​Our Mission

Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition is a member-led, youth organization fostering liberatory and radical imaginations and building member networks that engage in regional, national, and global environmental justice movements. We accomplish this through intersectional political education, mutual aid, and facilitating learning spaces, like KSEC’s Catalyst camp. This work contributes to youth-led, socio-political campaigns focused on addressing the systems of oppression that reinforce environmental injustice. In a state where many youth feel compelled to leave, KSEC helps young people shape a Kentucky where we can meet our needs and thrive. 
 Our Strategic Compass
(to be updated soon)

The Elements 

​SHOULD​ ​I​ ​STAY​ ​OR​ ​SHOULD​ ​I​ ​GO?:​ Kentucky’s future can look dim when we consider the hardships we face and the continued devastation of our environment, leading us to ask the question, “Is there a future for me here?”
​ISSUES:​ ​Kentuckians are disenfranchised by a government which continues to prop up an economy that destroys our environment, threatening our health and democracy. Without urgent action, we will continue to endure the consequences of a destabilized global climate and lack of access to clean water and healthy food.
THEM:​ ​Top industry and government officials serve corporate interests above public interests. Because of this, Kentucky continues to pursue false solutions at the cost of public health and environmental well-being. 
US:​ As Kentucky youth, we hold the greatest stake in the future of our state. We accept our responsibility to create an environmentally-sustainable, socially just, and economically vibrant Kentucky for the well-being of ourselves and future generations. We are leading our state away from a self-destructive path by helping to usher in a new government and a new economy that will respect and protect our workers, communities, and environment. We are are strong and resilient. If​ ​we​ ​work together,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​win. 
THE​ ​CHOICE:​ Will we stay and unite to transform Kentucky’s future into one that is just and environmentally sustainable? Or will we leave our home and allow industry and our government to continue valuing profits over people, putting our environment, communities, and future generations at risk?
OUR​ ​VISION:​ KSEC envisions a just and environmentally sustainable Kentucky that listens to the voices of young people, fosters a just society and strong local economies, honors our natural and cultural heritage, and puts people over profit. 

Long Form Meta-Narrative 

The purpose of the meta-narrative is to serve as the wellspring for all the messaging materials that will be created by the movement - both for training and for mobilization. We can’t know in advance all the iterations our story will take, so the meta-narrative is meant to serve as a consistent reference and foundation for all possible iterations. 

Kentuckians have a unique connection to the land we inhabit. Even those who wouldn’t consider themselves environmentalists value our state’s forests, rivers, and mountains. As much as our cultural identity is shaped by our natural environment, it is also shaped by the impact of extractive industries, particularly the coal industry, and the power structures that reinforce the false narrative that we must destroy the environment for economic growth. We recognize how these industries have exploited our land and resources, harmed and killed our workers, and extracted wealth from our communities. This legacy of exploitation leads young Kentuckians to ask the question: is there a future for me here?

Our generation is facing one of humanity’s most challenging moments. Our planet is beginning to experience the catastrophic impacts of global climate change as prominent politicians continue denying the human causes. Our nation is facing societal upheaval as our democracy is threatened by bigotry and corporate takeover. Our state is experiencing the economically devastating decline of the coal industry as our state government remains in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry. The situation is urgent and calls for us to build a strong, united youth movement to combat false solutions, oust corrupt politicians and their corporate handlers, elect new leaders who put people and environment over profit, and build a just and environmentally sustainable future starting with our own communities.

We are at a turning point in history and the actions we do or do not take now to mitigate and prepare for the crises we face will define our generation. Though the days seem bleak, this unsettled moment is a chance for us to demonstrate our commitment to our values and ensure a just and environmentally sustainable future for the generations which will follow ours.

It may seem that our actions on the local scale are not big enough to confront the challenge of climate change or societal upheaval. But the most lasting change starts in local communities and permeates through society. As we work to implement local solutions in Kentucky, we are working alongside others across the nation and across the world who are implementing their own local solutions.

We believe in centering our work in intersectionality because we know that social injustice is tied to environmental injustice. We believe that we can have robust local economies that promote environmental integrity rather than destroy it. We own our responsibility to protect the environment for the well-being of future generations. We know young people have the power to create a Kentucky centers itself in equity for all, treats environmental stewardship as a moral obligation, fosters strong and just local economies, honors our natural and cultural heritage, and puts people over profit.

The only choice before us is to build a youth movement in Kentucky to create a society that holds true to our values and does not recreate the power structures which have brought us to this moment. Our movement has a role for everyone and shares power across our membership. When we stand united in our efforts to build a just and environmentally sustainable Kentucky, we will be able to shift the balance of power and turn our vision into our reality. We are fighting for our future. 
"We know young people have the power to create a Kentucky centers itself in equity for all, treats environmental stewardship as a moral obligation, fosters strong and just local economies, honors our natural and cultural heritage, and puts people over profit."

Guiding Principals 

  • WHO WE ARE
  • WHAT WE BELIEVE
  • WHAT WE DO
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We​ ​recognize​ ​the​ ​march​ ​toward​ ​collective​ ​liberation​ ​has​ ​been​ ​progressing​ ​for​ ​centuries​ ​and​ ​that our​ ​work​ ​is​ ​only​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​story.​ ​We are grateful to those who have come before us and brought us to the point we are at today. We honor their memory and their sacrifices by carrying on their legacy of fighting the good fight.

We​ ​choose​ ​non-violent​ ​direct​ ​action.​ ​Our organization does not physically harm people or property as we pursue our vision for Kentucky. We use both words and actions to demonstrate our values.

We​ ​realize​ ​this​ ​work​ ​requires​ ​life-long​ ​learning​ ​and​ ​dedication.​ W​e are resilient because we don’t expect to win everything all at once or without setbacks. We work to achieve ambitious yet realistic goals.

We​ ​believe​ ​the​ ​environment​ ​has​ ​intrinsic​ ​value. We believe the environment holds value outside of its relation to humanity.

We​ ​value​ ​truth.​ ​We believe truth and transparency and honesty between each other and from our community leaders is essential.

We​ ​are​ ​young​ ​Kentuckians​. We define Kentuckians as those who were born here, currently live here, or attend school here. We work to ensure young Kentuckians have the skills and support to stay and thrive in Kentucky. 
We​ ​value​ ​diversity.​ ​We prioritize the inclusion of all identities and backgrounds. Only when we come together to identify what we share in common and build relationships with each other will we be able to make true progress in our march toward collective liberation. We work to create safer spaces for people to be their authentic selves in our movement.

We​ ​value​ ​consensus.​ ​We put a lot of effort into building consensus and creating a non-hierarchical organization. We also work to build consensus with ally organizations. The best decisions are made when everyone’s voices are heard and when we work together to create solutions.

We​ ​value​ ​science​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​lived​ ​experience.​ ​We hold that truths can come from both empirical data and our own lived experiences.

We​ ​value​ ​young​ ​voices.​ While we respect the life-experience and knowledge of those who have lived longer, we also recognize and respect the insight and power of young people. We expect our leaders to listen to us. We need to be a part of solutions because we’re the ones living the longest with the consequences.

We believe everyone should be empowered to be a leader.​ ​We strive to foster a decentralized movement in which everyone can take on leadership roles. Each of us has the power within to be a leader of change. We invest a lot into the development of our leaders so that people have the skills and confidence to be successful. 
We​ ​stand​ ​in​ ​solidarity​ ​with​ ​others​ ​who​ ​are​ ​working​ ​for​ ​justice​ ​and​ ​environmental​ ​sustainability. We realize that the issues we directly address are only a small portion of the overall struggle for justice. We must support in words and action those who are addressing capitalism, hetero-patriarchy, and white supremacy. We will only achieve our vision of a just and sustainable Kentucky when all our fellow Kentuckians are free from oppression and environmental dangers.

We​ ​believe​ ​in​ ​fostering​ ​strong​ ​local​ ​economies.​ ​We believe that a strong economy is diverse and offers meaningful opportunities for employment. We prioritize economic models that keep our wealth in our communities, provide adequate compensation to workers, do not damage our health, and prioritize environmental protection.

We​ ​own​ ​our​ ​responsibility​ ​to​ ​build​ ​a​ ​just​ ​and​ ​environmentally​ ​sustainable​ ​Kentucky.​ W​e see how an economic system that assumes natural resources are unlimited is destroying our life-sustaining environment and reinforces oppressive power structures. It is our responsibility to dismantle these power structures and create a just and environmentally sustainable Kentucky for the well-being of future generations. 

Our Strategy 


OUR GOAL
​“We​ ​will​ ​uplift​ ​our​ ​voices​ ​to​ ​unite​ ​and​ ​resist​ ​all​ ​new​ ​threats​ ​to​ ​the​ ​integrity​ ​of​ ​Kentucky’s environment​ ​and​ ​our​ ​communities.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​be​ ​ignored.”​ ​#ForOurFuture
We will know we’ve won when:
● Our campus organizations feel connected to the youth environmental movement and are regularly prioritizing coordinated action
● Our peers, allies, and communities recognize the leadership of young people and no longer ignore our needs or voices
● Our movement and the issues we’re addressing have become a statewide topic of discussion
● Our candidates and elected officials are talking about the issues that are important to us and standing with people, not corporations
​● Our political landscape allows us to make gains around environmental justice and economic transition rather than forcing us to use our energy to fight off new threats 

​OUR POWER
​There are more than 750,000 young Kentuckians (ages 14-30), over 60 institutions of higher education, and nearly 700 high schools in Kentucky. There are a lot of us and when we are united we can be an unstoppable force. By showing our peers that grassroots organizing is an effective way to make change, we will unite to elevate our voices. We will no longer be ignored. 

OUR ROLE
​Our generation has a unique understanding of social and environmental justice. As youth with this understanding, we have a responsibility to advocate for the solutions that we need for our future. Our role is to hold justice and solidarity at the center of our movement and ensure that our solutions work towards creating a new system that works for all of us, not just the privileged few. 

OUR TOOLS
● Moral High Ground: We draw strength from knowing we are on the right side of history.
● We have a decentralized state-wide movement of members across Kentucky’s different regions
● Social Media: Our generation is highly connected through social media and we use this platform to build our movement and show how we are using our power
​● Rapid-Response Network: Using peer-to-peer texting as a tool to mobilize our base to take quick, coordinated action when new threats arise 

​OUR PLAN
1. Unite​ ​young​ ​Kentuckians​ ​under​ ​a​ ​movement​ that empowers and emboldens us to take collective action
2. Uplift our voices and show up to combat​ ​the​ ​narrative​ ​of​ ​youth​ ​apathy​ and Kentucky conservatism by​ ​resisting​ ​threats​ ​being​ ​waged​ ​against​ ​our​ ​future
3. Utilize the power of our coordinated movement to​ ​get​ ​our​ ​issues​ ​heard​ ​by​ ​decision​ ​makers
​4. Once we have achieved a more favorable political climate, we will launch​ ​solution​ ​based campaigns​ informed and energized by justice and solidarity