The Young Activist's Guide to Building a Green Movement and Changing the World : Plan a Campaign, Recruit Supporters, Lobby Politicians, Pass Legislation, Raise Money, Attract Media Attention

If you want to make a significant and sustainable impact on the health of our planet, this powerful and practical guide can help. Author and activist Sharon J. Smith shares proven strategies and lessons learned from the winners of Earth Island Institute's Brower Youth Awards--America's top honor for young green leaders. Here are all the tools you need--from planning a campaign and recruiting supporters to raising money and attracting media attention--to turn your ideas into actions and make changes that matter. Throughout this book Sharon spotlights stories from youth like Jessie-Ruth Corkins, who saved her school $90,000 by greening its heating system for a science project, and Billy Parish, whose small student group became one of the most influential coalitions in America addressing climate change. These eco-heroes have made headlines for passing legislation, founding nonprofits, and raising millions of dollars for sustainability--all before their twenty-third birthdays. All author proceeds from the sale of this book go to Earth Island Institute's Brower Youth Awards to support the next generation of young activists. CONTENTS......Page 7 FOREWORD......Page 10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 15 CONTRIBUTORS......Page 18 INTRODUCTIONIF YOU WANT TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER......Page 20 THE BROWER YOUTH AWARDS......Page 24 FROM PASSION TO ACTION......Page 27 BookmarkTitle:......Page 30 GET EDUCATED......Page 50 NEXT STOP: CREATE AN ACTION PLAN......Page 54 RESOURCES......Page 55 BookmarkTitle:......Page 58 BUILD YOUR CORE TEAM......Page 60 DRAFT YOUR ACTION PLAN......Page 62 Goals: Dreams with a Deadline......Page 68 Decision Makers......Page 74 Message: Know Your Audience......Page 79 Strategy......Page 82 Key Players: Your Friends, Your Soon-to-Be Friends, and the Thorns in Your Side......Page 85 Tactics: Going Public......Page 89 Timeline: Working Backward......Page 95 NEXT STOP: BUILD A GREEN MOVEMENT......Page 99 RESOURCES......Page 101 BookmarkTitle:......Page 103 STARTING A GROUP FROM SCRATCH......Page 105 THE KICKOFF MEETING......Page 109 Get the Word Out......Page 110 Tips for a Successful Kickoff Meeting......Page 115 Meeting Follow-Up......Page 125 Recruit and Retain Volunteers......Page 127 Host Trainings......Page 130 1. ESTABLISH YOUR GOAL.......Page 132 2. FIND THE RIGHT TRAINER(S).......Page 133 3. ORGANIZE YOUR LOGISTICS.......Page 134 4. RECRUIT, RECRUIT, RECRUIT.......Page 135 5. TRAIN AWAY.......Page 136 6. DEBRIEF AND THANKS.......Page 137 Be Organized......Page 139 Challenge Oppression......Page 140 Foster Coalitions......Page 144 Evaluate Your Progress......Page 148 NEXT STOP: SPREAD YOUR MESSAGE......Page 151 RESOURCES......Page 152 BookmarkTitle:......Page 153 Tell a Story......Page 158 Explain Your Issue......Page 161 Inspire Your Audience......Page 163 DEVELOP YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH......Page 167 EVENTS TO SPREAD YOUR MESSAGE......Page 171 STEP 1: GET THE FILM.......Page 176 STEP 2: FIGURE OUT THE LOGISTICS.......Page 177 STEP 4: SPREAD THE WORD.......Page 179 STEP 5: HOST AN INSPIRING EVENT.......Page 180 STEP 6: MOBILIZE THE CROWD.......Page 181 STEP 1: FIND OR DRAFT YOUR LESSON PLAN.......Page 182 STEP 2: FIND A SCHOOL AND TEACHER.......Page 183 STEP 3: PRACTICE YOUR DELIVERY.......Page 184 STEP 4: WOW THE KIDS.......Page 185 STEP 5: DEBRIEF YOUR VISIT.......Page 186 Green Tours and Toxic Tours......Page 190 STEP 2: BRAINSTORM YOUR STOPS.......Page 194 STEP 3: DETERMINE GOALS FOR EACH STOP.......Page 196 STEP 4: GET PERMISSION.......Page 197 STEP 5: DO A RUN-THROUGH OF THE TOUR.......Page 198 STEP 6: ADVERTISE FOR THE TOUR(S).......Page 199 STEP 8: WANT TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER.......Page 200 Speaker Series and Debates......Page 204 STEP 1: SET YOUR GOALS AND BRAINSTORM POTENTIAL SPEAKERS.......Page 205 STEP 2: LOGISTICS.......Page 207 STEP 3: GET A COMMITMENT.......Page 208 STEP 4: TREAT YOUR SPEAKERS LIKE GOLD.......Page 209 STEP 5: RUN A GREAT EVENT.......Page 210 NEXT STOP: POLITICS......Page 212 RESOURCES......Page 213 BookmarkTitle:......Page 215 LOBBYING......Page 223 Phone Calls, Letter-Writing Pushes, and Email Blasts......Page 231 STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR TACTIC.......Page 232 STEP 2: ADVERTISE WHEN AND WHERE.......Page 234 STEP 3: DRAFT A SCRIPT OR SAMPLE TEXT.......Page 235 STEP 4: HOLD THE TARGET ACCOUNTABLE.......Page 236 Visits to Policy Makers......Page 241 STEP 1: SCHEDULE THE MEETING.......Page 242 STEP 2: PREPARE FOR THE MEETING.......Page 243 STEP 3: EXECUTE A GREAT MEETING.......Page 244 STEP 4. FOLLOW UP AFTER THE MEETING.......Page 248 Bird-dogging......Page 253 Public Hearings......Page 255 STEP 1: DRAFT YOUR RESOLUTION.......Page 259 STEP 2: BUILD SUPPORT.......Page 260 STEP 3: GET A CITY COUNCIL ALLY.......Page 261 STEP 4: SPEAK OUT CONFIDENTLY.......Page 262 GETTING OUT THE VOTE......Page 264 STEPPING INTO OFFICE......Page 270 NEXT STOP: CORPORATE CAMPAIGNS......Page 280 RESOURCES......Page 281 BookmarkTitle:......Page 284 GO AFTER THE BIG BRANDS......Page 289 THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL......Page 297 STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR COMPANY.......Page 298 STEP 2: SET YOUR DEMANDS.......Page 300 STEP 3: WHO’S YOUR TARGET.......Page 301 STEP 4: MAKE CONTACT.......Page 304 MOSQUITO IN THE TENT......Page 308 Sign-on Letters......Page 310 Sever Business Ties......Page 311 Shareholder Activism......Page 313 Culture Jamming and Subvertising......Page 315 Adopt a Store......Page 316 Not in Our Backyard......Page 317 CREATE A GREEN ECONOMY......Page 321 NEXT STOP: PROTEST WITH POWER......Page 324 RESOURCES......Page 325 BookmarkTitle:......Page 328 WHEN TO PROTEST......Page 337 Demonstrations......Page 341 Illustrate Your Cause......Page 364 NEXT STOP: MAKE MEDIA HEADLINES......Page 369 RESOURCES......Page 371 BookmarkTitle:......Page 373 CRAFTING YOUR STORY AND CHOOSING YOUR AUDIENCE......Page 378 Frame Your Story......Page 379 Know Your Audience......Page 380 TIP 1: KNOW YOUR STUFF.......Page 381 TIP 2: STAND OUT.......Page 383 TIP 3: MAKE IT PERSONAL.......Page 384 TIP 4: MAKE IT TIMELY.......Page 386 GETTING YOUR STORY HEARD FAR AND WIDE......Page 387 Build Your Media List......Page 388 Prep Your Materials......Page 393 Pitch It and Follow Through......Page 397 Prepare for the Interview......Page 400 Debrief and Share the Piece......Page 406 NEW MEDIA......Page 408 Blogging......Page 410 Twitter......Page 414 Social Networking Sites......Page 415 Videos and Podcasting......Page 418 NEXT STOP: GROW THE GREEN......Page 420 RESOURCES......Page 421 BookmarkTitle:......Page 424 FUNDRAISING MADE EASY......Page 427 Making the Ask: Who?......Page 430 Making the Ask: Where?......Page 431 Making the Ask: How?......Page 433 Still Afraid to Ask for Money?......Page 443 Foundations......Page 446 Government Funding......Page 450 Corporate Donors......Page 451 Fundraising Events......Page 455 STARTING YOUR OWN NONPROFIT......Page 464 FISCAL SPONSORSHIP......Page 467 FUNDING FOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS......Page 473 Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs)......Page 479 Alumni Groups......Page 483 INVESTING IN THE FUTURE......Page 485 NEXT STOP: GREEN YOUR CAMPUS......Page 487 RESOURCES......Page 488 BookmarkTitle:......Page 492 WORKING WITH CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS......Page 501 Dealing with Obstacles......Page 505 GREENING YOUR FACILITIES......Page 508 Audit Your School’s Energy Usage......Page 510 Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems......Page 512 Reducing Water Use......Page 517 Greening Your Buildings......Page 520 Recycling Campus Waste......Page 524 Use Nontoxic Products......Page 528 Buy Eco-Friendly Products......Page 530 SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION: IN THE CLASSROOM AND OUTDOORS......Page 536 Environmental Education......Page 537 Recreation: Get Outside Already!......Page 541 FOOD......Page 544 Eat Real Food......Page 545 Plant a Campus Garden......Page 549 Compost......Page 552 Think Outside the Bottle......Page 553 TRANSPORTATION......Page 555 Go Biodiesel......Page 556 Ban Idling Buses......Page 561 NEXT STOP: CHANGE THE WORLD......Page 563 RESOURCES......Page 564 BookmarkTitle:......Page 568 Attend Green Events......Page 570 AGRICULTURE......Page 573 CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREEN ENERGY......Page 574 ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS......Page 575 CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES......Page 576 ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURE WRITING......Page 577 ORGANIZING AND MOVEMENT BUILDING......Page 578 See a Movie......Page 580 GET MENTORS......Page 583 GET TRAINED......Page 586 GET NETWORKED......Page 592 GET RECOGNIZED......Page 596 TURN YOUR PASSION INTO A CAREER......Page 600 YOUR FUTURE AND THE FATE OF THE PLANET......Page 611

If you want to make a significant and sustainable impact on the health of our planet, this powerful and practical guide can help. Author and activist Sharon J. Smith shares proven strategies and lessons learned from the winners of Earth Island Institute’s Brower Youth Awards-America’s top honor for young green leaders. Here are all the tools you need-from planning a campaign and recruiting supporters to raising money and attracting media attention-to turn your ideas into actions and make changes that matter. 
  
All author proceeds from the sale of this book go to Earth Island Institute’s Brower Youth Awards to support the next generation of young activists.

If you want to make a significant and sustainable impact on the health of our planet, this powerful and practical guide can help. Author and activist Sharon J. Smith shares proven strategies and lessons learned from the winners of Earth Island Institute's Brower Youth Awards--America's top honor for young green leaders. Here are all the tools you need--from planning a campaign and recruiting supporters to raising money and attracting media attention--to turn your ideas into actions and make changes that matter. All author proceeds from the sale of this book go to Earth Island Institute's Brower Youth Awards to support the next generation of young activists. From the Trade Paperback edition Some of the world's most effective leaders aren't even old enough to vote. In this book, the director of the Earth Island Institute's Brower Youth Awards distills the hard-won lessons of its youth leaders into clear and effective strategies for getting organized, taking action, and making environmental changes that matter "A practical, step-by-step guide for young activists to planning and executing successful environmental campaigns, featuring strategies and lessons learned from Earth Island Institute's Brower Youth Award winners"--Provided by publisher.