On and around April 18, 2009, a groundbreaking conversation on America s energy future began. In congressional districts around the country, student organizers, business leaders, community members, local activists, and elected officials convened for town hall meetings. In auditoriums, churches and city halls nationwide, citizens spoke with their representatives about solutions for creating a clean economy with justice for all. The Town halls have been organized by the new generation of energy leaders. These young people were joined by their communities in an effort to transform our nation s greatest challenge into its most promising opportunity. Together, we began forging a multi-generational, multi-sector movement to usher in the transition to a sustainable and equitable future. On Jan. 31, 2008, Focus the Nation's inaugural Civic Engagment campaign organized the largest teach-in in US history educating nearly 1 million people on climate change at 1900 institutions landing significant press in all major outlets including TIME, New York Times, Newsweek, MSNBC, CNN.com, NPR and major dailies in each state. Youth organizers were rock stars. They created partnerships with academic and business leaders who helped them grab the reins of their future and connect their campus with more than 64 members of Congress and hundreds of state and city officials. In addition to forging thousands of intergenerational partnerships in congressional districts across the country on the issue of climate change, we heard loud and clear from our key organizers in every state that they were ready to build the clean energy future. The clean energy economy is here. And Focus the Nation can help you join it. This year's Civic Engagement campaign is the
Nationwide Town Hall on America's Clean Energy Future, occurring in Congressional Districts across the country on April 18th, 2009. The photos below document the Focus the Nation Town Hall Forum at the University of Southern California, organized by the USC Institute for Genetic Medicine Art Gallery and hosted by the USC Levan Institute for Humanities and Ethics. Michelle and Qian Cai at reception table Lillian Laskin of Westside Progressives and Leauge of Women Voters Fran Lapides Moderator of the Town Hall Forum registering The event tool kit for all participants Audience member and Garfield H.S. Assistant Principal, Judith Day Alexey Steele, lead artist in The Public Statement: Environment, Society, Institutions at the USC Institute for Genetic Medicine Art Gallery, with Judith Day. An audience member looks on. USC Cultural Anthropology Professor Walter Williams, Mr. Asai and Tsz Chan of Shook Kelley Reverend Bryan Jones with youth from the Hoop Program Keynote Speaker, Dr. Minqi Li from the University of Utah Abbie McConnell from Ironweed Films Titus Levi, USC Annenberg School for Communication Economic Issues Panel: Mike Woo, Samuel Fassbinder, Titus Levi, Jonathan Parfrey
Alexey Steele: Classical Underground & Lead Artist in IGM Art Gallery exhibit framing this forum Youth leaders from H.O.O.P. with USC students and senior community audience members Laurie Walters & Abbie McConnell of IronweedFilms.com (a documentary film club) distribute free political and environmental DVDs to a Forum attendee. UCLA Urban Planning PhD candidate, Ava Bromberg Robert L. Smith of Experimental Cities and Dr. Victor Asai of SEAMASS Robert L. Smith of Experimental Cities and Dr. Victor Asai of SEAMASS
Evaggelos Vallianatos, University of Maryland Rick Hazlett, Dept. of Geology, Pomona College Oscar Ortiz USC s Dr. Walter Williams, Cultural Anthropology Professor, Notes from the Front Line Panel Tony Pereira Lunchtime in the courtyard Conner Everts & Rev, Bryan Jones with Hoop Youth Leaders
Youth leader, Michelle Chang with Conner Everts Trade Tech students enjoying lunch Town Hall Forum Panelists Nancy Pearlman, Town Hall Forum organized by League of Women Voters, L.A. Trade Tech s Dr. Marcela Oliva
Trade Tech s Dr. Marcela Oliva Marcela Oliva and her students demonstrating mind mapping Conner Everts Executive Director of the Southern California Watershed Alliance and Co-Chair of the Desal Response Group Architect, Terry Shook & USC Professor Thomas Spiegelhalter UCLA s Stephanie Pincetl moderating Urban Planning Panel Urban Planning Panel Dr. Williams documenting Permaculture Panel Ray Cirino, Permaculture Shaun Jennings, Permaculture
Panel Panel Joan Stevens, Permaculture Panel Bill Roley, Permaculture Panel Jack Lindblad, Architect California Green Party Dr. Sam Fassbinder, Phd, Program Director of the Focus the Nation Los Angeles Organizing Committee Water Woman permaculture garden Water Woman composting & solar cooking innovations Water Woman Contact Green Ambassadors < Green Ambassadors Green Ambassadors I. Planning and Partnership Building for Art Framed Forum on Environment: http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=364232 Planning committee tours Davidson Center - Volunteer community activists and Levan Institute's Lyn Boyd-Judson http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=352248 USC IGM Art Gallery Director plans exhibit with artist, learns about - Gayle Roski, Irvine Land Preserve etc. links http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=352554 Planning committee attends Artist's studio events http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=347051 USC IGM Art Gallery Director
Works with faith-based youth artist leaders http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=334236 http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=609700 USC IGM Art Gallery Director works with InterFaith Power and Light and Reverend Bryan Jones http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=613401 Water Woman K-12 curriculum development pilot project http://caltek.net/igm/files/view/focus-the-nation-next-step-plan/donate_fruit.pdf Holy Nativity Article in the Santa Monica Daily Breeze 2. USC Institute for Genetic Medicine web site joins 3 congressional districts' pages on the Focus the Nation web site: http://focusthenation.org/nation/california/california-district-30 Focus the Nation web page for District 30 - Henry Waxman http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=587945 Opening reception at USC Institute for Genetic Medicine Art Gallery 3. Implementation of Art-Framed Focus the Nation Town Hall Forum on April 18 http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=655656 Reception for panelists and organizers on night prior to Forum http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=657345 The 10 hour Forum Implementation 4. Outcomes http://caltek.net/igm/pa/album?album_id=662035 This is a series of meetings and documentation of community activism that resulted from the forum. As the relationships built through our planning and implementation of the April 18th event, supported by the Focus the Nation and Americans for Informed Democracy organizing tools develop, there is an increasing effect felt by all of us in the grassroots. We are working together collaboratively and we are learning which of our elected officials and other nonprofit organizations are truly committed to ensuring the American democratic process of transparent and accountable due process that is inclusive, noncompetitive and ensures economic self-sufficiency and social justice. We all can see that this is the only way to ensure a bright future for the next generation. We
are grateful to all the panelists and moderators, to the Levan Institute for Humanities and Ethics for securing the Taper Hall and the lunches for this project, to the League of Women Voters for organizing the Town Hall Forum with Titus Levi and the Annenberg School for Communication. Please note this newsclip from the League of Women Voters, U.S. newsletter NEWS: Fighting Global Climate Change The League is a leader in the fight against global warming one of the most serious threats to the environment, health, and economy of our nation. This month we pressed Congress to include strong financial support for international adaptation and the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions in climate legislation. The League has also produced many essential documents on this issue and has just released a new resource examining the potentially catastrophic impact of global warming. Visit the League's action center for opportunities to contact your representatives to fight global warming. We request that the Los Angeles Organizing Committee of this Focus the Nation Town Hall Forum be invited to participate in the city wide discussions on environmental strategies you, Mr. Woo, are helping to organize with City Hall. Respectfully, submitted, Lynn Crandall, Chair Los Angeles Organizing Committee Focus the Nation Town Hall Forum.