October 2019, Great Lakes PeaceJam hosted our 2019 Fall Conference: The Climate Slam. We were overwhelmed by the amount of wisdom and compassion that our youth expressed for our collective environment!
The day began with registration, dancing, and celebration!
As well as some beautiful decorations gifted from the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition.
Our lovely emcee Miss Jess opened the day with an energetic ceremony!
Youth divided out into their mentor groups for equally inspiring and fun workshops led by our college mentors. Throughout the day, the youth regrouped several times with these groups to debrief and reflect on both local and global environmental issues being highlighted at the Slam.
An interactive panel featured youth climate activists Emma Neale and Kearney Miller, Great Lakes Water Protector organizer LJ Denemy, Extinction Rebellion organizer Paul Laferriere, and author of upcoming book "Carbon Criminals, Carbon Crimes", Ron Kramer. After wards, PeaceJammers headed off to workshops immediately after, getting to learn and work with activists from groups such as the Sierra Club, Extinction Rebellion, Great Lakes Water Protectors, Citizens Climate Lobby, Kalamazoo Nature Center.
Using the earlier discussions, activities, panel, and workshops; youth came together for a final Climate Change Summit. Time was given for the youth to jump around to different "topic tables" relating to environmental issues. Informational material was provided at each table, where youth could explore and talk with Summit mentors.
The youth were asked to eventually choose one table topic, and to co-create a "plan of action" to bring back to their communities. These plans were later shared with everyone at the Summit.
Finally, as usual, the Spring 2020 Nobel Peace Laureate was revealed at the closing ceremony. Tawakkol Karman, a Yemeni journalist and human rights activist will be the 2020 Spring Laureate.
Of course, there was a lot of fun to be had as well...
We’d like to thank everyone who makes these events so powerful. Thank you, -to our youth, for there endless passion and commitment to their communities, our programs, and their own personal power. -to our advisers for their tireless dedication to the youth of this region, you are superstars, the inspiration that is constantly present for these youth. -to all of our volunteers, including the mentors who put in over eight hours of training for each conference. Your commitment goes far beyond facilitating; and into the realm of energy-setting, empowering, peacemaking, and comforting. -to our panelists and workshop presenters, who share their time and expertise to inspire the coming generations. You are a critical part of the conference, inspiring and connecting the youth to your causes. -to our board of directors (Mary Lou, Jeff Brazda, Maria Mata, Cory Matkovich, and Kendra Eberts), for their fierce love for the organization, and their year round work in organizing and ensuring it’s sustainability. And of course, THANK YOU to our coordinator Todd Bannon and PeaceJam staff (Jill Runkle), for going above and beyond in creating events such as this. Todd is an unstoppable force for change and shows it through his everyday work to uplift the youth of the Great Lakes. From all of us at Great Lakes PeaceJam, we thank you and hope to see you in the Spring.
