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  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are >
      • Meet and Join the Team
      • Mission and Strategy
      • Past Events
    • Media >
      • The Young Kentuckian Blog
      • Power to the People Podcast
      • Press >
        • Media Coverage
        • Media Resources and Contacts
        • Media Advisories and Releases
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  • Get Involved
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    • Catalyst Activist Camp
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The Semester So Far Across KSEC

2/20/2020

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Kicking off KSEC Annual Meeting 2020 in Richmond
​The movement marches on in 2020! As February nears its close, we want to take a look back on the first few weeks of this semester to review the highlights of our work.

​We began our year in Richmond for KSEC’s Annual Planning Meeting. We gathered fifteen leaders in KSEC’s network to set down plans for the year. We set our focus on statewide collaboration around fossil fuel divestment and building new campaigns with our working groups. Our 2020 Steering Committee met for the first time to continue building the organizational sustainability to keep KSEC on its mission. Our 2020 Catalyst Directors also met and laid down plans for our biggest and best Catalyst yet.
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Students at WKU on Divestment Day.
​What we planned at the Annual Meeting came to life quickly. On February 13, members of KSEC’s state network at University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University joined dozens of other campuses across the country for Divestment Day, demanding that their schools end their investments in the fossil fuel industry and reinvest in their communities.
PictureUK's Divestment Day
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Working locally at these universities and in collaboration with a national partner in DivestEd, KSEC’s state network hopes to carry the momentum generated by these events to see universities across Kentuckian divest from fossil fuels.


KSEC’s working groups have also been busy. Out of discussions with members in the last year, we realized a need for and a desire to build networks for mutual aid in Kentucky. Accordingly, KSEC has convened the first meetings of its new Mutual Aid Working Group (MAWG). As its first task, MAWG has set out to direct resources to regions of Eastern Kentucky recently impacted by flash flooding. MAWG is also working to direct resources toward the Wet’suwet’an Nation, who are combating an illegal natural gas pipeline on their line. A tool kit for supporters of their fight can be found at this link.
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Options for donating to flood relief in Southeast KY and Southwest VA.
The Political Working Group (PWG) has also begun laying the groundwork for a campaign to bring accountability and democracy to the Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC is a regulatory agency with the mandate to set the rates Kentuckians pay to utility companies. It is immensely powerful, but it is also obscure and difficult to access for the public.

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The PWG meets with Rep. Hatton of Whitesburg.
​Members of the PWG lobbied in Frankfort on February 18 to ask legislators to support House Bill 126, which would require the PSC to consider whether a rate increase would be affordable to the folks who have to pay it; the bill also give the PSC more power to audit the rates and practices of utility companies. The Political Working Group will continue to fight for this bill and other reforms to the PSC in the year ahead.

Catalyst 2020 is also off to a swift start. Our directors have selected our training team for the annual summer camp. An application to attend Catalyst and grow all the basic grassroots organizing skills a student could need will be available soon -- watch this space!
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In all of this, KSEC has also started a book club in Central Kentucky, given trainings to our campus affiliates, hired an organizing fellow, sent representatives to Power Shift Network’s annual meeting, and so much!
We’re only getting started, too. All of our teams have plans for the rest of the semester, including talking with candidates for office, offering more trainings at campuses, hosting our Spring Summit in Bowling Green, and rising up for many enormous actions on Earth Day and the week around it.

​We hope you’ll join us. 
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Fall Summit 2019 Recap: Turning Climate Grief into Action

10/31/2019

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Note: KSEC's Fall Fund Drive is happening right now! We're raising funds to support our upcoming in-person programming later this semester and into Spring 2020. Make a contribution to our efforts on our donation page.

Beginning on October 11, members of the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition  gathered in Barbourville, Kentucky at Union College for KSEC’s Fall Summit. Sadie Lawrence, a participant this year from duPont Manual High School in Louisville, had this to say about the summit:

For me, KSEC spaces always feel like I’m going back to a second home. The spaces are safe, inclusive, welcoming, friendly, and full of food, laughter, and good conversations. I almost never miss a summit just for those reasons. But a couple of other exciting also drew me to the 2019 Fall Summit. 

This year’s summit theme was Transforming Climate Grief Into Climate Action. The first training we received was about Radical Imagination, and I was so grateful to be reminded of how much creativity and the arts connect to activism. They both seek to change and improve the world around them, require talent and teamwork, and can be incredibly powerful. It's why the two so easily intertwine. It was a great way to then apply radical imagination to our ideas for the next strategic plan. It was really exciting to be able to collectively brainstorm what KSEC could be doing in the next 2 years. We have so much potential to grow and mobilize as the youth climate movement gets stronger. 

Finally, the last part of the summit I could stay for was the training on turning climate grief into action. This is by far one of my favorite KSEC trainings. I finally learned how to define all of the feelings that come from living in a world where my future has literally been cut short by decisions made before I was even born. I realized all of these feelings that had been swirling around in me were part of the stages of grief. I was remembering how hopeless the climate crisis made me feel. 

But at the same time, I realized I wasn’t alone in this struggle. I realized my reactions were normal and understandable, and that people, especially indigenous peoples, have been experiencing this time of grief for centuries. And I remembered that there were people out there, young people like me employing revolutionary optimism and and radical imagination to combat climate grief. And most importantly, I was able to recognize that the climate crisis is here, but so are we.

We’re glad to have hosted Sadie and the rest of our participants this year, and we look forward to seeing everyone again at Spring Summit 2020 in Bowling Green! Details will be coming soon, so stay up to date with us on our social media pages and in our newsletter.

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It's Time to Join the Movement

9/5/2019

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A new semester has begun for students across Kentucky, and that means one thing: it’s time to join the movement. KSEC is building a strong, united youth movement to fight for a just and environmentally sustainable future in our communities and beyond.  

The heart of the movement is the campus group. KSEC exists first to serve our campus affiliates. Organizations at universities and colleges advance environmental causes every semester. Some campuses host art shows and environmental fairs. Others fight for their campuses to divest from fossil fuels. Some groups maintain butterfly gardens; others lobby to maintain campus green spaces. 

All of these campaigns may seem small against the huge global environmental challenges we face, but the most lasting change starts in local communities and permeates through society. 

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KSEC members finish out an event all smiles.
Take, for example, campus dining. Students at universities across Kentucky have pressured their campus dining services to purchase food locally, reduce plastic and food waste, and introduce more options for vegetarians, vegans, and people with other dietary restrictions. These efforts have benefited local communities and have influenced dining services at universities and businesses across the country, pushing whole industries to be more just and sustainable.
All this work contributes to the movement. Success in the movement, however, requires contributions from many people like you. Our movement has a role for everyone, so what’s your role?

Your role may be to join an environmental group on your campus; it may be to start one! KSEC can help you do that. We have a toolkit of resources with all the information you need to get a group off the ground, and our campus organizers are happy to guide you along the way.
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Joining a campus group offers a variety of roles you can adopt depending on your ability and capacity. 
  1. You can simply be a member who sits in on meetings and listens -- that’s how a lot of young organizers get their start. 
  2. You can volunteer for events your group attends or plans -- sitting at tables for student involvement fairs, planning teach-ins to talk about environmental issues on your campus, meeting with university administrators to discuss retiring your school’s coal-fired boilers and switching to renewable energy sources, and so on. 
  3. You could even become an officer in your group who takes notes, plans meeting agendas, or runs social media.
The possibilities are wide at a campus group; you need only give it a chance to find your niche.

​Your role may be to improve the effectiveness of your campus group. Once again, KSEC can help. Our campus organizers can train your members in everything from how to run a meeting, how to recruit new members, how to effectively run social media, and beyond. 

Your role may be to start a campaign for change on your campus. KSEC can help you do that as well. Our suite of trainings around campaign planning, strategy, and tactics will put pressure on your campus administration. Don’t know what campaign you’d like to run? KSEC has toolkits to get you started on several campaigns that groups have run in the past.
There are many campaigns you can draw inspiration from. In 2015 alone KSEC saw four huge victories. At Eastern Kentucky University, students drove the university to sign onto the President’s Climate Commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, students won a campaign to bring local foods into their cafeteria. At Kentucky State University, students won a campaign to institute campus-wide recycling. At Centre College, students created a fund of $5000 annually to give to sustainability programs on campus.
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DuPont Manual Students pose for a photo at an event.
If any of these campaigns speak to the needs on your campus, KSEC can help get you begin to address those needs.
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All of the roles discussed above are vital to the health and success of the movement for a just and sustainable future. Whatever role in the movement you choose, we have a way to help you succeed. All you have to do is join up and try on a role.



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It's Not Goodbye, It's See Ya Later!

4/17/2019

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By Cara Cooper

To be honest, four months later and I am still processing what I’ve learned and how I feel about my transition out of KSEC. One thing I know for sure is that I will always remember those years as some of the best years of my life.


What we have accomplished together is more than I could have ever dreamed. Together we grew KSEC from a loose coalition of students on a handful of campuses to a thriving statewide organization with national recognition. And while the overall growth of the organization is exciting, it is not what I think about as the most important work that we’ve done.

Because when I think about what I’ve learned through organizing with KSEC, it is the individual relationships, friendships and mentorships that are what is really important. And I cherish those relationships more than you know. It is through our deep ways of being together and being in community that we are going to really change the world.

Sure there are impressive numbers. Together over the past six years we raised over $250,000, trained 1,200 young people in grassroots organizing, mobilized 2,000+ people to take action, won 6 campus campaigns, tripled our staff size, etc, etc. And I’m damn proud of that, too. But mostly…. Mostly I’m proud of each of you.
It is so much easier to stay jaded, to (falsely) assume that there is nothing we can do to fix the problems that we see around us and to just exist in our bubbles. But you have risen to the call for more. You have seen the vision that we’ve dreamed together of a Kentucky where we can not only stay but thrive, where we have a liveable planet and justice for all. You are the reason that this hard work has all been worth it. I am eternally thankful for you believing in me, believing in us and believing in KSEC.

I thought I would be nervous to leave. I worried that I would worry about the organization that I poured so much of my heart, sweat and tears into. But the truth is I am not worried. I am proud, I am excited and I 100% believe that our KSEC community will continue to kick ass long into the future. I’m so sure in fact, that I am pledging to increase my monthly donation to KSEC this Spring Fund Drive. We all know money isn’t everything but it does help make this work possible. If you believe in KSEC and the power of young Kentuckians, pledge a few bucks each month and show it!

I’ll leave you with a couple of things that I have distilled from my time in the youth environmental movement.

  1. It’s okay to demand respect, but be prepared to have to earn it. Its vital that people respect young folks and listen to your leadership. Unfortunately, many older people don’t get it (yet) and they have preconceived notions about your generation. Don’t be afraid to speak up and fight for a seat at the table. Sometimes we have to work harder to overcome those stereotypes, but show them that you are reliable and impress them with your understanding of grassroots organizing and it won’t take long before they start to listen.
  2. It is not blindly optimistic or naive to believe that we can build something better. It is hope and hard work that make what seems impossible, possible. If we lose hope, we lose everything. Your ability to envision a new world and to see what is wrong in our current system is invaluable to our progress. Please keep pushing us all to do what is necessary not just want we think is possible.
  3. Our biggest strength is our ability to love each other and to create space for people to be their authentic selves. Our relationships and trust with each other is ultimately our most important resource. Do the deep work to build community and invest in each other. Believe in yourself and bring people into the movement. Our opposition has money but they do not have community. And whenever possible bring in fun, music and laughter because we all deserve joy. Being a community organizer does not mean you have to be a martyr.

P.S. I’m not going anywhere and I would love to hear from you. Don’t be a stranger. Now, go out there and change the world.
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The Green New Deal: Where It Came From and Where We're Going

2/18/2019

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This post intends to provide an at-a-glance overview of the major developments in the Green New Deal campaign since November 2018. Members are encouraged to read the hyperlinked articles for a more in-depth analysis of the national campaign.

Chances are that by now, most KSEC members and supporters have heard about the grassroots movement to support the Ocasio-Cortez-Markey Green New Deal resolution. Building off the energizing effects of the IPCC’s October 2018 Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C and the new post-election Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, the Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats teamed up to occupy Nancy Pelosi’s office in mid-November. There, they pressured House leaders to create a climate action plan, sparking national commentary after newly-elected Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) joined their protest and spearheaded an effort in the House to create a Green New Deal. Meanwhile, Kentucky youth became a significant presence in the movement, with 75 attending a later DC action along with an estimated 925 others from around the country, and KSEC members helping to form Sunrise hubs in Lexington and Louisville.

Alongside the ballooning momentum behind the Green New Deal, pressure was mounting from grassroots groups to ensure that the concerns of frontline communities were not only considered, but centered in the new legislation. The Climate Justice Alliance, of which KSEC is a member, released a statement in early December offering cautious support for the GND with stipulations, which was well-supported by KSEC’s timely release of Solutions for a Just Kentucky: A Youth Perspective, which summarized the results of our Just Transition Tour and Solutions Survey. In early January, KSEC’s newly formed Steering Committee unanimously voted to sign onto a letter echoing CJA’s cautious support and encouraging lawmakers to pass legislation that includes a “thoughtful phaseout of fossil fuel production, a transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035, complete decarbonization of the transportation system, use of the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, a just transition to a new green economy and the adherence to treaties upholding Indigenous rights when pursuing these actions.”

Most recently, on February 7th, AOC introduced a non-binding resolution for a Green New Deal, setting broad goals that will guide specific policy later in the process, along with Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), 67 co-sponsors in the House and 11 co-sponsors in the Senate. While some are still skeptical that the resolution holds up to the demands of grassroots groups, groups like Powershift Network - another alliance that KSEC participates in - continue to offer support for the proposal, noting that any future binding legislation will require its own round of evaluation to ensure that it protects those living in extractive economies as we transition to an economy that offers just, green jobs and 100% renewable energy.

In the coming months, KSEC supporters can expect to see us use our 11 years of leadership development and relationship building in the Commonwealth to protect our future as young Kentuckians through our new Just Transition campaign and by sharing out Sunrise Movement’s calls to action.

Further reading on the GND:
How the Climate Movement Learned to Play Politics
With Extra Calories, Please
Text of the Green New Deal Resolution

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    The Young Kentuckian is a blog of the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition where youth share their work and ideas for Kentucky's bright future. 

    If you would like to write a post for the blog, please email Acacia Maggard.


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