The 180: Youth United for the Environmental Turnaround 

A BYEN annual youth event that convenes Boston youth in summer environmental programs together to network, learn, and share their ideas. In 2008 BYEN organized the first gathering at Franklin Park in response to member suggestions. Since 2009 Health Resources In Action's BEST Initiative coordinates the planning and implementation of this event with Bikes Not Bombs Youth Ambassadors.   

Summary & Feedback from The 180: 2010

Over 170 youth and adults attended!  (At least 150 of those were youth.)  At least 19 different groups were represented.  In addition to most folks reporting having a great time and connecting with new people, 111 youth participants made commitments to take action steps in the future!  In break-out groups, they came up with great ideas for how they’d like to work together across groups.  Great energy and momentum was created (see below for follow-up actions).

Click here to view pictures from The 180: 2010, which was attended by 170 youth crew members & adult crew leaders from 19 different organizations. 

Many were pleased with the experience:

• 97% called the event overall "good" or "excellent"
• 99.6% said they were glad they came
• 100% met at least one new person

Some comments:

• Great event, good collaborations will happen from this
• I learned a lot about the environment.
• I’m going to recycle now.
• We need to do this again. I had fun.
•  It was fun and I enjoyed myself a lot.
• Slideshows were great, learned a lot, activities were well thought out
• Good job with all the workshops.
•  Inspirational!
• Great guest speaker. The climate issues were very clearly set out. Thanks. 
• Small group discussions were engaging!

COMMITMENTS FOR PERSONAL ACTION

• 89 committed to "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle"
• 34 committed to sign up for the “Do One Thing” Campaign
• 66 committed carry a reusable water bottle
• 62 committed to walk or ride a bicycle distances under 1 mile
• 36 asked to be put on BYEN’s list serve
• 49 planned to become BYEN’s friend on Facebook
• Other:  “Teach about”, “Continue advocating for EJ at my place of work”, “Garden”, “Conserve power however I can”, “live blue”, “collaborate with groups in my area”

COMMITMENTS FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• 52 committed to help organize another city-wide BYEN gathering
• 67 committed to tell another person what they learned today
• 47 committed to connect with someone they met at the event
• 25 committed to attend a BYEN monthly youth networking dinner
• 32 committed to attend REEP’s EJ Summit
• 19 committed to go on REEP’s Toxic Tour of Dudley Square

PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFIED IDEAS FOR HOW GROUPS CAN WORK TOGETHER:

(Report-backs on top ideas from each break-out group)

• “Walk to go green” – tour different neighborhoods within the city and pick up trash and learn about the issues facing the community, and celebrate with a block party!
• Attend each other’s events and join campaigns and have another youth summit
• Do environmental justice tours together and meet together
• Socialize and talk about it, keep each other up to date on what we’re doing.
• More youth protests and rallies (e.g. protesting the high prices of environmentally friendly projects)
• Do joint organizing campaigns for issues (e.g. extending hours of youth t-pass)
• Community service projects that involve multiple groups; social events to get to know each other better
• Connect with each other on Facebook.

Follow-Up to The 180: 2010

There was a high energy and momentum created at The 180 2010, BYEN and its members are working steadily to build upon it! 

EMAIL FOLLOW-UP:

About Commitments: Each participant that made commitments was e-mailed.  They were asked if they needed any information or practical assistance to help them meet their commitments. 

All participants have been added to our youth e-mail list serve, allowing them to stay updated on paid and un-paid opportunities, be involved in planning events of interest and more.

FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS:  Participants were invited to participate in BYEN monthly Youth Networking Dinners during the school year. Over 40 youth attended. Dinner participants from 5 different organizations have formed BYEN's Youth Advisory Council. The council meets monthly, since February 2011 it has been working to identify its role in the BYEN and is creating a Constitution defining group norms and how it will work in the present and future.

Present projects include: