Detailed Agenda

Welcome & Plenary Session

1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT | Auditorium (Lower Level)

Tecumseh's Keynote & the Intergenerational Panel will be livestreamed. Tune in virtually here!

Keynote Speaker: Tecumseh Ceasar (Matinecock Turkey clan, Montaukett, & Unkechaug)

Indigenous artist, cultural consultant, and Wampum carver

Tecumseh currently serves as the North American Advisor for the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus at the United Nations, where he advocates for Indigenous Americans' rights to member states, NGOs, and other Indigenous nations. A big part of his current community work has been working on cultural revitalization, preservation, and the repatriation of stolen ancestors through the Graves Protection Warriors Society. He is currently in residence at Flushing Town Hall and the Queens Museum of Art. Tecumseh is based in New York City.

Learn more about Tecumseh's work.

Photo credit: Leah Bouchier-Hayes

Intergenerational Panel

2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT | Auditorium (Lower Level)

Educating for Climate Action: An Intergenerational Conversation

What do we have and what do we need to educate for climate action? Students and seasoned professionals reflect on how climate change is discussed in classrooms and informal education spaces. Our diverse panel will share insights on why decision makers must take innovative steps to address systemic challenges in education systems to engage students in meaningful, transformative, justice-centered climate education.

Featured Speakers:

Moderator: Elissa Teles-Munoz, Coordinator Consultant, Climate Resilience & Education Task Force

Sophia Powless, Indigenous Educator, Onondaga Nation; Program Coordinator, Aspen Institute - This Is Planet Ed

Shino Tanikawa, Executive Director, NYC Soil & Water Conservation District

Maggie Handleman, High School Senior, Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts & CRETF Youth Steering Committee

Dr. Deb Morrison, Coordinator, Center for Climate Justice at University of California

Lauren Gibson, Advisor on Youth Engagement to the NOAA administrator

Breakout Session # 1

3:30 - 4:30 PM EDT | Various Locations

Introduction to Native Knowledge 360

Location: IAC Classroom (First Floor/ Street Level)

Learn about the National Museum of the American Indian’s National Education Initiative, Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°). In this introduction we’ll explore NK360° educational materials and resources that incorporate Native narratives and more comprehensive histories to enlighten and inform teaching and learning about Native America. Participants will learn how NK360° lessons are developed in collaboration and partnership with Native communities and tour our highlighted digital resource: American Indian Responses to Environmental Challenges.

Featured Speakers:

Yadira Hadlett, Education Specialist, National Museum of the American Indian
Bert Correa, Museum Specialist, National Museum of the American Indian

Know Your Audience: Empowering Effective Climate Communicators

Location: Auditorium (Lower Level)

In this interactive workshop, we will use resources from YPCCC’s “For Educators” page to explore how understanding your audience is critical to engaging people in climate change issues and combating climate change denial. Through polls, an interactive map tool, and our new activity, “Climate Change Communication Investigation,” participants will be equipped with tools and strategies to bring back to their learners that will empower them to be effective climate change communicators.

Featured Speaker:

Mallika Talwar, Deputy Partnerships Director, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

Matter of Perspective: Educators, Climate Resilience, and Student Action

Location: Collector's Office (Second Floor)

Global youth frequently identify their teachers as a top source of trusted information. However, for a variety of reasons, teachers may not choose to teach about Climate issues. During this session, we will review the findings of two studies designed by the Smithsonian and conducted by Gallup, measuring Teacher Perspectives on Education for Sustainable Development. We will examine the opportunities for resources, training, materials, and networks identified by teachers across the country and globe. Once we've unpacked the findings, we will showcase a number of Smithsonian resources - designed to be used by educators and young people in classrooms - which focus on Climate Resilience and Action. Participants will join Smithsonian Science Education Leadership in a hands-on activity that can be repeated with students in any setting.

Featured Speakers:

Dr. Carol O'Donnell, Douglas M. Lapp and Anne B. Keiser Director, Smithsonian Science Education Center
Dr. Brian Mandell, Division Director, Curriculum, Digital Media & Communications, Smithsonian Science Education Center

New York Climate Education Policy: Charting a New Path Forward

Location: Meeting Room 2 (Lower Level)

Young people are increasingly anxious about the worsening climate emergency, with 75% fearing for the future. Schools are ill-equipped for extreme weather which is already disrupting learning for millions. Yet U.S. students receive only two hours of climate instruction per year, mostly focused on problems rather than solutions. The intergenerational Climate & Resilience Education Task Force, co-managed by the National Wildlife Federation and WE ACT for Environmental Justice, has been working to expand access to interdisciplinary, justice-centered P-12 climate education and teacher training in New York. This panel discussion will explore CRETF’s youth leadership model, political strategy, future legislative prospects, and what’s needed to ensure success in the months and years ahead.

Featured Speakers:

Emily Fano, Director, Climate Resilience Education, National Wildlife Federation and Climate & Resilience Education Task Force Policy Committee
Susan Buck, Board member Yorktown100 and Climate & Resilience Education Task Force Policy Committee
Dr. Joseph Henderson, Visiting Lecturer, University of Vermont and Climate & Resilience Education Task Force Policy Committee
kier blake, Co-Founder of Start:Empowerment, Climate x Education Policy Expert at Next100, CRETF Steering and Policy Committee
Shino Tanikawa, Executive Director, Soil & Water Conservation District

Workforce Pathways to Just Climate Action

Location: Meeting Room 1 (Lower Level)

Preparing the existing and future workforce to address climate change is an essential and often overlooked component of building capacity and implementing climate solutions. This session will explore how workforce development, technical and K-12 education, and on-the-job training powers the just transition. Panelists will discuss how pathways to climate jobs are developing and can be supported at all levels, from career identification in elementary school to upskilling for mid-career professionals.

Featured Speakers:

Moderator: Jainey Bavishi, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator of NOAA
Elsa Mengitsu, Director of Programming, Black Girl Environmentalist
Karen Alsen, Managing Director of Education, Solar One
Meredith McDermott, Director of Sustainability, NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability
Stephen Miller, Deputy Director, SEI
Representative from American Climate Corps

imagiNATIONS Activity Center Tour

Location: ImagiNATIONS Activity Center (First Floor/ Street Level)

The interactive imagiNATIONS Activity Center provides visitors with an engaging space to explore scientific principles behind Native innovations and technologies that are so ingenious, many remain a part of our daily lives. The experience will leave visitors with a key takeaway—Indigenous people are the original innovators of the Americas.

Featured Speaker:

Carrie Gonzalez, Family and Youth Experiences Coordinator, National Museum of the American Indian
William Chimborazo, Museum Educator, National Museum of the American Indian

Breakout Session # 2

4:45 - 5:45 PM EDT

Introducing the 2024 Climate Literacy Guide!

Location: Meeting Room 1 (Lower Level)

This workshop celebrates the release of the 2024 Climate Literacy Guide! After introducing the content and development of the updated guide, participants will be invited to brainstorm ways to use the guide in their teaching and communication about climate change.

Featured Speakers:

Frank Niepold, Climate Education and Workforce Program Manager / U.S. Global Change Research Program Climate Engagement and Capacity Building Co-Chair, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Association (NOAA)
Haley Crim, Climate Engagement and Capacity Building Coordinator, NOAA Affiliate
Dr. Carol O'Donnell, Douglas M. Lapp and Anne B. Keiser Director, Smithsonian Science Education Center

Building Intergenerational Climate Leadership Through Youth Engagement Programs

Location: Meeting Room 2 (Lower Level)

Climate-focused youth leadership programs present a unique opportunity to create cross-generational engagement in the climate movement. This session will showcase a diverse set of long-term youth engagement programs that help young people develop the leadership skills, relationships, and confidence they need to take climate action alongside peers and adults. Discover how these innovative programs empower the next generation of climate changemakers, hear about the challenges and successes of program implementation, and learn how to build lasting partnerships with youth to drive comprehensive climate solutions.

Moderator: Hannah Barg, Climate Network Manager, The Wild Center

Featured Speakers:

eeBLUE Young Changemaker Program:

Lauren Gibson Advisor on Youth Engagement to the NOAA administrator
Katya Sri Kondragunta, eeBLUE Young Changemaker
Jimmy Zhong, eeBLUE Young Changemaker

NYCPS Office of Energy & Sustainability Youth Leadership Council:

Kailyn Fox, Education and Training Manager, NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability
Lena Goings, High school student, Youth Leadership Council member
Michael Magazine, College student, Youth Leadership Council alumnus

The Wild Center's Youth Climate Program:

Garrett Marino, Youth Climate Leadership Coordinator, The Wild Center
Andrew Fagerheim, Graduate Student at Columbia University and The Wild Center's Youth Climate Program Alumnus

EcoRise Youth Programs:

Jonathon Stott, Co-Executive Director, EcoRise
Analisa Wood, EcoRise Board Member & Program Alumna

Earth Force Youth Programs:

SJ Jennings, Program Manager, Earth Force

Photo Credit: The Wild Center

Addressing Climate-Mental Health In the Classroom and Beyond

Location: Collector's Office (Second Floor)

Climate Mental Health Network will lead an interactive workshop to introduce attendees to concepts about climate-mental health. Participants will engage in activities including using the Climate Emotions wheel, mindfulness and breakout groups, as well as a screening of GEN Z MENTAL HEALTH: CLIMATE STORIES and an introduction to K-12 activities co-created with CIRES. Participants will leave with new skills and tools to use in the classroom and beyond.

Featured Speakers:

Elissa Teles-Munoz, K-12 Programming Lead, Climate Mental Health Network

Anti-Waste Design Strategies with Official Rebrand

Location: IAC Classroom (First Floor/ Street Level)

How can we apply anti-waste strategies to an unrelentingly industrialized future? Join MI Leggett, Founder and Creative Director of Official Rebrand, and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum for a discussion on past, present, and future perspectives on waste and sustainability in design and beyond. This workshop is designed for educators eager to explore ways to support sustainable habits in their students and classrooms.

Featured Speakers:

MI Leggett, they/them, Founder & Creative Director, Official Rebrand
Kirsten McNally, she/her, Manager of Teen Programs, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Nadya Kim, she/her, Teen Programs Coordinator, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

NYC Climate Educators Share Best Practices: Models of P-12 Interdisciplinary, Justice Centered, Solutions Focused Climate Education

Location: Auditorium (Lower Level)

What if students could go to school every day to learn real-world skills needed to solve the climate crisis and feel a sense of hope for a brighter future? What if teachers were engaging their students in using a variety of innovative tools to: design, build and test wind turbines, address food insecurity in a warming world, plant wildlife gardens to restore and protect local biodiversity, learn about the benefits of green roofs, envision real-world climate resilience projects in their communities, and explore career pathways needed to decarbonize our world? During this one-hour panel you’ll meet extraordinary New York City teachers who are doing just that: modeling exceptional climate education leadership in their public school classrooms. Presentations will be followed by a Q & A.

Moderator: Emily Fano, Director, Climate Resilience Education, National Wildlife Federation and Climate & Resilience Education Task Force Policy Committee

Featured Speakers:

Vicki Sando, Green STEM Teacher/Green Roof Manager, PS 41 Greenwich Village School, Manhattan
Lynn Shon, 6th Grade STEAM Teacher, Brooklyn Harbor Middle School Curriculum Designer, Science Instructional Coach, Environmental Justice Activist
Andrew Zimmermann, STEAM teacher, Brooklyn Harbor Middle School, Curriculum Designer
Robert Markuske, High School, Marine Policy and Affairs teacher, New York Harbor School, Governor’s Island

photo credit: Amy Westervelt

imagiNATIONS Activity Center Tour

Location: ImaginNATIONS Activity Center (First Floor/ Street Level)

The interactive imagiNATIONS Activity Center provides visitors with an engaging space to explore scientific principles behind Native innovations and technologies that are so ingenious, that many remain a part of our daily lives. The experience will leave visitors with a key takeaway—Indigenous people are the original innovators of the Americas.

Featured Speaker:

Carrie Gonzalez, Family and Youth Experiences Coordinator, National Museum of the American Indian
William Chimborazo, Museum Educator, National Museum of the American Indian

Reception & Climate Education Showcase

6:00 - 8:00 PM EDT | Diker Pavillion (First Floor/ Street Level)

Opening remarks will begin at 6:30pm. Remarks will be provided by Tricia Edwards, Interim Director of Affiliations for The Smithsonian Institution; Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Deputy Director for Climate and Environment at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and Richard Spinrad, NOAA Administrator.

The evening reception at this event will feature networking opportunities with leading climate education organizations and institutions including:

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
The Aspen Institute- This is Planet Ed
Columbia Climate School
SolarOne
Subject to Climate
NYSERDA
Energetic the Board Game
Climate Mental Health Network
The Wild Center
NYC Office of Education Department of Energy & Sustainability
Smithsonian
NOAA
National Wildlife Federation/ Climate Resilience & Education Task Force

Reception food & drink provided by Pinch Food Design (@pinchfooddesign) which has a commitment to zero waste catering.

Learn more about Pinch Food Design on their Website

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