Green Ambassadors

For the past four years, Common Vision has worked with the Green Ambassadors of  Environmental Charter High School.

This year, on March 1, 2010,  the Fruit Tree Tour crew trained the ECHS Student Council in tree planting and the art of leading a ‘tree group.’  In the afternoon, Common Vision and the green ambassador leaders walked together to a neighboring elementary school where the high school youth took engaged 100 4th graders in planting an orchard on the elementary schoolyard.

This was one of the most inspiring days in Fruit Tree Tour History. Don’t miss this video!

For Immediate Release:

Teens Speak Out On Environment At Public Forums, From City Hall to Press Conference to National Events

December 7, 2009 - Lawndale, Calif.  - Over the past few weeks, students from Environmental Charter High School (ECHS), an award-winning Los Angeles public charter school, could be found at the public podium in front of electronic media, consumers, and political and business leaders - delivering speeches about environmental issues, supporting Green campaigns, and being recognized for their contributions.

Sharing the stage with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 17-year-old ECHS senior Jordan Howard delivered the keynote speech at the 2009 Environmental Youth Conference in November.  Howard’s speech, addressed to 6,000 teens energized to change the way they impact the environment, and themed “Start Local, Impact Global,” kicked off the conference of local elected officials, young environmental leaders, and celebrities.   The event was organized to promote environmental awareness and responsibility through youth-conducted workshops and networking opportunities with green professionals and environmental organizations.

Later at same conference, 16-year-old ECHS junior Rudy Sanchez joined a panel discussing how he has raised public awareness about reducing plastic consumption with reusable alternatives. With Rise Above Plastics, a program of the Surfrider Foundation, he has delivered more than 35 presentations to over 1,000 people about alternatives to one-time-consumable plastics.

Later that week, as news cameras flashed, Sanchez joined City Supervisor Don Knabe, Assemblyman Zev Yaroslavsky, NBA Champion Luke Walton, and ABC7 Eyewitness News Weathercaster Danny Romero as a press conference speaker.  He led city officials, celebrities, and attendees in reciting a public pledge to recycle and reuse plastic bags, helping to kick off LA County’s BragAboutYourBag recycling campaign.

“ECHS trains its students how to speak publicly about issues in which they develop expertise,” said ECHS Founder and Executive Director, Alison Suffet-Diaz.   Like other competitive charter schools Environmental Charter High School has a rigorous college-prep curriculum, but what sets the school apart is how it uses environmental issues and action to motivate and inspire its students.    Though classes and programs such as its Green Ambassadors curriculum, students work on addressing some of the world’s environmental problems. “The program fosters personal growth and leadership skills to help youth tackle the most critical environmental issues facing our planet,” added Sara Laimon, Founder & Director of the Green Ambassadors program at ECHS.

Rudy Sanchez, Student/Green Ambassadors, of Environmental Charter High School will speak at the Go Green Recycle for a Clean LA Press Conference, Tuesday, November 10,2009 at 3:00.  Rudy has been part of Rise Above Plastics and has helped in delivering over 35 presentations to over 1000 citizens about how to rise above the one time consumable plastic obsession.  He will continue his plight by speaking with Chairman of the Board, Don Knabe and NBA Champion Luke Walton.  Visit www.CleanLA.com or call the hotline at 1 (888) CLEAN LA and get answers to all of your environmental questions.

Campaign Partners
Heal the Bay, EarthShare of California, 1 Bag at a Time, Earthwise Bags, Ralphs, Albertsons, HOWS, Top Valu, Valu Plus, 710ESPN, KLOVE 107.5, La Nueva 101.9, and ABC7

Environmental Youth Conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center

Description: Jordan Howard and Genesis Godoy, Green Ambassadors, head up the Keynote presentation and the Recycled Fashion Show.

“The City of Los Angeles believes that today’s youth are our biggest allies in our fight against climate change and global warming.

The Environmental Youth Conference engages young Angelenos to play a critical role in not only participating in our greening initiatives, but helping us educate others as well. This conference, the largest of its kind anywhere in the world, is for the youth and by the youth. Our youngsters run it, conduct workshops, publicize it, experience it and enjoy it.

Be part of it today! If you’ve attended the Environmental Youth Conference in the past, tell us what you think!

For more information, visit www.milliontreesla.org.”

Listen to about Jordan Howard and Genesis Godoy here Environmonetal Youth Conference on KFRN

Environmental High School Green Ambassador Jordan Howard leads a tour through the Lawndale Campus near a stream that runs through the Lawndale campus. Educators from across the state attended the “Green Action Curriculum Conference.”  Photo by Brad Graverson 8-13-09

Like many of her friends, Jordan Howard was skeptical at first. When the 17-year-old began classes at Environmental Charter High School, ecology and sustainability couldn’t be further from her mind.  Read more here.