About the Networking Session       2:30 – 3:30

Goals for the Session:

Expanding Youth Climate Action Network

•One of the things we're also hoping to accomplish is to expand the youth climate action network by encouraging new youth climate action groups to form and become network member groups.  Make sure to sign up to become a Youth CAN Network Member if your group is interested!

Creating a Student/Educator Coalition to Plan for a Public Hearing

•We're also planning to create a coalition of youth and educators who will work together to promote climate change education in the schools by hosting a public hearing on the importance of climate literacy.  Make sure you sign the email contact list during the networking session if you wish to be part of the coalition working together next year.

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Schedule for the Networking Session

Overview:  Facilitators will provide an overview of what will happen in the session, and discuss the potential advantages in working together.   3 - 5 minutes  (2:30 – 2:35)

Working Groups:

Ice Breaker & Brainstorming:  The audience will break into pre-assigned working groups.  Move quickly to the location in the auditorium where you see a sign with the number of your working group (number given at registration - written on your name tag) Please do NOT change working groups.  The working groups will have five minute ice breaker, followed by a quick brain-storming session about the value of participating in a climate action network (what can a network accomplish that can't be accomplished alone? etc.) Working groups will generate ideas about why working together is important, and record them on wall-sized post-it notes.  Time will be strictly enforced!  5 - 10 minutes  (2:35 – 2:45)

Debrief:  Groups will reassemble as a large group, and debrief.  Facilitators will note a few of the highlights (gathered on large post-its in the front of the room) 5 minutes  (2:45 – 2:50)

Guest Speakers:  The large group will be addressed by Boston City Councilor-At-Large John Connolly, and possibly City Councilor-At-Large Sam Yoon, who has also been invited, as well as Mark Pedulla of the Hyde Square Task Force and some of the Hyde Square Task Force students who held a successful public hearing about the need for civics education in the schools last year.
The discussion is intended to stimulate thinking about what a coalition of students and educators working together next year will need to do to plan and host a public hearing about the need for climate change education in schools.  15 Minutes (2:50 – 3:05)

Working Groups Part II – Drafting an Action Plan & Volunteers
Return to working groups to brainstorm the broad outlines of an action plan to get ready for a public hearing.  Please list tasks your group can think of that we’ll need to complete to hold a successful public hearing about requiring climate change in the public schools.  Remember that problems that need to be solved and questions that need to be addressed, as well as contacts that should be pursued are a valuable part of the action plan. Action plan ideas will be collected, refined and pursued during the 2008/2009 school year.  Please list action plan ideas on large post-it notes.  Important:  If any working group members are willing to continue to work on a particular element of the plan during the coming school year, or play a leadership role with regard to a particular aspect of the plan, please indicate this clearly on the post-it, by providing the person’s name and contact information.  Individual contact information for all volunteers willing to participate in the coalition next year will be compiled by group facilitators.    15 minutes (3:05 – 3:20)

Wrap Up:

Remain in working groups for final check-in and reporting on action plan ideas, announcements.  The first post-Summit follow up meeting with the coalition that forms at the networking session (to be organized and further developed by a part-time Youth CAN Network Coordinator) will take place at MIT on November 18th 2008 in conjunction with the MCAN Conference.  10 Minutes (3:20 – 3:30)