It’s critical that young people feel like they’re part of the solution when it comes to climate change. “They have tremendous energy, tremendous passion, tremendous curiosity, and they’re hopeful,” shares Joan Leavens, previous coordinator of sustainability and community at Shawnee Mission School District. 

In her story for Living Standard, Joan shares how a group of sixth graders worked with the city to increase curbside recycling compliance:

To create a better world than the one we inherited, we have to dig deeper, and ask questions of people who don’t look like us, don’t live where we live, don’t have the same living standards we are accustomed to. How are you considering the experiences of others? What are you learning by looking at life through someone else’s lens? Share your journey with us.