Student-Led Climate Projects are in Full Swing
If you want to learn more about this program and how to get involved, check out our website. Does your student group want to meet with our staff to learn more and get customized support for your project? Email us at studentclimatprojects@pps.net.
There are also lots of ways for PARTNERS to get involved and potentially be financially compensated, too! Are you a local or community organization that is interested in teaming up with students to make real climate action? Fill out this interest form here.
Climate Justice Youth Advisory (CJYA) Kickoff!
The PPS Climate Justice Youth Advisory (CJYA)’s kickoff mid October was a success! High school students from across the district built a shared understanding of the interconnectedness/complexities of climate justice and connected over lived experiences of climate change. The last two orientation meetings will cover what PPS is doing around climate action and climate advocacy.
The CJYA is still open to join! CJYA members act as critical thought partners in defining the Climate Justice department’s goals for climate action, student leadership, and community engagement.
If you’re a HS student interested in student leadership around climate action, this is the group for you! Meetings are held from 4:30-6:00 pm biweekly on Wednesdays at the PPS district office (also known as the Prophet Education Center), with a virtual option available. Fill out this form to join!
A social justice take on Geography as taught by Tim Swinehart at Lincoln
Longtime advocate for climate justice education Tim Swinehart, who teaches Geography at Lincoln, is integrating climate change or social justice themes into the subject in a way that engages and inspires his students.
Take his lessons on the geography of slums for example. Here, an experience of poverty that is all too often ignored by dominant culture is instead the focal point, the lens through which geological and geographical experiences are considered. The class watches videos made by residents of slums that describe how they know best what their communities need and show examples of initiatives that empower residents. Students make concept maps including things like Water, Public Infrastructure, Public Health, Spread of Diseases, Urbanization, Global Capitalist Markets, Anti-peasant Economic Policies, and so on.
This is a perfect opportunity for climate justice education. Over 1 billion people on the planet today live in slums and without infrastructure or buildings that insulate them from nature, they are among the first to feel the impacts of climate change, and the least financially able to flee or recover after climate driven disasters. Furthermore, those who live in slums contribute the least to climate change when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions or resource consumption, yet they feel the impacts the worst. Students say Swinehart’s class is the most they’ve learned about climate change and climate justice so far in their education at PPS.
Laurelhurst's Green Team
The Laurelhurst Green Team is an active group of students passionate about educating their peers and leading schoolwide sustainability initiatives like reducing the amount of plastic silverware being used in lunch everyday!
7th graders on the Laurelhurst K-8’s Green Team shared that they joined because it felt like a good way to get other people involved with climate change. Many students wanted everyone to know that climate change will impact everyone. As one of the many student groups participating in the Student-Led Climate Projects Fund, they’re interested in planting native plants and trees because they suck carbon dioxide out of the air as well as provide shade for people to cool on a hot day.
Sitton Elementary climate crew of students!
Each year, the Sitton Elementary Student Council selects one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to implement within the school community. This initiative educates students about these global goals and allows them to discuss their favorites. Last year, the council chose Goal 2: Zero Hunger.
Once this goal was selected, students explored ways to address food needs within their school. They noticed a significant amount of food waste despite many students facing food insecurity at home. To tackle this issue, the students conducted a waste audit.
The first step involved interviewing their classmates to understand why they often left food unfinished. The second part of this audit involved sorting the waste into categories—such as dairy, fruit, and meat—and weighing the discarded items. They discovered that unfinished milk cartons were the largest source of waste.
With this insight, the students implemented a “milk bucket” system, allowing peers to pour out leftover milk. This not only simplified cleanup for school staff but also significantly reduced the amount of milk entering landfills.
Additionally, the data collected from the audits was used to create graphs and educational materials to inform and engage the entire student body about the importance of reducing food waste.
Through their efforts, the Sitton Elementary Student Council is making a meaningful impact on both sustainability and hunger in their community, and we are looking forward to seeing what issues they will tackle next!
First Ever EV maintenance vehicle
As PPS works toward the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, we’re excited about further electrifying our fleet and equipment to reduce our environmental impact.
Battery Powered Grounds Equipment
Want to learn more about how your local government candidates think about climate justice and climate change? Check out these election forums hosted by our friends at 350pdx.
You can also learn all about the new Ranked Choice Voting from our other climate friends, Making Earth Cool!
And if you're eligible, don't forget to vote on Tuesday!