Today’s post comes from Charles Orgbon, a junior in high school and founder of Greening Forward.
I grew up in a rural community where I spent much of my time on my family’s farm until I moved to the suburban community of Gwinnett County. However, I brought much of my appreciation for nature with me during this move. Troubled by my school’s littering problem and lack of environmental concern, I formed a student action team. Although we made a difference, I soon wanted to do more. I wanted to empower other youth to start their own environmental groups.
This was the brainstorm behind Greening Forward, an organization that I founded that now offers mini-grants, recognition, civic engagement curricula, skill-building workshops and an online platform for idea sharing for other young environmental changemakers. I started with just a few friends, a few people who agreed that litter wasn’t OK. We picked up trash and planted a garden. We hosted pep rallies and soon other young people at other schools noticed. Today, the network has grown to more than 500 youth in three countries who have recycled more than 20 tons of waste, saved 86,000 gallons of water, and planted 72 trees thanks to Greening Forward’s help.
Our latest project involves creating the Young Environmentalists Network on Facebook. The shows how young people’s (ages 5-25) captivating energy and intrinsic creativity power movements for environmental protection. As these young environmental leaders connect with one another they create an online network full of professional and personal resources. This networking allows youth to develop connections, explore opportunities, reflect on experiences and spread new ideas that each member can add to their arsenal of changemaking resources.
The Young Environmentalists Network especially highlights the unique challenges that the 21st century environmentalist has to face. Unlike many sectors, environmentalism is an interdisciplinary field. The Young Environmentalists Network combines people from all of these areas in the environmental sector into one forum. The experts in policy, education, science and communications come together to learn how can we support the global environmental movement together. That’s what’s most inspiring about the network.
I hope that our movement will be recognized for helping to change the culture of our society. As young people, our voice needs to be heard. It needs to serve as an authentic voice in the decision-making process. I challenge you to go out into your community and find the issues, bring light to them and let your voice be heard. No matter who you are and where you have come from, you can make your mark on the world. You can be a Community Action Hero.
I invite you to and become an environmental community action hero and connect with me on Twitter .
This summer you can make your mark on the world and inspire others to do the same through generationOn’s Community Action Heroes summer program! Visit communityactionheroes.generationon.org to find out more about how you can become a community action hero the range of youth service projects you can get involved in, as well as the national recognition and prizes that you can win for your creativity and effort.
Charles is a junior at Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Ga. Charles founded an international movement of Earth Savers Clubs through his nonprofit, Greening Forward. Charles is a member of the 2011 PARADE All-America High School Service Team, an award recognizing outstanding young service leaders in association with Parade Magazine and in partnership with generationOn, the global youth enterprise of Points of Light. Charles invites readers to connect with Greening Forward or via . Charles champions the environment making him a hero for planet earth.
Today is a BIG day for youth service! “Why?” you ask. July 2nd is the beginning of 
lication through the generationOn website. Kids can choose a challenge team and project ideas. Once a pledge is made, kids can also challenge their friends to be heroes through the use of social media. Once the challenge is met, kids can share their projects through video, essays, or pictures to inspire other youth. All participants will receive a certificate of completion after the project as well!
school. Your child or teen can get involved in solving this important problem by making a work of art for a shelter, making a pillow buddy, hosting a princess party to collect fairytale books, making health kits, collecting school supplies boxes, advocating for the homeless, etc.
The world needs more action heroes, are you up to the challenge? We hope that your children will make the pledge to accept one of these eight hero challenges to better his or her community!
This past week has been a difficult one for Colorado residents. Large wildfires and high temperatures have destroyed thousands of homes, forcing residents to evacuate their communities to find safe shelter. Although many people and organizations are helping the relief efforts, they still need more help!
this time. The list includes:
Colorado needs our help at this time. Come together with your community and help support them in their efforts.
Are you looking for creative ways to engage volunteers, respond to community needs, and raise money for a good cause? Consider a serve-a-thon!
outdoors doing community service while bonding with your friends & family. You and your dad ca plant seeds, turn compost, and dig in the dirt. Remember to bring all your banana peels, apple cores, any rotting lettuce you forgot was in the refrigerator, tops of carrots or peppers that you cut from your dinner preparations, and coffee grounds from your breakfast to also help feed the compost system.
Celebrate all the fathers in your community by delivering donuts! That’s right, donuts are the ultimate comfort food and a pleasant way to say thank you to all the dads in your neighborhood. I’m pretty sure they’ll love this simple treat this father’s day.
June is not only the month for summer fun; it is also a month to get prepared! June is National Safety Month. The summer hosts a number of fun activities for warm weather, but it is also important that you are safe about these activities. From the pool to the lake it is important to not only have fun, but also to be safe.
prevent house damage.
Summer time is such a great time of year. By following these tips, you will ensure a care-free season for your entire family!
June 5 is the United Nations Environment Programme’s World Environment Day. World Environment Day is an annual event aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated day of environmental impact across the world. The United Nations mission is to empower individuals to become global agents of change for environmental issues through global action.
g act today, choosing a greener lifestyle will not only benefit your community, but also your wallet. Choose today to be the first day of the rest of your green life.
Today’s blog post comes from Frank Miller, a civil engineer. In honor of National Ride Your Bike to Work Day, he shares his story. Since choosing to ride his bike 11 years ago, Frank has ridden over 50,000 miles.
communities are examples that change is possible.
I have been an avid bike commuter for the past 11 years, and before that, an avid rider of mass transit. In the summer of 2001, I was looking for an exercise to replace running. A coworker (who was an avid cyclist) suggested that I consider cycling to work. He reasoned I could “kill two birds with one stone” – cycle to work for the exercise and avoid the bus ride too. I tried it and I have been a bike commuter ever since.
commuting. These people and the communities promoting cycling and alternative transit are the examples showing us that it is possible to change our habits; change that is good for ourselves and our planet.
Do you choose to ride a bike instead of commuting in a car? If your answer is “yes,” this month is for you. May is 
as T-shirts, gift certificates, water bottles, etc.
g has many benefits for the community. It is an easy way to volunteer to improve the environment and your community’s overall health.
the project around that.
Your garden will be a great way to celebrate the month of May while improving your community’s overall well being. Gardens contribute to a better ecosystem, overall.
