WHAT: Portland youth are hosting a mass climate activism training for students and movement allies across the city. Participants will rotate through a series of workshops on various topics, including spotlights on Sunrise PDX’s Youth Vs ODOT and Forest Defense campaigns, Visionary Politics & a Just Transition, Street Theater & Direct Action, People Power 101, and Defending Land Defenders: From PDX to the Philippines. The workshops are led both by student organizers and adults from 350 PDX and Breach Collective, as there is an emphasis on multigenerational learning and collaboration.

Participants can register here, and more information is available here.

WHEN: 10am-2:30pm, Friday, September 23. The training is in solidarity with the global youth climate strike happening across the world on the same day, and an opportunity for PPS students to spend their day off school (teacher planning day) learning about climate activism.

WHERE: Lincoln High School, 1750 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR 97205

WHO: Portland Youth Climate Strike (PYCS) organizers, in collaboration with Sunrise PDX, 350 PDX, and Extinction Rebellion PDX. The training is open to anyone, though PPS students are especially encouraged to attend. 

BACKGROUND: Last Spring and Fall, Portland Youth Climate Strike and other local organizations mobilized thousands of Portland students and adults to strike for climate action. This was a continuation of years of youth climate strikes across the country that have built political and public support  to address the threat of climate change. Fridays for Future has announced the next global climate strike for Friday, September 23, 2022. However, Portland Public Schools does not have school on this day, and youth organizers believe the climate training will be more impactful than  another mobilization at this time. 

More background on the Climate Villains from the May 20 youth strike, and past mobilizations is available here. 

QUOTES FROM YOUTH ORGANIZERS:  

Liam Castles (they/them):

“The goal of this training is to push people who go to strikes to get involved with organizing happening across the city. Portlanders have seen the effects of climate change firsthand and this is their opportunity to join the movement and create a just transition in our own backyard.” Liam is a recent Cleveland High School graduate, currently on a gap year. 

Adah Crandall (she/her):

“Thousands of students striking for climate action is threatening to the status quo, but not as threatening as thousands of students actively engaging their communities to fight for change. Replacing a strike with a mass training is a powerful way both to build capacity within our organizations, and to show climate villains, elected officials, and the public that our movement is getting stronger and smarter. With many of the students currently leading Portland’s youth climate movement graduating in the next two years, it is crucial that we are training new leaders to step up and maintain the momentum. To me, organizing this training is a way of paying forward the opportunities past generations of organizers have given me to step into my power in the climate movement.” Adah is a senior at Grant High School.

Jacob Glass (he/him):

“I am excited for the mass training because it is an opportunity to make our local climate movement stronger and more lasting. And of course it's going to be a fun time with other people who care about our planet and want to make a difference.” Jacob is a senior at Ida B. Wells High School. 

Keira Hoy (they/them):

“Advocating for climate justice is such an important thing for the future of our planet. This training will be a great opportunity for me to learn advocacy skills and how to better fight for our cause.” Keira is a senior at Grant High School.