We know the news cycle has been heavy. And before we jump into regularly scheduled communications, we’re pausing to let you know that we see your sadness and hear your frustration. Our hearts are broken after the recent shootings at The University of Virginia and University of Idaho, and we grieve for the victims, families, students, and anyone impacted by gun violence. In light of everything, remember that you have power. Your voice and actions can serve as a catalyst for change, taking steps to claim our democracy and heal our nation. Please remember to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Visit our diverse mental health resource hub and our gun violence page to learn more and share resources with your loved ones.

At DoSomething, we understand that climate change is one of the most important issues for young people. Not only are y'all seeing how critical the situation is at large, but you’ve also seen how it disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color.

During both the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Youth (COP 17) and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27) young people stood up to global leaders to demand action on the climate crisis. Activists pointed to the unprecedented natural disasters caused by climate change and how recovering from them sets up developing nations for failure, a sentiment echoed by youth leaders around the world.

You don’t have to be an attendee at either of these big conferences to make your voice heard. We’re super excited to announce the launch of our See Us, Hear Us: Envisioning Greener Futures program to spread awareness about environmental racism, and give you a platform to share your vision of a better, greener future.

So, what’s the deal? There are two different ways to participate: by sharing your story and by sharing your vision. 

We want to hear from you about how your community is impacted by climate change and environmental racism. Your story matters and amplifies the voices of people just like you. When you Share Your Story with us, you’ll be entered to earn a $2,000 scholarship, hurrah!

Not only are we awaiting your stories, but we’re also looking forward to seeing how you envision a greener future. With our Share Your Vision activity, you’ll dream up a new green space for your community and share your vision with us. You can sketch it, draw it, create a digital rendering, or even sing about your green space! (Psst..you’ll also be entered to earn a $2,000 scholarship for this one).

Let’s Do This!

DoSomething

This isn’t our first rodeo with See Us, Hear Us: Envisioning Greener Futures. Climate injustice is an ongoing issue that requires collective action, year after year.

We were so inspired by our DoSomething community’s contributions during last year’s program. We heard from many members whose challenges were unique yet, shared a common thread of concern.

Here are some of last year’s entries that we’re still thinking about and celebrating:

Rowan E., 18: “Living in Colorado, I have always been surrounded by nature and its wonders, but slowly it's just gotten worse through deforestation and large carbon emissions. In my vision, the future uses renewable energy such as sun or wind power. There are also many more natural spaces both for humans and animals.”

Jessica, 21: "In my home in Nigeria, there is a lack of education about climate change and the impact of pollution and when many rich people or businesses create waste that pollutes the environment, low income communities have to deal with the toxicity and live in the pollution. My vision for a greener future is to spread awareness about climate change and implement certain restrictions for companies that require reducing waste/toxic material that can harm others."

See why we’re so pumped about it this year?

The Youth Wave is here...join us tomorrow at 5pm our virtual town hall on the future of youth activism! We're chatting with our members, youth activists, and philanthropic leaders to discuss how young people are keeping their civic spark alive in the face of such rapid change. Save your spot today!

Coming up @DoSomething… We want to demystify STEM because we know that so many young people are interested in the field but might not feel super confident about where to start. We’re hosting  Make STEM 100%, a new community conversation to support you in forging your stem future on November 17th at 5pm EST and would love to see you there. RSVP now!

Making headlines…are students from Dane County High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who hosted their very own Climate Action Conference. We stan this kind of community activism and can’t wait to see other schools adopting a similar model to tackle climate injustice.

Speaking of trailblazers… As the midterm election numbers rolled in last week, we saw how youth voters tipped the scale in many key races and on many critical issues across the country. This is a huge victory for our democracy and proof that your vote and your voice matter.

Hey, you don’t wanna miss this… November is National Native American Heritage Month, and one of the stories we want to highlight is this one about how the Indigenous Gwich’in committee and environmental groups stopped an oil company from drilling on the Arctic’s Coastal Plain. Indigenous communities continue to pave the way for climate action, and we celebrate their fierce commitment to protecting our planet.

Fastweb

New Scholarships Alert!

National Scholarship Month

National Scholarship Month is a great time to explore scholarships and to apply for each opportunity! Refine your scholarship application standards this November by picking a goal that works for you. Enter in three steps: 1. Be a Fastweb member. 2. Answer a multiple-choice question. There’s no wrong answer. 3. Submit your entry by November 30, 2022. Enter the sweepstakes daily!

Did you know…November is National Scholarship Month?! Score. Our friends at CollegeXpress are giving away a $1000 no-essay scholarship through November 30! And all you have to do is answer one simple question. 

Complete a free profile on CollegeXpress and answer the following to be entered: In honor of National Scholarship Month, how many scholarships have you applied for this year?

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