Like all of you we have been taken aback by the scope and scale of the health crisis that has engulfed the U.S. After a couple of close personal brushes with COVID 19 we took a step back and asked ourselves how this crisis impacted our view of the world.
First and foremost, this crisis has reinforced our belief that young people need the capacity to respond to problems with unknown solutions. As much as any issue we have faced, this crisis is a demonstration of why critical thinking and problem-solving skills are important for young people. Similarly, every day we see demonstrations of why community members need to develop their ability to advocate for improvements in their community.
We continue to believe that the best way to develop these skills is through direct experience.
At the same time, we recognize that this crisis will be with us throughout the 2020/2021 school year and that we will need to adapt our offerings to be of service to educators and the young people they teach.
Thanks to the flexibility of our amazing supporters and funders we have the opportunity to pivot our work. In the coming weeks and months, we will be rolling out a series of changes including virtual educator professional development sessions, virtual train-the-training sessions and adapting our materials to work in a virtual classroom. If you want to learn more about the changes what we are making, download this short overview. Or feel free to contact us at earthforce@earthforce.org if you want to learn more.
Stay safe,
Author: Vince Meldrum – Earth Force President/CEO
Vince Meldrum is an experienced leader with a 25-year history of transforming organizations through program development, innovative technology, and cross-sector partnerships. Vince’s expertise brings Earth Force into the center of the climate resiliency movement. With a specific focus on people, having built several large-scale partnerships, Vince offers a unique perspective on the role of community and youth in the future of our environment.