As an active member of Upward Gravity, I attended Community Day at Environmental Charter High School and spent a couple of hours touring their campus and learning about what and how they learn. I was truly inspired!
The dedication the students have to the environment and education is nothing less than progressive; it was truly amazing! There were debates on technology (on whether it is bad for the environment), presentations on topics such as quality of life, what progress means, how to make the American Dream sustainable and senior theses on a newscast about our individual impact on the environment. Some of the students have even given presentations to community leaders in Los Angeles about what needs to be done locally to make a difference.
During my visit, I met many supporters of ECHS, one of which was Jayni Chase, founder of The Center for Environmental Education (and wife of actor Chevy Chase). The CEE was started in 1988 “acting on the belief that positive environmental change must begin with the education of our children.” Jayni’s commitment and dedication to this belief is immediately evident. I also had the pleasure of meeting Sara Laimon, Director of the Green Ambassadors, the outreach program of ECHS that, “empowers youth to be agents of change in their communities and world.” ECHS is making strides that ranked them in the top 3% of public high schools by U.S. News & World Report and have earned them an EPA Environmental Award.
Upward Gravity and ECHS have started a partnership which will enable student involvement in the creation of solutions to environmental and sustainable challenges through design competitions. We have already stimulated prompt involvement with the Art and Algebra teachers by offering them materials and supplies (provided by TangramStudio) to engage the tie between these subjects and their relation to commercial interior design, office furnishings and their effects on the environment.
ECHS is the school of the future…
