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For
more information on our work visit
www.e-action.us
(617)-227-1522
info@e-action.us
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"e" is dedicated to answering the question, "How can
we create conservation citizens for life?" If you'd
like to be part of this important mission, and help
us continue to serve youth in urban areas, join
us us today.
We believe that one of the most effective ways to create a sustainable future is to educate, organize, and involve young people in using knowledge to take action today. If you have ever wished that others were more involved in saving and sustaining our planet, or thought that engaging young people not only creates a new cadre of conservationists but also presses adults in their lives to care, please know that by joining "e"you are helping to do this every day.
This is our first attempt at creating a solid grassroots base for our organization. We are shooting for a list of $30 supporters, 10,000 strong, knowing that if many give a little, we can do A LOT!
If you have already contributed to the campaign, "Thanks so much!" Your support is truly making a difference. However, please consider adding three people to our list of supporters by sending them a copy of this newsletter today and urging them to join us!
Feel free to click the "forward to a friend" link below, or copy/paste this message into your own email system.
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Biotech
firms Amgen, Biogen and Draper Support the "e" Commitment
to Science Literacy!
The Amgen Foundation gives Leadership
Gift of $10,000 to make a strong impact on programs for
After Schools.
The Amgen Foundation "seeks to advance science education
and support resources that create sound communities where
Amgen staff members live and work." The Foundation is
committed to raising the value of science literacy for
both students and teachers. As it turns out, they understand
that this is also a serious goal of "e" inc.
We at "e" are particularly proud of the
support given to us by Amgen, which occurred after a site
visit was made to see our "Global Warming" program at
a wonderful after school sponsored by the Ellis Memorial
Center in Roxbury's Madison Park Village.
In addition, Draper Laboratory Corporate Contributions
Committee, and the Biogen Idec Foundation have each invested
in the "e" inc. mission to harness science
education to action projects by local kids.
Biogen and Draper Laboratory seek to get involved with
organizations that use innovative ways to promote science
literacy and help young people to consider science careers.
All three of these innovative science firms have supported
"e" inc's programming because it provides
pivotal science experiences for students, while supporting
after school teacher quality and development.
A warm, heartfelt thanks to each of them! |
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Greetings!
Welcome to the last "e" Update of 2008. Thanks to so many
of you for your interest and support over the last year!
If you would like a closer look at what we accomplished
together, please visit our website at www.e-action.us.
"e" inc. Chosen to Host
Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival!
SAVE THE DATE: APRIL
25, 2009
The largest environmental
film festival in the United States, the Wild &
Scenic Environmental Film Festival, sponsored
by Patagonia, has chosen "e" inc. to host its
only Boston venue during their 2009 tour!
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Wild & Scenic on Tour brings together a selection of the latest indie films on environmental ideas and stories. This annual Film Festival (in its 7th year) crosses the country and will finally be making its presence felt in Boston! The films include narratives from fascinating people throughout the world who are engaged in protecting natural resources and wild places, funny stories on people and new projects, and beautiful portraits of untouched treasures.
The event will be held at Boston's Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT), in their newly refurbished theater. The venue is easily accessible by T and there is also parking available.
The festival's film roster for 2009 just came out and the offerings all look fantastic! During the evening there will be short films, a light supper and dessert, special guests, and more!
For more information please call us at 617-227-1522 or email at info@e-action.us
You can also visit the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival website at http://www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/
We hope to see you there!
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Introducing the newest
member of the "e" family:
Educator Kate England!
Katherine England graduated from Northeastern
University in Boston, Massachusetts in 2008 with
a degree in International Affairs, a degree in
Political Science and a minor in Environmental
Studies.
While in college, Katherine focused her
studies on outside of classroom education and
the importance of environmental science programs
in urban schools. She spent a summer at the American
University in Cairo's Desert Development Center,
learning about food cultivation and irrigation
systems in the desert and preparing for an Iraqi
farming education program. She then spent two
months at the United Nations in Geneva researching
policy on the implementation of similar programs.
In her junior year, Katherine became co-president
of Social Change through Peace Games; an organization
dedicated to creating sustainable peacemaking
and community service programs in K-8 urban schools.
The organization won Best Community Service Organization
of the Year in her senior year.
In 2008, Katherine
also interned at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy,
an environmental organization devoted to the restoration,
preservation and maintenance of Boston's Emerald
Necklace parks. After graduation, the Conservancy
hired Katherine to be their Youth Programs Manager,
where she still works part time coordinating the
Conservancy's Summer Youth Green Team.
In November
of this year, Katherine began her work with "e"
inc. as an environment science educator and will
be leading "e" inc.'s first teen afterschool program
beginning in January of 2009. |
State Funds Pilot
Project for teens in Mattapan!
The Massachusetts Cultural
Council (MCC) YouthReach grant has been awarded
to "e" inc. to bring our unique, standards-based
science and civics program to new after-school
teen sites in Mattapan. This is an exciting time
for us, as numerous teens are now able to receive
the signature hands-on science and civics program
for which "e" inc. has become so well known.
Attracted by "e" inc.'s dynamic, interactive approach
to tackling tough environmental topics, and our
emphasis on helping students translate understanding
into action, the MCC has granted "e" inc. enough
funding to bring a brand new after-school program
to two Community Centers in Mattapan, the Gallivan
and the Mattahunt. "e" inc. is excited by the
opportunity to engage these new young people and
help them view themselves as capable scientists
and as positive actors for the environment.
The MCC's YouthReach Initiative promotes out-of-school
arts, humanities and science opportunities that
nurture the spirit of creative inquiry in young
people. "e" inc.'s program was chosen for its
ability to engage and involve youth in dynamic
science through the use of investigation and research,
using an expedition model where teens explore
questions and discover answers to an environmental
problem in the community, resulting in teen-led
community service projects.
Given the huge impact human behavior has had on
our environment and its future, the "e" commitment
to creating Citizen Conservationists for Life
is growing ever more important. Our mission of
teaching the excitement of how the Earth "works,"
while engaging youth in its preservation, is critical.
Through exploring opportunities for youth to be
"doers" they are empowered to become leaders in
their communities. By mentoring using positive
adult role models and experiential learning, "e"
builds self-esteem and respect for self, community,
and planet.
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Kimberly Guerra, Lead
Educator, recounts students at Ellis Memorial
Community Center recognizing the connection
between recycling and Global Warming
The director of the program at Ellis Memorial
Community Center, Meisha Reece, came to me about
a student who was very concerned over the lack
of recycling at the Center.
Marcus, a fourth-grader in my Global Warming class,
asked Meisha why they no longer recycled at the
Community Center. Apparently they used to, but
for some reason, they stopped. Marcus recognized
that he and his classmates were studying a topic
of environmental concern, and he was disturbed
that the center was not doing something about
it. The way he saw it, they had the means and
knowledge to help with the problem, so why was
nothing being done? When I saw Marcus again we
talked about it, and he told me that he thought
they should be recycling so less trees had to
be chopped down for paper and so that things could
be used again.
That was about two months ago. Today there are
blue recycling bins all over the Community Center
and the whole team is managing their renwered
recycling program.
Marcus became motivated by what he learned in
science and questioned something that he felt
needed to be addressed. His commitment and initiative
influenced his classmates and proved to me one
of "e" inc.'s fundamental beliefs: one person
can make a difference by setting an example and
inspiring change in others. |
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We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. And again, thank
you so much for your interest in "e" inc!
Sincerely,
The Board and Staff of "e" inc.
"e" inc. - The Environmental Learning and Action Center |
