It's terrific to see firms of all sizes in all parts of the country stepping up to support the September 20 Youth Climate Strike with intentionality and care. Some are interested in doing so and looking for reference points.
We caught wind of VMDO's handling of the topic and wanted to share their Best Practice on the topic. VMDO is a firm of 70 with offices in Charlottesville, Virginia; and DC. The firm's Director of Sustainability, Michelle Amt, AIA, generously offered to share some resources they developed:
Here is VMDO's public-facing official statement/endorsement:
https://www.vmdo.com/architecture-blog/vmdo-youth-climate-strike/?fbclid=IwAR1G3ixF20cJLQKeYVW09jgYNQ0an_t13vLV0pFNq5GQFtJ7oVk509KeTHA
And here is how the firm announced it internally:
ACTION ENCOURAGED: Youth Climate Strike – Sept 20 (12p Free Speech wall (CHO)) | 11a Ellipse to the Capitol Building (DC)). Greta Thunberg, the 16 year old Swedish climate activist, arrived (via sailboat) last week in NYC to address the UN at an emergency Climate Summit on Sept 23 and to participate in NYC's Climate Week. She (and other youth organizers) are calling for week of climate action with a worldwide strike for climate on September 20, and so far, over 2400 events around the world have been planned. What does this have to do with you? They're asking for adults to join in support. Architects Advocate is specifically encouraging architecture firms to sign up and commit to join the strike.
The Management Committee is explicitly encouraging you to show up and support our youth, both in Charlottesville and in DC. We'll have a SDAG lunch on Thursday, Sept 12 to talk about how you can show your support in the days leading up to and during the strike. Marketing will be on-hand to talk about our (and maybe your?) social media campaign around the strike.
Some guidance on being a good ally from 350.org (and more here from the Strike with Us site):
- Make sure you let young protesters speak in their own words when you're sharing content. You can do this for example by asking young people for a short statement on why they're striking (ask permission to post on social media). Try to amplify voices of young people that you notice being underrepresented in media. Describe the atmosphere, photograph the funniest banners, film the best songs and have fun! Remember to add the #climatestrike and #fridaysforfuture hashtags!
- If you're a parent or guardian, make it explicit that you allow your kids to go on strike, if they want to. Lead others by example.
- Activate your own network (yes, you have one!) in support of the climate strikes. Think of the organizations, clubs or faith groups you belong to. Maybe you're in a parents group, or a bookclub? Talk about the climate strikes at your next meeting; take to social media and share a public statement of support. Organize others for solidarity actions and events.
- Remember: Your role is to listen and amplify the call to action from young people, not step in and take over. Make sure you hear the concerns, hopes and beliefs of young people around you. Take them seriously. Be their ally in conversations you have with other adults: be explicit about your support, help bring the message of the striking students into spaces where they can't be present
Gudrun Campbell, a Buford Middle School seventh grade student, is our Charlottesville organizer. If you remember, she also led the first youth climate strike in Charlottesville on March 15. There were 1,664 marches in 125 countries on the same day, in cities ranging from Bengaluru to Vienna to Kampala to Granada.
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Kira Gould
Principal
Kira Gould CONNECT
Oakland CA
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