John,

My name is Jules and I am an Advocacy and Community Outreach Intern at WCV. Advocating for environmental justice is urgent and non-negotiable to me given the current climate crisis, so I'm excited to have the opportunity to work for an organization that is committed to this fight.

I’ve been tutoring middle and high school students since I graduated from college in 2017. By far, the best part of my job is seeing young people empowered by their self-efficacy, and taking responsibility and action for their world. They have given me perspective on the accountability and compassion we owe our planet and each other. The momentum and dedication of the youth climate movement is truly inspiring, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Recently, I have been working with Seattle Climate Strike Network (SCSN), a collaborative group of youth activists organizing together on climate strikes and Earth Day events. SCSN launched a digital activist training series for youth climate organizers who hope to gain valuable organizing skills and/or learn about solidarity and justice in the climate movement, all while building connections with other activists.

Please join us in partnership with youth climate activists in Washington state on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day for a massive three-day digital climate strike.

Day 1, Wednesday, April 22: Earth Day!

• WA Youth Climate Strike is hosting a series of one-hour trainings from 10 am - 4 pm.
• Sunrise Tacoma is hosting three livestreamed Power Hour webinars from 3-6 pm focusing on the ways that the Green New Deal would bring about environmental, social, and economic justice.
• U.S. Climate Strike is hosting Earth Day Live, a three-day livestream (April 22-24) that will include speakers, musical performances, and digital actions.

Day 2, Thursday, April 23: Stop the Money Pipeline Day of Action

• U.S. Climate Strike is hosting a Stop the Money Pipeline Day of Action as part of Earth Day Live.  Led by the Stop the Money Pipeline Coalition, the goal is to reprogram the economy so that it works for people and the planet, not polluters.
• WA Youth Climate Strike is hosting three one-hour webinars from 10 am – 1 pm focused on divestment.

Day 3, Friday, April 24: Day of Political Action and Voter Engagement

• The famous young activist Greta Thunberg has asked Fridays for Future strikers around the world to use #ClimateStrikeOnline during the pandemic.  
• U.S. Climate Strike is hosting a Day of Political Action and Voter Engagement.
• WA Youth Climate Strike is hosting three one-hour webinars from 10 am – 1 pm around political action.

This toolkit contains more detailed information about the events happening during Earth Week and how you can be involved.

Digital actions allow this movement to be more accessible than ever before. We have an opportunity to come together as a state, learn from the experts and youth who have partnered for these events, and find inspiration to build a better future.

We need policies to protect the environment and promote equity, and we need a large cultural shift to accompany those policies. It’s an uphill battle, but when I see the dedication of my fellow young climate activists, and the momentum our movement is gaining, I am assured of the necessity and possibility of real change. Please join us!

Thanks for all you do,

Jules Rader
Spring 2020 Advocacy and Community Outreach Intern