Green Ambassadors

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.

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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.

Ten Schools Picked To Participate in State-Funded Training on “How to Go Green”

July 30, 2009 – Lawndale, CA, Environmental Charter High School (ECHS), an award-winning public charter school, is hosting the first Green Action Curriculum Conference August 13-14th 2009 at its Lawndale, California campus.

The purpose of the conference is to train and educate teachers and schools how to “Go Green” by implementing a model of environmental-action-themed academic programs developed at Environmental Charter High School. These programs, such as ECHS’ Green Ambassadors, help inspire and motivate students and thereby improve academic performance, particularly among challenged population segments.

Participating educators will learn how academic results at their schools can be improved by extending learning beyond the classroom walls through partnerships with community organizations, and using methods like outdoor education field trips to complement their current academic curricula.

California public schools with representatives registered to attend include Abraham Lincoln High School of San Francisco, Cypress Charter of Santa Cruz, SAVA of Sacramento, Chino Hills High School of Chino Hills, Crosswalk of Hesperia, Santa Monica High School of Santa Monica, Santiago of Corona, Thomas Jefferson of Los Angeles, Venice High School of Los Angeles, and Will Rogers Middle School of Fair Oaks.

The State of California Board of Education selected Environmental Charter High School to help other charter schools by sharing its instructional modules as a successful model for reducing achievement-gaps in California’s K-12 public education system. The program is funded by California’s Public Charter Schools Grant Program.

Among the scheduled speakers during the two day event are Alison Suffet-Diaz, Founder of ECHS, Sara Laimon, Director of ECHS’ Green Ambassadors program, and Dave Hendry, President of Real Curriculum, two–time winner of George Foster Peabody Award for documentary and educational video productions.

Environmental Charter High School: (http://www.echsonline.org) is a public charter high school serving Lawndale and surrounding communities in south Los Angles. ECHS offers a rigorous college prep program that is made relevant by guiding students to critically examine and take action to solve environmental challenges in their local communities. U.S. News & World Report ranked ECHS in the top 3% of high schools in the nation for its ability to deliver college-ready graduates from its community. The award-winning high school has outperformed 80% of comparable high schools in its state API ranking – a key performance indicator.

ECHS’ Green Ambassador Program (http://www.greenambassadors.org) is an environmental education program that empowers youth to be agents of change in their communities and the world. Through service learning, community partnerships, and cross-cultural and global exchange, the program fosters personal growth and leadership skills to help youth tackle the most critical environmental issues facing our planet. The program has been featured on the Sundance Film Channel, Elevate Film Festival, EPA Environmental Awards, the Local News Paper and NPR.

Press Invited
Journalists are invited and may wish to attend the Opening Session, and “Green Campus” tour from 9:00-10:30 a.m. on August 13, 2009 at Environmental Charter High School, 16315 Grevillea Avenue, Lawndale, CA. For opportunities to interview participants and students contact Dan Freyer at 310 849-0721 or dan@adwavez.com