalEnvironmentalDivisionincleaningupthreeofthebiggestmajorSuperfundsitesinNewYorkStatethathaveimpactedtheland,water,andwayoflifeoftheMohawkpeopleatAkwesasne,referredtoasGeneralMotors,ReynoldsMetals,andAlcoaforseveralyearsbeforetakingemploymentwithHETF.

DavidwillbeginandcloseoursummitwithaNativeAmericanmessageofgratitudeandmoreregardingourrelationshipwithEarth.

WeatheringClimateChangeinWNY11:00am

Dr. Stephen Vermette: SUNY Buffalo State College Geography Department Dr.StephenVermetteisaprofessorofgeographyintheDepartmentofGeographyandPlanning,SUNYBuffaloState,wherehehastaughtmeteorologyandclimatologycoursesandmentoredstudentsfor25years.Dr.VermettegraduatedwithhisdoctoratefromMcMasterUniversity(Hamilton,Ontario),andheisanelectedmemberoftheAmericanMeteorologicalSociety.Hehaspublishednumerousarticlesonlocalweather,providedlocalweatherexpertiseformediaoutlets,andservedthecommunitywithhisexpertise,includingasaforensicmeteorologist.Dr.VermettereceivedacommendationfromtheNationalGeographicSocietyforhisdedicatedleadershiprenderedtotheStateofNewYorktoensurethegeographicliteracyofthenextgeneration,aswellasreceivingtheVirginiaFiguraAwardinrecognitionofdistinguishedservicetoGeographicEducationinNewYorkState.Dr.VermettewasalsoawardedtheNationalCouncilforGeographicEducationDistinguishedTeachingAward,andBuffaloState’sPresident’sAwardforExcellenceinTeaching.TheWallStreetJournalreferredtoDr.Vermetteasa“rareclimatologist”,notingthatheco-curated(withTullisJohnson)atravelingartexhibitionentitled“CharlesE.Burchfield:WeatherEvent”whichreceivedanAwardofCommendationfromMuseumwise.Dr.Vermettehasaneclecticinterestinallthingsrelatedtoweatherandclimate,especiallyasitrelatestoWesternNewYork.Hecurrentlyisauthoringthebook“TheFaceofWNY’sWeather”.

Dr.Vermette’spresentationwillhighlightthefiveclimatezonesofWNYaswellashisresearchabouttrendsanddiscussionaboutwaysofpreparingforthechangingclimate.

GettingtotheRoots3:40pm

Elsa Mengistu: Zero Hour Movement

ElsaMengistuisaseventeen-year-oldhighschoolstudentfromNorthCarolina.Sheisanavidorganizerandactivistwhostartedatherworkinmiddleschoolfocusingonhumanrights.Goingintohighschoolshebegantogetinvolvedwithelectoralpoliticsandeducatingherpeersaboutdifferentinjustices.Advocatingformanyissueslikeracialjustice,lgbt+equality,andwomen’srightsshebeganworkingwithlocalorganizationsandschoolclubstomakeanimpact.DuringherjunioryearshebeganworkingongunviolencepreventionandwasoneoftheleadyouthorganizersforherlocalMarchForOurLiveschapterandschoolwalkouts.AsshecontinuedtostudysocialjusticeitbecameapparentthatallsocialissuesareinterconnectedwhichthenledhertoworkingonclimatejusticewithZeroHourandorganizingtheGlobalYouthClimateMarch.ShenowservesastheDirectorofPartnershipsatZeroHourandcoordinatesoutreachinordertogainsupportfortheYouthClimateMovement,andtoseehowtheyouthofthemovementcansupportandupliftothers.ShealsoservesontheYouthAdvisoryBoardforYoungVoicesforthePlanet,anorganizationthathighlightskidsfromacrosstheworldandwhattheyaredoingtomakeadifferencethroughvariousdocumentaries.

ClimateChangeisinnowayanissuefloatingseparatefromallotherissues.Youwillhearaboutthereasonsforclimatecatastrophe,onasociallevel,andwhythatrequiresthatwetreatclimatechangeasaninterconnectedissue.Nomatterhowterrifyingclimatechangecanbe,thepowertoactiswithinallofus.Socialshiftsandindividualchangesbothmustbeemphasized.Thepowerofyouthisundeniableandcriticalinsolvingthiscrisis-evenifsomeofusareatalossofknowingwheretostart.

Workshop Descriptions

(OrganizedAlphabetically) ActionthroughArtKatie Tomasello: Ithaca College & Helena Brierton: NYS Master Teacher Createartthatinspiresactiontoprotecttheearthandempowerindividualstomakesustainablechoices.Throughartisticpractice,wecaninvestigatetherelationshipshumanshavewiththenaturalworld.Inthisworkshop,youwillchoicestocreatesculpturesthatencourageenvironmentalawarenessthroughre-envisioningeverydaydiscardedmaterials.Asecondoptionwillbeprovidedtoexplorepaintingondifferentnaturalsurfacestocreaterockgardenmarkersandtreebranchcoasters.AdvocatingtoAuthorityWNY Environmental Alliance Youth Climate Justice Fellows WNYEnvironmentalAllianceYouthandClimateJusticeFellowswillteachyouskillsandtechniquesforbeingasuccessfulclimateadvocate.YCJFellowswilltrainparticipantsonhowtocreateastrong“elevatorpitch”inordertoconfidentlycommunicatetoauthorityfigureswhenseekingsupportforclimatejusticeissuesinyourcommunity.CitizenLobbyingandAdvocacyAllison Romer: Our Climate Everwonderedwhatlobbyingactuallyisandhowyoucangetinvolvedasacitizen?Wewillworkthroughwhatmakesalobbymeetingsuccessful,howtocommunicatewithrepresentatives,andotherwaystodirectlyengagewiththepoliticalprocess.ClimateChangeandYourHealthLissette Palestro: WNY Children’s Environmental Health Center Climatechangeisn’tjustbadforourenvironment–it'salsobadforourhealth.Extremeweather,risingtemperatures,andrisingsealevelsthreatenthesafetyofcleanairandwaterincommunitiesaroundtheworld.Noteveryoneisequallyatrisk–certaincommunitieswillbeargreaterburdenofclimatechange.Thisworkshopwilladdressthehealthimplicationsofclimatechangeandwaystotakeactioninyourcommunity.ClimatePolicyandCarbonPricingAllison Romer: Our Climate Whataresomeofthepolicyoptionsavailabletoaddresstheclimatecrisis?Learnaboutdifferentmethodsofcarbonpricingandwhatmakesgoodclimatepolicy.

CO2inaBeakerJohn Elliott and Larry Grisanti: NYS Master Teachers ThisworkshopwillemphasizethebasicsofClimateChange.Namely,thatCO2actsasagreenhousegasbytrappingproportionallymoreheatthananormalatmosphere.Studentswillmanipulatelabequipmenttodemonstratethisfundamentalprincipleinordertogainaworkingmentalmodelthatwillinformthemintheirotherworkshopsandactivitiesmovingforward.Wewillexaminethegroupdatatomakesomegeneralpredictionsastotheeffectsofhumanactivities,andbegintoseewherestudents’voiceshavetheabilitytoaffectapositivechangeintheirfutures.ControversyofComplexTopicsDr. Don Haas: Paleontological Research Institution Controversialissuestendtohavethingsincommon,whichincludesthattheyareinterdisciplinary,theycanonlybedeeplyunderstoodthroughasystemsperspective,andtheunderstandingofscaleisimportant.Thisworkshopwillteachyoustrategiesfortalkingaboutcontroversialissues.ConvincingData–DataStoriesCollaboratory for a Regenerative Economy (CoRE) Whatmakesaconvincingposition?Howcanyouadvocateforwhatyoubelievein?Inthisworkshop,studentswillexplorehowtoadvocateforsolarenergywithaevidence-basedapproach.Wewilldiscussandpracticehowdatacanhelptonarrateastorybyusingdatasetsandvisualizationtools.CreatingSustainableCitiesoftheFutureMitch LaRosa: Shared Mobility Inc. & Nina Zesky: University at Buffalo Howwillwebuildthecitiesofthefuture?Willitbedesignedfordriversandtheircarsorwillitbemadetocreatesustainable,livablecommunities?Thisworkshopwillengagewithstudentsabouthowwhenwedesignourtransportationnetworksforeveryone,theplaceswherewelive,work,andplaycanthrive!Studentswilllearnabouttheimpactsofhighwaysandotherautomobile-centricdesignandhowwecanthinkcreativelytoimprovesustainablemethodsoftransportationlikebiking,walking,andpublictransit.HowtoMakeYourOwnPodcastLaura Evans: Keeping Things Alive Podcast Podcastingisagreatplatformforamplifyingvoices,tellingstories,spreadingknowledge,sharingmusic,andmore.Inthisinteractivecomputerlabworkshop,LauraEvans,ProducerandHostoftheKeepingThingsAlivePodcast,willtakeyouthroughastep-by-stepguidetocreatingapodcastusingthestoryofhowshecreatedTheKeepingThingsAlivePodcastastheexample.

ProposingaClimateResolutionErin Kluge, Julia May, and Skylar Moffett: East Aurora HS seniors TheSustainabilityTeamatEastAuroraHScreatedaClimateResolutionthattheypresentedtotheSchoolBoard.Fromthisstartingpointwehavebeenabletogetadministration,schoolboard,students,andfacultytodevelopaplanforlong-termsustainablepracticesanddialogueaboutallthingsgreen.Wewillshowstudentshowtogetadialoguegoingandenactchangeintheirlocalschools.Wewereabletodoit,sowillyou....ReconcilingourRelationshipwiththeNaturalWorldSarah Tomasello & Andrew Case Thisworkshopwillprovideaholisticunderstandingofthewaysinwhichthemore-than-humanworldisbeingimpactedbyawarmingplanet.Wewillfocusonthevariousbehavioralresponsesthatnon-humanspecieshavetochangesintheirenvironment,andthechallengestheyfaceintheirattemptstoadapt.Wewillalsodiscusstheimportanceofreconciliationecologyasawayforhumanstobemoreinclusiveofotherspeciesintheirownresponsetoclimatechange.TheUglyTruthBehindFoodProductionPayam Mohseni: Feed Network We’lllookatsomefacts,figure,andreasonswhyfoodgoestowasteintheU.Sandcomparethattoothercountries.Discusssomeofthelawsandinitiativesnationally/globallytocombattheproblem.Discuss&hopefullysetactionplansaboutwhatthestudentscandototakeactionathomeandinschool.WindTurbineChallengeStan Skotnicki, Alison Moran, and Cindy McMillen: NYS Master Teachers ParticipantsoftheWindTurbineChallengewillbefacedwithacompetitiveengineeringdesignchallenge.Eachteamwilldesignthebestpossibleturbinebladesandbuildthemusingthevariousmaterialsandadhesivessuppliedtoeachgroup.Onceconstructed,theteamwilltesttheirbladesonasmallscaleturbinethatwillbemeasuretheamountofvoltsitsproducing.Thischallengewillteachourstudentsthebasicsofwindenergyandhowtoincreaseefficiencythroughdesign.WritinganOp-edOrlando Dickson: Buffalo Partnership for the Public Good Therearealotofwaystogetyourstoryormessagetoldinthemedia,andthey'reeasiertoaccomplishthanyoumightimagine.Thisworkshopwillsharetipsandtechniquesonhowtodevelopyourmessageforaneffectiveopinionpiece(op-ed)inthenewspaper.Wewilluseexamplesrelatedtoclimatechangeandyouwillhavetheopportunitytogetfeedbackonyourownwritingsample.

SUNY Buffalo State

SUNYBuffaloStateandtheWesternNYRegionNYSMasterTeacherProgramwouldliketowelcomeyoutoourcampus.Wearethrilledtobehostingadayofclimateactivitiesandworkshopsfortoday’syouthandtomorrow’sinnovators!

BuffaloStateiscurrentlyundergoingmultipletransformations.TwoofthemostrecentcampusadditionsincludetheTechnologyBuildingandtheScienceandMathematicsComplex(SAMC).SAMCwillsoonundergoPhase3–thelastphase–ofitsconstructionplantoincludetheplanetariumasshowninthesimulatedimagebelow.

New York State Master Teacher Program Western Region

Respondingtothecalltostrengthenournation’sK-12STEMeducation,GovernorAndrewM.CuomolaunchedtheNewYorkStateMasterTeacherProgram(NYSMTP)inpartnershipwithTheStateUniversityofNewYorkandMathforAmerica.TheNYSMTPcelebratestheworkofthehighest-performingSTEMteachersbyestablishinganexpertcommunitydedicated

todevelopingexpertiseintheareasofcontent,pedagogy,andstudents’familiesandcommunities.Introducingmotivatedteacherstolike-mindedprofessionalsandhigh-qualitygrowthexperienceskeepsourbestteachersintheclassroom.Inspiringourstate’sbestteachersandrewardingtheireffortsultimatelyattractstalentedstudentsintocareersinSTEMfields,includingSTEMeducation.

LedbySUNYBuffaloStateprofessorsDr.DavidHenryandDr.DavidWilson,theWesternNYRegionincludes107of943teachersintheNYSMasterTeacherProgramstatewide.WNYhas43emeritusteacherswhohavecompletedthefour-yearprogramandcontinuetocontributetolocalandstateinitiatives.OurMasterTeacherscomefrom40schooldistrictsandteachinavarietyofSTEMdisciplinesincluding:59%science,24%math,10%engineeringandtechnology,7%Elementary.

TheWNYYouthClimateActionSummitCommitteeconsistsofnineWNYMasterTeachers:AdamGollwitzer,LarryGrisanti,AlisonMoran,StanSkotnicki,LauraEstenoz,HelenaBrierton,LindaMorton,JamesVitale,andJeffShelley;threeWNYMasterTeacherEmeriti:JohnElliott,KelliGrabowski,andCindyMcMillen;andthePaleontologicalResearchInstitutionDirectorofTeacherProgrammingDr.DonHaas.WealsoworkcloselywiththeWNYEnvironmentalAllianceYouthClimateJusticeFellowsandtheYouthDirectorEmilyDyett.

The Committee would like to recognize and thank:

NYSMasterTeacherOfficeStaff:HeatherKopera,MaddyHemmer,MadelineMarsack,JhadaHutchinson,AlaylaHenry,andMariaAyub

KathyRooney-ChautauquaLakeCSDandLisaMusall–Cattaraugus-LittleValleyCSD

AlloftheTeachersandYouthMentorsthatNominatedYoungPeopletoAttendthisEvent!

Sponsors and Partners Allimagesarehyperlinkedtogodirectlytoasiteformoreinformation