January Newsletter: Sharing Gratitude & Excitement for 2024!
Happy New Year! We hope you had a memorable holiday season and a positive start to 2024. At Be the Change, we are energized and excited for the year ahead!
Here are some updates from Be the Change as we transition into autumn and the new school year!
National Truth and Reconciliation Day
September 30th is Canada’s first Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) day of action. We encourage you to take a moment on this day to reflect and recognize the atrocities committed against Indigenous communities and embrace our responsibility to listen to and act with those communities in support of Indigenous rights. No doubt many of us will be wearing orange shirts to show our support not only for those who suffered and died at the hands of Canada’s Residential Schools but also to recognize communities and individuals who still feel their effects today.
There is no easy way to talk about these issues, and no simple path leading to reconciliation, but that makes taking the time to address them all the more important. At Be the Change we recognize the powerful lessons Indigenous teachings can have in the conversations surrounding climate issues. If we wish to care for the earth, we must listen to communities who have been stewards of their lands and water since time immemorial.
If you would like to take further actions in recognition of TRC Day, here are some resources worth considering:
- The Indigenous Education Resource Inventory, compiled by the Métis Nation British Columbia, the Ministry of Education, British Columbia Teachers Federation, and the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC).
- FNESC is also developing an Indigenous-led curriculum, Authentic First Peoples Resources.
- The 94 Calls to Action presented in the final report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Vote for Be the Change
Be the Change Earth Alliance is a finalist for funding from the Project Change Foundation for our Youth for Climate Action mentorship program! The funding recipient will be chosen by a public vote, so please VOTE for Be the Change here and spread the word!
Water is Life Workshops
Water is Life is a 2-part workshop designed to deepen students’ understanding of the climate crisis and threats to freshwater, and engage them in taking meaningful action. Both workshops, which can be delivered in-person or virtually to classrooms or youth groups, also make connections to the Sustainable Development Goals, and weave in indigenous perspectives.
The first workshop focuses on possible actions and solutions students can take. Students will complete an action tracker after the workshop to guide them in taking action and tracking their progress for a month, until the next workshop.
In the second workshop, students reflect on their experiences and any challenges they faced with completing their habits, and celebrate the impact they made. This workshop is aimed at deepening the understanding of systemic change and creating a launch point for students to continue taking action.
Book a Water is Life workshop today!
Youth Habitat Clean-Ups Initiative
Habitat clean-ups led by Be the Change offer a fun, hands-on learning experience where students can learn about waste management while making a positive environmental impact in their community!
Youth Habitat Clean-Ups:
- Improve shoreline and park habitats within Metro Vancouver
- Produce a positive impact on the environment and local neighbourhoods
- Help students develop a meaningful connection with their community and the environment
Learn more and book a clean-up with Be the Change!
That’s all for now! Be the Change is able to continue its work empowering students and youth through our kind donors. Please donate today!
Warmly,
George Radner (he/his)
Executive Director
Latest posts
December 2023 Newsletter - ⛄‘Tis the season to celebrate at Be The Change!⛄
As 2023 comes to a close and school winds down for winter break, we’re taking a moment to reflect back over the past year. 2023 was a very regenerative time for BTCEA! We developed and delivered our Climate Action, Resilience, and Emotions (CARE) program in communities on the frontlines of wildfires in our province. And as an organization, we prioritized creating space to discuss what decolonization could look like both internally, and in our programming. Here are the highlights:
Oct 2023 Newsletter - Check out our mid-October climate-justice resources!
Hello,
An introduction from Communications Coordinator, Lucy Wicken
Dear Be The Change community,
As we approach mid-October, I’m reflecting on the changing seasons, from the warm and active days of summer to the cooler and quieter days of autumn. Personally, I’ve noticed a desire to slow down, take on fewer responsibilities, and stay inside where it’s cozy. Have you felt this way too?
As 21st century humans living in a world that operates under capitalism, white supremacy, and other oppressive systems, we can be made to feel guilt or shame about listening & responding to our needs. We are expected to maintain the same energy and productivity levels throughout the year, no matter how cold or dark the days are, how heavy world events feel, or how much we’re struggling in our personal lives.
This is where the concept of regenerative education comes in. Introduced to the BTCEA team by former staff member Jake, regenerative education calls on us to slow down and turn inward to consider our connection with the natural world. It asks us to examine the living systems that are breaking down due to violent human activity (such as fossil fuel extraction, destruction of Indigenous lands, and human-caused flooding and wildfires) and connect this breakdown with our own high levels of stress.
