About Education and outreach are essential in building understanding and support for the actions identified in this plan. To create understanding and generate communitywide action, we must engage all Pierce County residents and work together with employers, businesses, and industry. We must center frontline
About
TABLE LEGEND Co-benefits Enhance Public Health Improve Water Quality Improve Air Quality Promote Equity Provide Jobs Community Priority
community members in education and outreach efforts. This means acknowledging marginalization as the status quo practice of current systems historically designed to exclude frontline community members from County planning processes. If we do not make intentional efforts to address marginalization, then by default, marginalization continues. These concerted efforts include partnering with and valuing organizations who serve frontline community members. The result is greater collective participation to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and building a culture of collaboration.
Action Identifier EO-1 Sustainability Collaborative EO-2 Climate Education EO-3 Community Engagement EO-4 Newsletter EO-5 Youth in Climate Action EO-6 Teacher Support EO-7 Green Workforce Development
Community Voice:
What are we hearing from the community? Broadly, Pierce County community members want more opportunities to make social connections and to learn about gardening, waste reduction and reuse. Youth across Pierce County have expressed their desire to talk to their friends and family about climate change as well as raise awareness to their local elected officials. See actions EO-2 and EO-5.
In 2030, our sustainable community… [“Will have] classes teaching how to garden and more sustainable ways to live.” -South Hill Library Climate Change in Pierce County display participant [“Will have] more environmental education for students and better sharing of opportunities for youth to get involved with the 2030 plan.” -Lakewood Farmers Market attendee
Actions Expand and administer the Pierce County Sustainability Collaborative to share best practices with cities, tribes, and major employers.
Lead Department Planning & Public Works - Sustainable Resources
Provide local climate change educational workshops, activities and engagement opportunities that are meaningful and culturally relevant. Implement a community engagement strategy moving towards community-led strategies that center frontline community members.
Planning & Public Works - Sustainable Resources, Parks Planning & Public Works - Sustainable Resources, Communications
Create a sustainability-focused newsletter and distribute to Pierce County residents as a virtual Earth Matters. Support and amplify youth voices in sustainability planning and decision-making processes.
Human Resources, Planning & Public Works Sustainable Resources, Communications Planning & Public Works - Sustainable Resources
Support k-12 teachers in implementing appropriate climate and sustainability curriculum to improve climate science literacy that is meaningful and culturally relevant. Partner with local education providers to support equitable workforce training programs to prepare for a low-carbon, renewable-energy economy.
Planning & Public Works - Sustainable Resources
“My design is a flower that I used a stencil to draw. The flower is presenting the idea of keeping balance. Nature is important. The dark colors represent problems that are being pushed away.”- Kiara Kiara- YESS poster contest submission
Co-Benefits
“It is about limited time. What we do now affects the future.”- James
James- YESS poster contest submission
Planning & Public Works
WINNING ENTRY
Education & Outreach
Makenna- YESS poster contest submission
“It’s 3 different trees [birch, oak, and sequoia] resembling a recycling symbol” – Makenna
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