Clubs and Groups

Democracy Fellows Student Leadership Group

This past summer, I was invited by our DDF program coordinators to become a member of the DDF's student leadership group. I and a select group of peers work together to run the Democracy Fellows as it transitions to an entirely student-run club. We created the DDF's agenda for the school year, organized and planned events, communicated with and invited guest speakers, and shared our resources with other schools. 

While the Democracy Fellows is not dedicated to any singular social-justice issue or point of interest exclusively, the creation of the leadership group allows for a more focused approach to issues through the lens of dedicated student input. 

The group structure encouraged members to collaborate and compromise to achieve goals for the school year. Members of the leadership group held each other accountable to keep on top of their work and push each other to follow through with their plans. Through the leadership group, members created the agenda for the Fellows to work with for the school year and additionally setting long-term goals for years to come. The group organized important Fellows events, connected with other programs and groups both on and off campus, and contacted potential guest speakers for opportunities to come to school. I acted as the enforcer for the group where I ensured that the goals and guidelines set at the beginning of the school year were continually adhered to by all members of the student leadership group.

DDF Climate Justice Group Coordinator

In one of our DDF meetings, a few students and I suggested that we create small interest groups for Fellows to be a part of so that they could focus their energies on a specific issue(s) and be more efficient in using time. This idea led to the development of the DDF small-interest groups, which covered the topics of climate justice, legislation, public health, affordable housing/infrastructure, education, and AI/Technology. 

In what ways can students be challenged to focus their energies to better serve their communities?

By keeping group sizes small, the students were more connected with one another and able to come together to create a lasting change in their communities. I played a central role in the creation of our small-interest groups. I compiled the forms to survey our members on their interests and assembled the groups themselves. My work led to my appointment as the coordinator for our climate-justice group in which I scheduled meetings, planned our specific events, and corresponded with group members. 

DDF Sustainability Fair Tabling

At Punahou’s annual Sustainability Fair, the Democracy Fellows tabled a booth where students could interact with Fellows to learn more about current eco bills circulating the Hawaii State Legislature, the local legislative process, and how they could make an impact with the submission of testimony for bills they support. 

Through this event, students engaged in the process of submitting testimony in favor of three current environmentally friendly legislative bills. 

The event allowed the Fellows to speak with students and plant the seeds of civic responsibility and environmental stewardship. Students engaged in structured, thoughtful, and meaningful discussions on controversial subjects and ideas regarding concerning sea-level rise, increased urban humidity, higher ocean water temperatures, coral bleaching, and tourist waste. This event was a critical collaborative occasion that allowed our Punahou community to come together and educate each other on the importance of youth voices and the power of opinions on issues close to home.

I managed the table for the majority of the Sustainability Fair and connected with students grades K-12, an opportunity I would not have been afforded normally. I also connect what the table was aiming to do (educating on the Hawaii legislative process and the exercise of submitting legislative testimony) with my Bias in America (Social Studies and English interdisciplinary course) peers and what we were learning at the time in that class -- the same processes the table was focusing on. 

Climate Crew Cohort V

A nine-month-long program facilitating a collaborative environment for motivated high school students to come together and learn the latest in climate science, advocacy, and policy work. The goal was to create solutions for our communities through renewable energy, public health, and climate science. 

As a member of the Blue Planet Foundation’s Climate Crew, I have attended their Climate Camp, a two-day function where I got to listen to a talk by climate adaptation specialist and UH Sea Grant member Dr. Brad Romine. I watched a presentation by representatives of Hawaii Energy on the steps they were taking to help Hawaii reach its goal of being 100% powered by renewable electricity by 2045, their partnership with HECO, and their community outreach work. Additionally, I visited Hawaii’s first solar energy storage facility by Clearway and explored the possibilities of agrovoltaics being experimented with at their Mililani site. As a part of the Crew, I also attended Opening Day at the Hawaii State Legislature. I met with legislators where I and my fellow crew members spoke directly with our representatives to inform them of what causes matter most to their youngest constituents and what we'd like to see them support this legislative session. 

Meetings:

November | Cohort V Kickoff Meeting

November | Climate Camp

December | Climate Conversational: Climate & Human Health

January | Climate Conversational: Equitable Climate Policy

January | Opening Day at the Hawaii State Legislature

February | Climate Conversational: Environmental Justice

February | Resilient Communities Challenge Kick Off

March | Environmental Justice Meeting

March | Power of a Resume and RCC Meeting

April | Resilient Communities Challenge Meeting

May | Cohort V Celebration and Final Presentations