Youth Climate Action Fund Disperses Eight $5,000 Grants to Local Young People Driving Climate Solutions
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This past March, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced that Madison would join Bloomberg Philanthropies’ new Youth Climate Action Fund, which has provided technical assistance and funding for 100 Mayors to activate tens of thousands of young people to design, produce, and govern urgent climate solutions in cities across the globe. Madison joined the Fund alongside cities from 38 countries across 6 continents, representing over 62 million residents.
The City of Madison, in partnership with United Way of Dane County and UW-Madison Extension Dane County, supported the By Youth For Youth (BYFY) program in determining how funding received through this initiative would be distributed. BYFY is a unique program where high school youth leaders make positive impacts in their community by making local investment decisions to support youth-led and youth-developed programs and projects across the county.
This year, youth members of the BYFY program served as a grant review committee for the Youth Climate Action Fund. They reviewed twelve applications and distributed $5,000 each to eight youth-led and youth-implemented climate initiatives that aligned with the City of Madison’s Sustainability Plan.
Projects awarded were required to involve at least one of the priorities:
- Quality, affordable housing
- Resilient city design & infrastructure
- Renewable energy & decarbonization
- Sustainable transportation
- Clean, abundant water
- Zero waste
- Healthy ecosystems
- Vibrant green economy.
Sustain Dane
“Powerful Teen Leaders Program”
- Increases youth knowledge of career opportunities that support vibrant green economies through land management and conservation practice, financial empowerment with the help of Summit Credit Union, S.T.E.M. education, a dual college/high school credit through Madison College’s Solar Installation lab, a work-based learning credit through MMSD, professional development, and social/emotional development activities.
“School Sustainability Program”
- Increases understanding and participation of waste reduction at Emerson Elementary School in Madison, WI by empowering students and staff as sustainability stewards, focusing on at-meals recycling, food waste education, and composting on-site.
“Food Scraps Program”
- Provides accessible food scrap collection sites at the Eastside, Southside, and Westside farmer's market locations. Moves the Madison community towards zero waste and divert food scraps from the landfill to compost at a nearby local farm.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
“Electrical Little Free Library”, WI Energy Institute
- Adds solar and charging capabilities on top of existing Little Free Libraries, making renewable energy accessible to vulnerable homeless youth and adult populations in Madison who rely on electronic devices to find resources.
“Teejop Mound Care Arboretum Restoration Project”, Earth Partnership & Indigenous Arts and Sciences Program
- Works with students, youth, and families to restore the Indian Mounds in the "Lost City" at the Arboretum. Engage students and families in the long-term protection of the Mounds by planting seeds that will help reduce invasive/woody resprouts, prevent the soil from settling/sinking, and empower community members to take care of the Mounds through Native artist engagement and community outreach.
“Food Recovery Network”, UW-Madison Chapter
- Reduces food waste and combats food insecurity by recovering surplus food from UW dining halls, the WIsconsin Union and community kitchens and redistributing the surplus to provide nutritious, daily meals to food insecure students and community members free of cost.
Madison East High School
“Bike Repair Club”
- Club for students at East High School who are interested in learning and practicing bike repair skills. Empowers youth to use their bike for transportation, enjoyment, free repair assistance, and healthy, active lifestyles while simultaneously reducing carbon footprints.
Dane County Youth Environmental Committee
“2024 Youth Climate Conference”
- Inspires and empowers high school youth to take climate action by connecting with peers at other schools, learning about actions other youth are taking to address climate change, professional development training, and networking with local organizations who can support youth in future climate change actions.
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