Living green has become a local and global priority. Some of us have some awareness about environmental issues that affect our planet but how many of us are taking initiative by doing something to increase awareness in our local communities? The City of Toronto will be recognizing individuals, organizations and companies that are leading the initiative in making our city green. The Toronto Green Awards ceremony will take place this Friday, April 23rd.
I had a chance to ask some of the finalists a few questions about their initiatives and commitments to making our city cleaner and greener. Here is what two of the finalists had to share.
Youth Award Finalist – Raquel Nelson from Green Collar Corps, Community Housing
HM: What does your group/team do in terms of “Living Green?”
Raquel Nelson (RN): Youth from the Green Collar Corps pledge to “Learn to use our earth’s resources wisely; Model conservation behaviour with friends and family; and Build environmental knowledge and skills in their communities.” During the school year, youth participate in the ‘Eco-institute’ portion of the program where they are learning and developing environmental stewardship and in-turn they take the information they have learned and design activities for residents in their communities to promote civic responsibility, sharing tips and ways residents can do their individual parts to “live green.”
HM: How do you inspire other youth to become involved in making our city/planet green?
RN: The 7 founding GCC youth have been hosting Information Sessions in other Toronto Community Housing communities. At these sessions, the youth share with interested youth highlights of how they have worked together as a group over the last 2 years. Youth learn from the founding members activities and events they have done in and around their communities and the growth and opportunities they have been offered as a result of being a GCC member.
GCC youth have also targetted young children, engaging them with age-appropriate games and activities to teach them about recycling and saving energy in their homes.
HM: What future plans do you have for your group/team?
RN: The founding GCC members are currently planning for further tenant engagement, thinking about fun and creative ways to teach residents about conserving water in their homes. I am anticipating a summer where these youth will busy with activities that places them into the communities interacting with residents and continuing to spread the word.
As the Corps expands, youth across the city are making pledges to “Learn, Model and Build….” This is a unique opportunity for youth to also consider careers in the “green economy.
Community Projects Award Finalist — Sue Cohen, Community Arts Coordinator from SKETCH Arts for Street Involved and Homeless Youth
HM: How did your organization become involved in “Green” projects?
Sue Cohen (SC): In 2007 we began meeting with Evergreen, due to youth enthusiasm around urban gardening, Greenest City and Ecu Homes were also beginning garden programming that year so we decided to partner and what a beautiful journey its been! We held community consultations, began gardening at HOPE community garden in Parkdale, and discovered that youth here feel that growing organic food is a political stance and a social responsibility. We found that there were no end to ideas around making art in the gardens and since 2007 we have joined Fort York community garden as well.
HM: This will most likely be a project that can propel others. Are there plans in the works for more projects like what you’ve been involved?
SC: Yes, Even in our midst here at SKETCH, 2 youth last year, built partnerships and began garden programming in Kensington market and at a local school, this year someone is consulting with her community to build roof top gardens for low income housing in Toronto. We hope to connect with a farm nearby to grow and strengthen our ties
to locally grown produce, and to hopefully provide a space away from the downtown core for youth to explore that experience of urban farming. In the not too distant future SKETCH will move, and we hope to find a place where we can create living walls, a green roof and find ways to integrate “green ideas ” and plants into the SKETCH studio, as the green of the garden reminds us all to enjoy the precious-ness of daily living.
HM: For those of us, who may not know much about your organization, what would the “take home” message be?
SC: Sketch creates art making opportunities for young people who live street-involved and homeless or who are considered to be at risk. Art making offers expression, self discovery and skill building. It facilitates participation in community life and in the making of culture. The SKETCH garden project believes that everyone has a connection to the earth and take part in growing a healthy community, and we want to provide a space for marginalized youth, who may not have the leisure to access these activities and events, but have lots to contribute to the city.
The Awards Ceremony will take place this Friday at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. For more information, go here. As well, the Green Living Show also runs this weekend from April 23 to 25. They will have over 400 exhibitors this year with lots of talks, samples and other attractions. Try to make your way over to the Direct Energy Centre and find out more about green living.