Hear it from one of you!

One of the best things about the Environmental Youth Conference is that the workshops are conducted by youth presenters. No adult speakers here. Attendees will hear from their peers about green projects that they initiated, and hopefully be inspired to start their own environmental initiatives at home, in school or in their neighborhood.

Meet this year's dynamic youth panel that will highlight projects related to eco-consumption, water conservation, alternative energy and urban forestry:

Lauren Gutierrez is a college student who received TreePeople’s Youth Leadership Award last year for her project about the importance of trees.

Megan Kilroy is 17 years old and a student from Santa Monica High School. She has worked on several eco-projects such as a solar powered boat, water quality and recycling.

Rudy Sanchez is 16 years old and a student from Environmental Charter High School. He has raised public awareness about reducing plastic consumption and using reusable alternatives.

Daniela Martinez is 17 years old and a student from Gabrielino High School. Through her participation in Green Team, she helped organize an environmental festival at her school to raise funds for LifeStraws which buys water purifiers for developing countries.

Raphael Mawrence is 17 years old and a student from Santa Monica High School. He promotes alternative energy like solar power and biking to school.

Victoria Sun is 17 years old and a student from Walnut High School. She helped to build a solar-powered car called the Green Turtle.

Joe Hernandez is 16 years old and from Vaughn International Studies Academy. He worked on a carbon and water footprint project.

Come and hear from all of them on Wednesday, the 4th of November at the LA Convention Center!

Million Trees LA Urban Forestry Grant

Million Trees LA is pleased to announce a grant competition for schools and their related programs in the City of Los Angeles. Million Trees LA is soliciting grant proposals from schools that have successfully completed and implemented urban forestry projects in their schools, communities or neighborhoods. The purpose of the grant competition is to recognize successful youth-led urban forestry project within the city of Los Angeles. Each successful applicant may receive a grant of up to $1,000 to continue their urban forestry projects, and may be highlighted at the Environmental Youth Conference on November 4, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Eligibility
Private and public schools within the City of Los Angeles are eligible to apply including student clubs or organizations, specific classes, and academic or extracurricular programs in schools. Successful applicants will present or highlight their projects at the Environmental Youth Conference on November 4, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Other applicants may also be selected to have their projects recognized at the conference.

Criteria for Selection
The selection of successful applicants will be based on two criteria. First, the applicants must have successfully implemented and completed a tree planting project in their schools, community or neighborhood in Los Angeles within the past year. Second, successful applicants must use the entire grant award to complete and implement another tree planting project within 3 to 6 months after receiving the funds.

Proposal and Submission Application
Interested applicants should submit a 5-7 page typewritten proposal that addresses the following components:

1) Cover letter that includes the name of the organization including project leads (names of teachers, student leaders and contact information), and detailed description of its purpose/mission, membership (demographics) and affiliation (school name).

2) Description of completed urban forestry project including number of trees planted, location of project, partnerships with community groups, and impact of project for school, community or neighborhood

3) Projected use of $1,000 grant including how the funds will be used to complete and implement another tree planting project, location of project, name(s) of and contact information for project lead(s), partnerships with community groups, and how the project will directly result in tree plantings.

4) Photographs that clearly identify the location of the completed project and participants.


Completed applications are due no later than 5pm on September 5th and should be emailed to Lisa Sarno, Executive Director of Million Trees LA at Lisa.Sarno@lacity.org. Successful applicants will be notified by September 30th, and must accept or decline by 5pm on October 7th.