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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAt this\u00a0September 29\u00a0afternoon gathering, our Meeting provided a platform for three local youth activists to share their concerns and ideas about how to move forward. After a finger food potluck, we started at 12:30pm with a moment to acknowledge our presence on Wabanaki land and to prepare ourselves\u00a0to listen deeply to our youth, for the betterment of all beings.\u00a0 Ellie Douglas is a fourth grade student at Harpswell Community School. She loves animals and nature. She also loves to write and thought this would be a good chance to express her self. Next, Lucia Daranyi <\/strong>explained the teamwork needed to accomplish the resolution for the PortlandSchool District to solarize. Lucia is 17yr. and a senior at Casco Bay High School. \u201cI am on the board of directors for SolaRISE, a nonprofit with the goal of offsetting Portland Public schools carbon foot print through the installation of solar panels as our main source of energy. We have just recently got a resolution passed that will install a solar farm that will produce 80-90% of the district\u2019s energy! Many in her friend group are as concerned as she.WE were so encouraged about this. Congratulations to her group!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And finally, Riley Stevenson<\/strong> brought forward the deep need for all voices to be included in this ecological work. She is aware that some marginalized people are not being included in finding solutions, yet are often disproportionately effected by adverse harsh weather, food distribution problems, etc. She expressed concern that white people in our culture need to develop capacity to relate more warmly and personally with \u201c people who don\u2019t look like us\u201d.Riley is a junior at Lincoln Academy and lives in Waldoboro, Maine. She moved to Maine almost seven years ago and ever since has been in awe of the natural beauty of our state. She noted how precariously we are holding onto it. Since the start of this past year, Riley has joined the Maine Climate Strikes team as one of their Communications team members, the Maine Youth Environmental Association as their Event Coordinator, and has been a part of the MEEA Changemakers Gathering Planning Team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Two young members of the Indigenous Youth Group, convened by Heather Augustine at our Meetinghouse,were invited to share but were unable to attend. We are hoping to share The Changemakers Team information with them, as Riley related that this group has been helpful in keeping her energized and supported in this work, as she balances all this with her high school courses!<\/p>\n\n\n\n A lively discussion rounded out the event. We were so moved by the courage and determination of these youth, that our clerk and many of the members present have determined we need to bring the further solarization of our Meetinghouse forward for the whole of our Meeting community to consider and work on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The members of Peace and Social Concerns Committee want to thank all of who helped this happen; doing clean up, bringing finger foods, making coffee, taking photos of the event, etc. It takes this kind of group effort to help our Meeting become more visible in our community, and be up to date with Climate Change efforts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Linda Muller, for PSC At this\u00a0September 29\u00a0afternoon gathering, our Meeting provided a platform for three local youth activists to share their concerns and ideas about how to move forward. After a finger food potluck, we started at 12:30pm with … Continue reading
Presenters followed. First, Ellie Douglas<\/strong> started us out with her poem:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.durhamfriendsmeeting.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-02-at-9.27.25-AM.png\")
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About 26 attenders at the SPEAK OUT were asked to let these beautiful words sink into our hearts, as well as our logic and discernment. Several commented that this poem was powerful precisely because it found it\u2019s way to our hearts so well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n