WANTED: TEENS FOR VIDEO PSA

We are seeking youth VOLUNTEERS willing to participate as actors in the 2009 Environmental Youth Conference PSA. If you have what it takes to be on TV, and you want to volunteer your time to a good cause, please consider being a part of this project.

Volunteers must be:
• 12-20 years old
• Outgoing, enthusiastic, cooperative
• Not shy in front of the camera
• Available to tape on a Saturday in August or September

A total of ten youth volunteers with be selected to be part of the culturally diverse cast.

If you are interested, submit two photos and a completed Volunteer PSA Talent Form to bpw.pao@lacity.org by August 21, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. You can also fax to (213) 978-0332, Attention: Michelle.

If you are selected, your parent/guardian will have to signify consent for your participation. Below are the forms. Please print, fill out and send in.

For questions, call (213) 978-0325.

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.

EYC 2009 is set for November 4, 2009

Tell all your teachers, friends and neighbors about the 2009 Environmental Youth Conference! This year's conference will be on a Wednesday at the LA Convention Center. Flyers in English and Spanish are below.

True to its theme "Start Local, Impact Global," this year's EYC will not only let participants understand how local efforts translate globally. It will also offer a chance for LA youth to interact with participants from other countries to see how they go green.

For more information, call (213) 473-9950 or visit www.milliontreesla.org.

Boyle Heights gets 54 new trees at East LA Day of Service

Hundreds of volunteers young and old joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today in greening Mission Road in Boyle Heights. All converged at the newly-opened Million Trees LA (MTLA) Tree Center and Environmental Facility at 850 N. Mission Rd. to kick-off the Community Day of Service activities in East LA.

Fifty-four 24-inch box trees, all California-friendly, were planted by volunteers along the industrial area of Mission Road between Cesar Chavez and the 5 Freeway. Residents also picked up bags of free mulch and adopted fruit trees for planting on their private properties.

The MTLA Tree Center and Environmental Facility will be the site of Million Trees LA's environmental workshops, tree adoptions and mulch pick-up for the East LA area. The parcel is also home to an air treatment facility owned and operated by the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation.

More photos from this event at http://tinyurl.com/muauj7.
To learn about events at this new facility, visit www.milliontreesla.org.

Mark your calendars! NOVEMBER 4, 2009

Save the Date! The 2009 Environmental Youth Conference (EYC) is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4th at the LA Convention Center.

The timing of this year's EYC is critical. We are having it in November so that we can solicit all your input about how to address climate change, and submit it to the Los Angeles delegation who will attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December. Be heard and truly see how your local efforts translate globally.

Keep checking back for more developments on the EYC!

THE COOLEST, GREENEST YOUTH EVENT

More than 5,000 attendees flocked to the Los Angeles Convention Center on December 13th to be part of the 2008 Environmental Youth Conference. It was a very excited crowd that welcomed Mayor Villaraigosa and a string of green celebrities including Will.I.Am and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas; event hosts Olesya Rulin and David Henrie of the Disney Channel; "High School Musical" superstar Vanessa Hudgens; Tyrese; Alyson Stoner of "Camp Rock"; Bobb'e J. Thompson; and Tyler James Thompson of "Everybody Hates Chris".

The keynote speech was given by 14-year-old Alec Loorz, already an environmental youth leader trained by Al Gore himself to give the "An Inconvenient Truth" presentation. Alec suggested simple things stressed to an engaged crowed that "now is the time" to act on global warming. "Now is the time" for the youth to make a difference. "Now is the time" to address our growing environmental concerns.

Mayor Villaraigosa added, "L.A.s youth know that if we don't act now to help our environment, no one will!"

GREEN TEENS AT THE ARTIST ALLEY

Catch our budding green artists at the conference Artist Alley. This special area will highlight creative, green teens and their environmentally-theme artwork or masterpieces made of eco-friendly materials. Some of our young, talented artists include:

• Iris Martinez, 16, Photo
• Ana Baranda, 19, Painting
• Peter Meitzenheimer, 13, Etching
• Juan Correa, 14, Drawing
• Charbel Rizk, 18, Sculpture
• Emmanuel Galvez, 17, Painting
• Rebecca Guerrrero, 20, Arch-shaped mobil using recycled materials
• Eugenia Barbuc, 21, Natalie Polanco, 17, and Ivan Melchor, 19, a collaborative art piece using recycled materials

Also on display will be art work by the Million Trees LA contributing artists: Juan Rosillo, Jean Wells, Hamerslag, Kevin Inkwich, Cindy Surianyi, Ron Howard, Fumiko Armano, Goose Black Finger, Steven McElroy and Abel Alejandre.

Make sure to stop by!