In honor of United Nations World Water Day, the 10th Annual Massachusetts Water Youth Summit is hosted by Foundation for a Green Future along with Project Green Schools, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC), Conscious Coalition, Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA), YoDo Cameroon, and others. This year the Massachusetts Water Youth Summit will unite students from the USA with students across the country and the globe to actively discuss issues pertaining to our water resources under the UN's theme of “Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible.” Please click READ MORE for details and registration.
We will look at how we are dealing with groundwater issues in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and how we can work together to confront these issues worldwide. Within this space, the UN is inviting us all to look at bringing to the surface an issue that is vital to our wellbeing but is hidden from view. Along with our technical and environmental conversation, we also plan to add people to our discussion - how do we treat each other when it comes to our groundwater resources?
Finally, we will divide into breakout groups to write a song about water, peace, leadership and change with the help of some well-known artists from three continents.
Earn extra credit or a special grade when you attend this program. All you will need to do is fill out a quick 3 minute survey and we will submit your responses to your teacher.
Please register (free): https://mwys10.eventbrite.com
Young Women's Panel:
Andrea Tutuny, Recent Grad, Sustainability & Poli Sci, University of New Hampshire
Angela Zhong, Environmental Studies, Harvard University and Rotary International District 5890 Interact (Governor)
Michelle Muchilwa, White Oaks High School, Kenya
Aubrey Organ, Senior, Plymouth North/South High School
Maryam Abdulkadir, Graduate Student, University of London
Moderator: Gretchen Rabinkin, Boston Society of Landscape Architects, Executive Director
PROGRAM
10:00 am Welcome
Dr. Karen Weber-Salamanca, Executive Director, Foundation for a Green Future
Senator Becca Rausch, Chairperson, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA)
Representative Mindy Domb, Vice Chair, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Representative Nika Elugardo, 15th Suffolk, Mass. Legislature
Fai Cassian Ndi, Executive Director, YoDo Cameroon
Adriana Cillo, Educator, Boston Water and Sewer Commission
Ed Koban, Mohawk Educator
10:15 am Short film about Groundwater
10:20 am International young women panel discussion: Why does Groundwater matter?
10:50 am Leadership and Action
Michael Bezdek, Conscious Coalition, Executive Director
Where Hope Lives - short film about youth in several communities in the USA and Africa who are "Water Solutionaries" by Benjamin Keller of Maine, USA, Filmmaker and Director of Photography.
11:05 am Breakout Sessions
Confirmed facilitators: (more to come!)
Robin Buchanan, Executive Director, Project Green Schools
Ed Koban, Mohawk Educator and Musician
Isaias Medina, Environmental and Humanitarian Advocate, Kingdom of the Hawai'ian Islands, Ambassador-at-Large
Fai Cassian Ndi, Executive Director, Yodo Cameroon
Daniel Sundaram, Teacher, Mallya Aditi International School, India
Anselmo Cassiano Alves, Board Member, MIT Water Club
Ambereen Mirza, President, OPEN Global
Naka Joel Budi, Senior Agricultural Technician, Yodo Cameroon
Nfor Blessing Mbuntu, Yodo Cameroon
Tem Blessed, musician-educator-author of Planeta Blu: The Rise of Agoo
Nicolas Emden, musician-songwriter-educator
Marlenne Vizcarra, educator and founder, Voices of Peru
11:40 am Wrap-up
