AYEA: Giving Alaskan Youth the Tools for Social Change for Over 25 Years
by the alaska center
Did you know that for the last 26 years, teenagers have been at the leading edge of Alaska’s environmental justice movement? It’s true! Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA), a program of The Alaska Center Education Fund, inspires and trains youth from across Alaska to impact environmental issues in their communities.
AYEA was founded in 1998 by 3 youth from Anchorage and 3 youth from Kodiak who believed that youth in Alaska needed to have their voices heard when it came to protecting the future of our lands and waters and that there needed to be an organization to support these young leaders. 26 years later, AYEA is still going strong! Here in Anchorage, you have AYEA teens to thank for local environmental policies that continue to protect the health of our community and environment, such as preventing the use of harmful pesticides around schools, and the plastic bag ban that helps cut down on local plastic waste.
Over the years, AYEA teens have also worked on statewide issues like advocating for climate action and protecting Bristol Bay salmon from the proposed Pebble Mine. AYEA now serves the next generation of Alaskan teens and is currently getting ready for an annual statewide gathering where teens from across Alaska will choose the next issue that AYEA focuses on. This also means that it’s time for local teens to get ready with some new skills!
To build excitement and skills in preparation for AYEA’s summit, AYEA is hosting an Arts-in-Action workshop for Anchorage teens at the end of July. Community organizers have long used art to tell stories and make bold statements that inspire community action - and AYEA is no exception! From raising awareness about plastic bag bans and statewide youth climate strikes to direct action with art at the state capitol building in Juneau to demand education funding (not once, but twice!), AYEA teens know the power of a bold statement or eye-catching art pieces to share their message.
At AYEA’s upcoming workshop, teens will learn arts-in-action techniques like screen printing, block printing, and banner painting that they can use in their communities. They’ll also get to create and share their own messages about whatever issues are important to them!
Do you know a teen who is interested in art or social change? Encourage them to sign up! Visitayea.org for more information.
