DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Leaders who just graduated earlier this year , and he ’ s been selected to be on a national Environmental Protection Agency , Environmental Youth Advisory Council ,” says Kittle as she announces at great triumph for one of DPS ’ own . “ That was only 16 students , or 16 youth , across the nation and thousands of applicants , so I think their ability to have a voice at a school district level has given them hope and understanding that they can share at a national level , and are doing so .”
“ Our DPS Students for Climate Action also won the Presidential Environmental Youth Award , and this summer went to Washington DC to accept it . I think they recognise that they can have a voice for a much larger group outside of DPS .”
Furthering this the students boldly address climate change with the
Vice President of the United States who previously visited DPS schools to undergo an intimate conversation to highlight what DPS is doing with climate action and give the students an opportunity to voice their concerns about their futures . Not only did this show willingness from the students to advocate the subject among their country ’ s leadership , but also gave them a chance to put their final points across in the wake of DPS ’ Climate Action Plan .
For anyone still wondering how students have come on board with such incredible activities to influence their own futures , it ’ s worth looking at the trends among young people but also the approach that DPS takes . While Kittle claims the organisation isn ’ t actively influencing its students to make these changes , she believes that its approach to education – i . e . simply focusing on teaching rather than preaching – is what gives them the fuel they need to understand how sustainability impacts them . “ Often the students are teaching us about the climate , not the other way around . They are globally aware .
“ For us at DPS , we really do look at a triple bottom line , but not in the way that maybe the private sector has looked at it with people , planet and profit . We look at it as economic prosperity , social development , and environmental protection ,” she says .
“ I can ’ t really think of anyone that I ’ ve spoken to , no matter where they ’ re at on the topic , that can ’ t relate in some way to how their day-to-day life fits within one of those three focus areas . I actually haven ’ t encountered too many students that are not
74 February 2024