www.blsyouthcan.org

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.

Youth CAN Green Jobs Page

Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy

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 are fossil fuels?

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.

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.

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:

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 & Recruitmenta) 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 Programa) Run the summer green jobs training program. b) Host closing celebration attended by City Councilor John

Connolly.

4) Support Teams & Present Findings Support participants in pursuing their team audits. Plan and present findings at 12/14 presentation. Create plans for next year.

Wrote grant to National Grid Foundation

Contacted presenters, students, etc.

Assisted summer program

Helped student teams execute planned audits.

Documented & recorded for Lexus Grant.

Planned 12/14 presentation

Youth CAN will judge the success of green jobs program based on: 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.

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 Phalan 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.

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.

The Dorchester Bay Youth Force (DBYF)

Youth CAN had preliminary meetings with DBYF about a possible collaboration before partnering for a green jobs initiative for underserved youth.

Step 1: Planning & Funding

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: 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

Youth Can members barnstorming for the green jobs program

Step 1: Planning & Funding

Budget & program description submitted

to the National Grid Foundation.

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.

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 MeralusMireya ColonKarise ThomasKeiawanna MeadowsSteven Nguyen

Jaquel ElyN'Dea JacksonAnthony WareSarah OsundeJaelle 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):

presenter on climate change

Debbie Fitton (Cape Light Compact): presenter on energy and energy systems

Steve Di Giacomo (Energy Management Associates) Lead students on walkthrough of BLS

Sergio Mazon (Mazon Lighting Design) Lead students on walkthrough of BLS, focusing on electricity & water.

Erin Taylor (Mass Energy Consumers Alliance) Train students to plan an energy action plan.

Ron Gwaizda (TrIntuition) 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 2: Advertising & Recruitment

The program ran for four weeks at Boston Latin School.

Students: 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

Step 3: Execution of Program

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

Looking at BLS’s roof

Examining BLS’s heating

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.

Step 3: Execution of Program

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

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

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

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.

Trailer of Youth CAN’s video on the green jobs program.

http://youtu.be/8Vs0IoDmucQ

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).

The BNNC segment highlighting the green jobs program.

http://youtu.be/8Vs0IoDmucQ

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