4th Annual Nashville Youth Climate Summit

Join us for the 4th Annual Nashville Youth Climate Summit on March 4th!

In coordination with the Mayor’s Youth Council and the Oasis Center, the Cumberland River Compact will host the 4th Annual Nashville Youth Climate Summit. The Nashville Youth Climate Summit is a chance for high school students from across the county to learn, share, connect, and to take action. With the help of youth leaders, we’ve worked to identify local scientists, activists, and nonprofit leaders to lead collaborative sessions on climate change impacts and solutions.

Register Here

At the Nashville Youth Climate Summit, you will…

• Learn about climate change in Nashville.
• Participate in climate action workshops.
• Connect with other passionate youth.

PLUS make your climate vision a reality with a Youth Climate Action Project sponsored by Nashville SC.

Learn More About Youth Climate Action Projects

Agenda:

9am-10am: Climate Change 101 Panel

Dr. Patrick Greiner (Vanderbilt University), Luis Mata (Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition), Krissy Hurley (National Weather Service), and Devon Murrie (Stony Creek Colors)

Plus: Special Opening Remarks from Mayor John Cooper.

10am-12pm: Workshops

Urban Heat Mapping and Impacts (Zach Wampler and Kendra Abkowitz, Office of Mayor John Cooper).

Extreme heat causes more mortalities in the United States than all other meteorological hazards COMBINED. In this workshop, you will learn about the city’s past and current efforts to become more heat resilient and brainstorm ways that you can make your own community more resilient to heat. By the end of the session, you will understand how the Urban Heat Island effect works, the importance of considering social vulnerability in climate policy, and how to better protect yourselves and your communities.

Sustainable and Green City Planning (Kayla Anderson, Civic Design Center, and Olivia Ranseen, Metro Planning)

As the climate continues to change it is important to think about how warmer temperatures and changing weather patterns impact cities and the residents who live in them. During this workshop you will have the opportunity to learn about important components of sustainable and green neighborhood design. Using the knowledge you acquire, you and your peers will be invited to create neighborhood plans taking into account important sustainability practices.

Greening Your Community with Nature-Based Solutions (Joe Chapman and Meg Morgan, Cumberland River Compact)

Nature-based solutions use what nature is already good at doing, like reducing heat, slowing down water, and storing carbon, to mitigate against the effects of climate change. In this workshop, you will learn about how trees, rain gardens, and pocket prairies can lead to a more climate resilient Nashville. See these techniques up-close and learn how to bring them back to your own community!

Sustainable Fashion and Upcycling (Ellen Schlabach, Turnip Green Creative Reuse)

Close to 25 billion tons of clothing, shoes, and textiles are discarded every year. While some of these items are repurposed, much of it ends up in a landfill. Many garments could see a second life with a simple fix like mending a zipper. In this workshop you’ll be led on a hands-on activity focused on mindful mending techniques and slow fashion!

Community Environmental Action (Jaffee Judah, Recycle and Reinvest)

In this workshop, you’ll work with Recycle and Reinvest cofounder Jaffee Judah to learn about the organization’s efforts to close the gap between trash and crime. As you gain hands-on experience repurposing old t-shirts, you’ll also have an opportunity  to envision a safer community through a cleaner environment.

Climate and Transportation (Jessica Dauphin, Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee).

Getting from point A to point B is something we do every day, but how we get around can have a big impact on climate change. In this workshop, you will explore the intersections between climate and transportation, explore different modes of transportation, and will be challenged to make the most climate-friendly and efficient route through town. 

12pm: Lunch from The Nashville Food Project

12:30: Writing for Climate Anxiety (Joe Kane, The Porch)

1:00-3:00pm: Climate Action Planning and Collective Visioning

This session of the Climate Summit will help you and your peers develop a Youth Climate Project to receive funding! 

Climate change is one of the most pressing problems the global community is facing and it is already affecting us here in Nashville. We believe this event will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about climate action, connect with your peers who are interested in this work, and to meet professionals in the field. Our goal is that you will end the day feeling enlightened and empowered to make change in Nashville and beyond!

Follow us on Instagram for more information @nashvilleyouthclimate.  

Or email us at catherine.price@cumberlandrivercompact.org