YEA Summit 2024
On Earth Day 2024, COI’s Education Director David Schwartz and Managing Director Amelia Labbe attended the Youth for Environmental Action Summit at the Koinonia Conference Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The summit was attended by over 150 students from county-wide high schools.
The morning session included an opening circle, with original student poetry readings in both English and Spanish. Afterward, there was a beautiful slide show presentation by award winning National Geographic photographers Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom. Their overall message was that every idea, no matter how small, holds potential - and each individual has the power to make a meaningful impact in enhancing our environment. This was followed by a keynote panel discussing food systems and schools for a sustainable future.
The highlight for us was the Community Action Fair where we were able to talk with the students about the mission and goals of Clean Oceans International, where we discussed the issues and solutions of plastic pollution with the next generation of global leaders.
The morning session included an opening circle, with original student poetry readings in both English and Spanish. Afterward, there was a beautiful slide show presentation by award winning National Geographic photographers Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom. Their overall message was that every idea, no matter how small, holds potential - and each individual has the power to make a meaningful impact in enhancing our environment. This was followed by a keynote panel discussing food systems and schools for a sustainable future.
The highlight for us was the Community Action Fair where we were able to talk with the students about the mission and goals of Clean Oceans International, where we discussed the issues and solutions of plastic pollution with the next generation of global leaders.