MTC Chair Amy Rein Worth addresses the students at the start of the conference.
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Listening to Chairwoman Worth’s opening remarks.
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Samantha Perry and Izzi Rader from the ECO2school workshop speak about how to engage school communities to reduce their carbon footprint by changing their transportation habits.
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Student keynote speaker Serah Almeyda encourages fellow students to dedicate their time to the things that they love. "Great things happen when you find your passion," says Almeyda.
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Students and facilitators attempt a human pyramid.
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Having a laugh with the Alameda County Safe Routes to School group.
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An educator from the Aquarium of the Bay’s BayMobile speaks to students about climate change and its effects on marine animals, such as the starfish in her hand.
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Lots of free information, ranging from maps of the Bay Trail to pamphlets on how to get a Youth Clipper Card, was available.
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One student pedals her way to a smoothie, via YBike’s bike blender.
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Students write their ideas for transportation alternatives on poster paper.
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A presentation on Teen Impact on Safe Routes to Schools from the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools Youth Task Force.
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Brainstorming ways to engage their peers around issues such as climate change and transportation in a Bike East Bay/MTC-led workshop.
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Bay Area Bike Mobile put on its ever-popular bike repair workshop. The Bike Mobile is funded through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Spare the Air Youth grant program.
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The Golden Sneaker Award is the trophy given to students with the greatest number of miles walked, biked or travelled by bus, transit or carpooling to school.
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A group from ECO2school, smiling in the photo booth after a full day at the conference. ECO2school, similar to a high school Safe Routes to School program, is a program of the Climate Protection Campaign in Sonoma County.
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The second Youth for the Environment and Sustainability (YES) Conference was a great success. On February 7, 2015, middle and high school students from around the SF Bay region came together to discuss transportation issues; learn how their decisions can impact climate change; and share ways of encouraging others to walk, bike, take transit or carpool to school. The YES Conference was designed to encourage youth advocacy, communication and leadership skills. Participants had opportunities to share their success stories, participate in a bicycle workshop and leadership training sessions, and learn from speakers how to best make the case for sustainable transportation.
This year’s keynote speakers were Serah Almeyda, a student at Windsor High School and an engaged community activist, and Nick Laskowski, a co-founder of San Jose Bike Party, a monthly ride of 2,500 people.
Thank you to all the innovative and passionate participants, speakers and leaders who attended.