Chapter brings students into fight against climate change

By Caroline Funk,
Rio Grande Chapter Coordinator 

The Chapter is bringing on new grassroots activists with a year-long service learning program at South Valley Academy. We are also working with three other schools in Albuquerque to include high school students in grassroots environmental actions. For example, through our Land, Water and Wildlife Day and Climate Crisis Day at the Roundhouse during the legislative session.

South Valley Academy, which opened in 2000, is one of the region’s oldest charter schools. Its mission is to prepare young people to become independent, lifelong learners who are ready for college, career and civic engagement. Service learning is required for all high school students at the academy.

The Sierra Club’s service learning classroom throughout the year has brought in fundamental methods of organizing around a cause. We introduced the Pueblo and Diné partnership to fight against damage from oil and gas exploitation in the Greater Chaco landscape. The students worked with an art activist to learn how to get their message across in multiple media. The Chapter’s Zero Waste team taught about microplastics while the City of Albuquerque presented about recycling and waste management, among many other topics shared by partner organizations.

Along with students from Cottonwood Classical, Atrisco High, and Albuquerque Academy, the South Valley students joined the chapter’s rally days at the Roundhouse. Nearly 100 students learned to lobby and prepared statements about the impacts of climate change and their demands for actions.

If you are a teacher or Environmental Club advisor, contact us if you would like to see environmental grassroots activism and lobby training at your school. We are always looking to include students in our Sierra Student Coalition program. Email riogrande.chapter@sierraclub.org or call 505-243-7767.

Photo: Grassroots activists at Lands, Water, and Wildlife Day rally on Feb. 20. Many of the activists are students with the Semilla Project. Photo by Camilla Feibelman. Photo by Max Underwood.