The Sierra Club
The Sierra Club's Alaska Chapter and Sierra Student Coalition (SSC) hosted a youth Summer Grassroots Training Program (SPROG) at Alaska Pacific University from August 14-18 with help from nine partner groups. Participants, ranging from 14 to 28 years old, acquired leadership skills to help promote environmental issues and social justice in their communities, and beyond.
Five trainers designed and communicated the 2015 SPROG Alaska program. Puerto Rico Sierra Club organizer Adriana Gonzalez and Puerto Rican environmental activist Alexis Rivera-Colon shared their organizing experience working with the federal government and islanded electric grids. SSC alum Erica Stout, now training and program manager for the American Association of University Women, brought her experience in progressive organizing all the way from D.C. Two SPROG Alaska alums, Tristan Glowa and Christina Edwin, helped adapt the new program for Alaskan participants.
SPROG Alaska 2015 included participants from as far north as the village of Nuiqsut, located on far-northern Alaska's coastal plain, to the Kenai Peninsula, nearly 700 miles to the south on the Gulf of Alaska. Of the 11 youth activists who attended the training, six were from Native Alaskan communities. The chapter and partner groups helped with funding to provide transportation to the SPROG -- no small feat considering Alaska is twice the size of Texas!
Alaska Chapter volunteer leader Lindsey Hajduk recruited young environmental and social justice leaders, pictured below.
For more pictures, CLICK HERE!
To learn more about SPROG, please click HERE!