K–12 climate leaders and innovators will present the impact of their sustainability and climate initiatives at Confluence Park on April 18th starting at 5:30pm
SAN ANTONIO (April 13, 2023)–Community members and the press are invited to celebrate and learn from San Antonio-area youth and educators who are working to improve local climate resilience. The 3rd Annual Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives Showcase and the 5th Annual San Antonio Student Sustainability Showcase will both take place from 5:30–7:00 pm at Confluence Park on April 18th. The showcases will feature Mayor Nirenberg’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives and students who received grant funds from the National Wildlife Federation’s Monarch Heroes Grant program or EcoRise’s Student Innovation Fund.
“Our young residents are stepping up to participate in the local climate conversation and are joining people all over the world who want to ensure their communities are resilient in the face of present and future challenges,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I am proud they are using their voices to advance our critical sustainability work in San Antonio.
“Youth offer an incredibly unique perspective on climate and environmental justice challenges and unmatched imagination and ingenuity when it comes to implementing climate solutions. EcoRise is proud to activate passionate K–12 students in San Antonio with knowledge, tools, and funding to bring their bright ideas to life,” said EcoRise Executive Director, Jon Stott. “We are excited to provide the opportunity for the community to connect with, learn from, and celebrate these young changemakers on April 18th.”
“This annual showcase is a culminating celebration and recognition of the students, teachers and communities that have come together to address real-world challenges,” said NWF Texas Education Manager, Karen Bishop. “The passion, energy, and determination of these students to restore native habitat, create safe spaces for outdoor learning and play, and drive changes in our mindsets is remarkable. We hope you will join us at the event and be inspired by these young leaders.”
3rd Annual Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives Showcase
The Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives (MYECCI) provides a critical space for local youth to incorporate their voice into the planning and execution of the City of San Antonio’s Climate Action and Adaption Plan. This school year, the third cohort of the council has learned how to develop and implement feasible climate solutions, inform local policy, and engage their communities in local sustainability initiatives. The cohort will present their culminating community impact projects and recommendations to local leaders in the Estela Avery classroom at Confluence Park from 5:30–7:00 pm on April 18th. Come learn about the Council’s projects, which include community composting, home weatherization, and tree canopy restoratation initiatives. To RSVP for the Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives presentation on their community impact projects, please visit myeccishowcase23.eventbrite.com. Learn more about the 2022–2023 Mayor’s Youth Council click here.
5th Annual San Antonio Student Sustainability Showcase
Local K–12 students participating in EcoRise’s Eco-Audit Grant program and the National Wildlife Federation’s Monarch Heroes Grant program will showcase their data-driven, STEM-based, sustainability projects under the Confluence Park pavilion from 5:30–7:00 pm on April 18th. Students from local public, charter, and private schools will present their projects, the problems they identified and solutions they designed, and explain their impact to the community. Join us to learn about the outdoor classrooms, Monarch Heroes gardens, water and energy conservation efforts, and plastic waste reduction initiatives they have spearheaded this year. To learn about local K–12 student sustainability projects and to RSVP for the 5th Annual San Antonio Student Sustainability Showcase, please visit sashowcase23.eventbrite.com.
EcoRise and the National Wildlife Federation are grateful to the community partners that make programming in San Antonio possible. The Mayor’s Youth Council is led and facilitated by the sustainability education non-profit, EcoRise, with support from the City of San Antonio Mayor’s Office and Office of Sustainability, and the Hollomon Price Foundation. Financial support for EcoRise’s Student Innovation Fund is provided by the City of San Antonio Office of Sustainability, H-E-B, and Transcend. Funding for the National Wildlife Federation’s Monarch Heroes program in San Antonio is generously provided by H-E-B Our Texas, Our Future; Joan & Herb Kelleher Foundation; Faye L. & William L. Cowden Charitable Foundation; Amy Shelton McNutt Charitable Trust; and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program.
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San Antonio: America’s 21st Century City
San Antonio is a global city with a dynamic economy and workforce, a deep cultural heritage and diverse communities that are resilient and welcoming. It is one of the strongest fiscally managed cities in the country, nurturing entrepreneurship, encouraging investment and funding infrastructure. America’s seventh-largest city offers a vibrant business climate and growth opportunities in bioscience, financial services, aerospace, cybersecurity, energy, transportation, manufacturing and healthcare. In 2015, UNESCO designated San Antonio’s 18th century Spanish colonial missions as a World Heritage Site – the first in Texas. Proudly called Military City, USA®, San Antonio is home to one of the largest populations of active duty military, veterans and crucial military commands. For more information, visit www.sanantonio.gov.
About EcoRise
EcoRise mobilizes a new generation of leaders to design healthy, just, and thriving communities for all. The national non-profit organization offers a range of curricula and programs for students, teachers, school districts, and partners, designed to advance environmental literacy, sustainable schools, and equitable access to green career pathways. EcoRise is currently supporting more than 8,000 teachers in helping over 400,000 students solve real-world sustainability challenges concerning energy, water, waste, transportation, air quality, food, and public spaces. To learn more about EcoRise, visit ecorise.org.
About National Wildlife Federation
For more than 80 years, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has been uniting Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. NWF’s Monarch Heroes Program is a two-year, project based learning, environmental education and outreach program. Monarch Heroes engages and empowers PreK-12 students and community members to create nationally recognized Schoolyard Habitats in support of both the monarch butterfly and outdoor learning. To date, 25,000 students and 700 teachers in the state of Texas have become NWF Monarch Heroes. Together they have created over 80,000 sqft of native habitat gardens.
