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Overview
“We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up … discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
From teachers and friends to activists, scientists and leaders, there are countless heroes among us. Whether household names or everyday citizens, world-renowned or local to your community, someone you know or have only read about from afar, people are standing in solidarity with the planet, its species and all people. Powerful, passionate, proud individuals in every sector dedicate their lives to solving the social and environmental injustices in our world. In your eyes, what are the traits and characteristics that make for eco-hero status?
Through Turning Green Classroom, we seek to not only empower you with information, but also to introduce you to mentors, role models and leaders engaged in positive change. We find eco-heroes in nonprofit organizations, educators and activists.
You have learned about heroes leading climate action, like hero Greta Thunberg, who initiated the global School Strikes for Climate that have mobilized millions of youth around the world (and continues every Friday!), or Xiuhtexcatl Martinez, an indigenous climate activist and hip-hop artist, who uses his powerful voice on the front lines of a youth-led lawsuit against the federal government for its failure to protect the planet for future generations.
For every challenge, there are solutions. Whether one person or a team of great minds, there’s nothing we can’t do to heal our planet. What does it take to become a hero? Passion, dedication, courage…. and dedication to something you believe in!
Who’s your eco-hero? Today, we want you to learn about amazing people who are forging new paths toward a healthy, sustainable, just planet. We can all be the change we wish to see in our world!
THINK
Powerful and committed individuals are moving mountains, using their voices to propel movements and taking actions that have a massive ripple effect. This is the power of one!
ACTIVITY
Check out the current recipients of the Goldman Environmental Prize, an annual award (30 years running!) honoring grassroots environmental heroes for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk.
- Select a recipient who stands out for you, share their name and country.
- Share their accomplishments and why they inspired you. (up to 100 words)
DELIVERABLES
Upload a PDF document with your responses.
Submission Guidelines
- If you do not see an upload button, you need to log in
- Submit all entries as PDFs; no Word or Pages documents
- Be sure to include all content for your submission in one document
- Do not include # or spaces in filenames
- You will see a confirmation in green that your submission uploaded correctly; if you do not see this confirmation, please try again
- Send any questions to classroom@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.
THINK
Powerhouse humans live in our communities and across the globe. They are stepping up to effect change; that is how it has always been throughout history and what gives us hope in the present day.
ACTIVITY
In a local, national or global context, who is a person that you would name an eco-hero? Identify the person you admire, get to know their story and introduce them to us. Approach this challenge as if you were writing a story for a campus newspaper, major press outlet or a favorite blog.
- Share the name and a photo of your hero
- Tell us their story in 500 words; where are they from, what they have accomplished, speak about challenges and obstacles they faced, and why you were drawn to them
- What resonated with you from their experience?
See if you can find an email, social media handle or mailing address for your eco-hero to tell them how they inspired you. Recognition and support along the way keep us going!
DELIVERABLES
Upload a PDF document with your responses.
Submission Guidelines
- If you do not see an upload button, you need to log in
- Submit all entries as PDFs; no Word or Pages documents
- Be sure to include all content for your submission in one document
- Do not include # or spaces in filenames
- You will see a confirmation in green that your submission uploaded correctly; if you do not see this confirmation, please try again
- Send any questions to classroom@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.
THINK
Do you consider yourself a hero? You have tremendous capacity, perhaps more than you may even realize. We need leaders with confidence who empower others and propel us forward toward a better future for all. Think about how you, in this very moment, can develop solutions to a pressing challenge locally or globally. We believe in your ability to enact change!
Over this past month of Turning Green Classroom, you have learned about and taken action on a wide array of themes directly related to daily life. One step at a time, you’ve realized and harnessed your power. Today, we invite you to identify a specific issue or cause about which you care deeply, one that will prompt you to take further action and be the change.
ACTIVITY
Upload an image of you as an eco hero. Caption it with a quote that encapsulates your eco hero self.
- What will you champion?
- What will you do in the world to help heal our planet?
- Why? How?
Post it on the social media platform of your choice and tag @turninggreenorg with #TGClassroom.
DELIVERABLES
Upload a PDF document with your responses and a screenshot of your social media post. Tag @turninggreenorg with #TGClassroom.
Submission Guidelines
- If you do not see an upload button, you need to log in
- Submit all entries as PDFs; no Word or Pages documents
- Be sure to include all content for your submission in one document
- Do not include # or spaces in filenames
- You will see a confirmation in green that your submission uploaded correctly; if you do not see this confirmation, please try again
- Send any questions to classroom@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #TGClassroom.