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College Environmental Activist Leadership Conference
Saturday September 26, 2009

Hosts: Yale Student Environmental Coalition (YSEC) and NextGEN

An early fall conference to give you ideas, campaigns and tools for planning a fabulous year of activities on your campus.

Our objectives  
The overall objective is to strengthen our capacity as college based activists in our efforts to educate and involve other students in the sustainability movement. The conference will provide opportunities to meet and discuss your experiences with activists from other schools and extend your skills through leadership training.
We have gathered experienced regional and national organizations that understand the critical importance of campus activism and have effective campaigns and resources designed for college activists. These groups (Sierra Club, Greenpeace, National Wildlife Federation, Powershift, Center for Health, Environment and Justice, Powershift, etc.) will host workshops to share their campaigns and coach you in effective campaigns and key skill areas.
These workshop sessions and the eco-fair will give you access to campaign strategies and materials that could make your outreach more effective as you plan your activities for 2009-2010.

Who is invited?
Campus activists from schools in:
New England: CT, RI, NH, VT, ME, MA
Mid-Atlantic: NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD and Washington DC
Help us spread the word! Make us an event on your Facebook or email your friends.

Why a student led conference on environmental activism? 
The momentum around “greening” college campuses has been growing. From Powershift to the Green Report Card, from Sierra Club’s top “coolest” schools to Slow Food and Just Food Banquets, through grassroots activism all over the country, students have tackled every possible environmental issue.  This conference is designed to focus on supporting students in the Northeast who are ready to keep the movement growing.

In the past, schools haven’t thought of themselves as polluters, but we now recognize that we all contribute to local air and water pollution, habitat disruption and global warming. Our schools generate waste, both standard and hazardous wastes. We are consumers of agricultural production through the food we serve. Our purchases of paper, vehicles, fuel, and construction materials have a measurable impact. 

In most schools, students are exposed to the pesticides that are used routinely in buildings, lawns and athletic fields. They get further exposure through chemicals used in cleaning, and the additives, preservatives and pesticide residues in the foods we serve. There is increasing and alarming evidence that the cumulative effect of such exposure is demonstrably harmful. 

The task of changing our patterns of behavior and consumption to both prevent further damage and begin to restore our relationship is daunting.  We need to understand how to influence policy and change our own day to day practices. College environmental organizations are providing leadership and innovation. Share your experiences and learn from other innovators.

Preliminary Schedule

Concerns the conference will be led to reflect upon through workshops, action sessions, discussions and celebration:

• How can our schools begin to reduce their environmental footprint, to become institutions that tread lightly? How can we prepare ourselves for tasks that will take much time and changes that will be accepted slowly?
• How might we best review key areas of campus life, which have an impact on the environment? What consideration can be made to involve all members in the community in both understanding the need for change and in the actual implementation of the change?
• What is the connection between our own health and the health of our environment?
• What are effective ways to share progress already made and lessons learned?
• How can the day-to-day practices of our schools demonstrate our belief in the sanctity of the earth?
• How can we be more conscious consumers and live more simply?
• How do we make sure our ideas are not forgotten as we graduate? How can we develop strong, enduring campus organizations?

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For more information about getting involved, or about YSEC generally, please contact: cornelia.twining@yale.edu
matthew.ramlow@yale.edu
rachel.shaffer@yale.edu