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EmpowerGen Column: Gen Z’s Voice in Climate Action
Hey Dream Tank community! We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new EmpowerGen column, where we shine a spotlight on the incredible ideas and initiatives of Gen Z. Each week, we’ll explore the innovative ways young people are taking action to combat climate change and create a sustainable future.
In this week’s EmpowerGen column, our amazing contributor Summer Cuppari Gould shares her insights on the critical role that Gen Z plays in climate action.
She dives into the passion, determination, and emotional burden that Gen Zers carry as they fight for a better world.
Summer highlights the fact that Gen Z and millennials are more concerned about climate action than any previous generation. Their engagement with the issue goes beyond mere conversations; they’re taking real action. According to Pew Research Center, a significant percentage of Gen Zers have donated money, contacted elected officials, volunteered, or attended rallies to address climate change in the last year. Their passion and drive to make a difference are truly inspiring.
The article also delves into the impact of social media, particularly TikTok, in raising awareness about climate change. Summer discusses how countless young people are using this platform to advocate for change and spark meaningful discussions. It’s incredible to witness the power of a 60-second video in inspiring a movement.
Summer shares her personal experiences, discussing the mixed responses she receives when talking to adults about climate change. While some adults are actively engaged and supportive, others dismiss the issue or change the subject. This highlights the importance of collective action and the need for everyone, regardless of age, to come together and address this global challenge.
We’re excited to invite other teens and young adults to join our EmpowerGen column and have their voices heard. If you’re passionate about climate action and want to share your ideas, initiatives, or experiences, we encourage you to apply and become part of our community. Together, we can make a real difference and create a brighter future for all.
Don’t forget to read Summer’s insightful article and share it with a young person in your life. Let’s amplify the voices of Gen Z and inspire others to take action!
To read the full article, click here
#EmpowerGen #ClimateAction #GenZ #YouthLeadership #Sustainability #DreamTank #YouthEmpowerment #ClimateChange #ApplyNow #tiktok
Unleashing the Voices of the Future: Dream Tank’s New ‘EmpowerGen’ Column and Partnerships
Co-authored by Dream Tank founder Heidi Cuppari and contributed by insightful teens and young adults, this column aims to revolutionize the dialogue surrounding the state of today’s youth. Joining this transformative initiative as a contributing editor and production assistant, we’re proud to welcome Summer Cuppari Gould. A recent graduate of Fairview High School in Boulder and a soon-to-be freshman at the University of Colorado Leeds Business School, Summer has been a changemaker since the tender age of 7, helping her mom Heidi to create and launch Dream Tank, and serving as a youth climate delegate at the United Nations.
“EmpowerGen” is more than a column. It’s a dynamic platform where youth can confidently express their thoughts, ideas, and hopes for the future. Our goal is to underscore the message: “You Have A Voice.” We want to show the world the power of youth, the hope they embody, and the creativity they wield.
But we’re not just launching a new column, we’re also proud to announce our collaboration with PeaceJam and their Billion Acts of Peace initiative. PeaceJam is an international education program that connects youth with Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, inspiring them to create positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world. The Billion Acts of Peace initiative is a global citizen’s movement intended to tackle the most critical problems facing our planet.
We believe that by teaming up with PeaceJam and their Billion Acts of Peace initiative, we can strengthen our mission and extend our reach, inspiring and supporting more young people to become the changemakers of tomorrow. With these partnerships, we are poised to further Dream Tank’s mission: to ignite the next generation through entrepreneurship and design thinking.
We’re delighted to share the first issue of “EmpowerGen: Amplifying the Voice of the Future” and invite you to join us, along with Heidi and Summer, on this exciting journey of mentoring, empowering, and shaping tomorrow’s leaders. Because at Dream Tank, we’re not just dreaming, we’re doing. And with your support, there’s no limit to what we can achieve together.
Visionary Networking: Collective Impact for a Sustainable Colorado
“Visionary Networking: Unleashing Collective Impact for a Sustainable Colorado with Dream Tank, Good Business Colorado, and PeaceJam”
June 1, 2023
Boulder, CO – Yellow Barn Farm
Join Dream Tank, Good Business Colorado, and PeaceJam for an inspiring and interactive networking event on June 1, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado, designed to unite leaders, entrepreneurial parents, and visionaries dedicated to creating a more sustainable and socially impactful future for the front range of Colorado and beyond.
At this unique gathering co-hosted by three powerful organizations, we invite you to engage in meaningful conversations and expand your network while exploring the question: “What’s possible when a group of playful, powerful, and ‘mountain-moving’ leaders come together to dream a collective vision, inspiring extraordinary collaborations?”
The evening will kick off with free time networking, accompanied by a guiding question to encourage thoughtful connections among guests. Following this, Dream Tank will lead a dynamic 20-minute facilitated session on “Future Forward Visioning for a Sustainable Colorado,” tapping into the innovative and limitless potential of a “dream big” and “think like a kid” mindset.
Through this collaboration, Dream Tank brings its expertise in empowering the next generation of changemakers, Good Business Colorado contributes its commitment to promoting sustainable and responsible business practices, and PeaceJam adds its experience in fostering youth leadership for peace and social justice.
By attending this event, you will:
- Connect with like-minded individuals from the networks of Dream Tank, Good Business Colorado, and PeaceJam
- Participate in a thought-provoking and collaborative discussion on the future of sustainability in Colorado
- Spark ideas and forge partnerships to advance shared missions across sectors
Together, let’s harness the power of our collective intelligence and creativity to envision and build a brighter, more sustainable future for Colorado. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an extraordinary movement – reserve your spot today!
Second Annual Brown University Student Winternship
Recently, our team had the opportunity to work with a group of talented Brown University students on a two-week ‘winternship’ sprint to explore gamification in education. Our goal for the sprint was to develop a prototype for a gamified metaverse that could help to engage, motivate students to learn and help solve world problems using the framework of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We knew that we had a talented team of students to work with, and we were excited to see what they could come up with.
The Winternship is sponsored by Brown’s Career Center in the Careers for the Common Good (Careers in the Common Good | CareerLAB (brown.edu) department and is the second annual program where Brown funded internship spots for students to be able to come work with us during their winter break.
The sprint began with a “Dreamstorming”session where we discussed different ideas for the metaverse and how we can tokenize the game. We encouraged the students to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions that would engage players and make learning more fun. Over the next few days, the students worked tirelessly to develop their ideas and create a prototype.
One group developed a prototype of the metaverse that allowed students to explore the various aspects they could include in the metaverse such as avatar / costume design and other elements that translate to learning about and accessing survival tools to prepare for climate and other disasters. Another group worked on tokenization of the metaverse to help fund the best ideas to accept into our 3 month Dream Tank accelerator in Baja, Mexico.
The energy in the room was contagious as the students worked on their projects. They were constantly bouncing ideas off of each other, refining their designs, and testing out new features. We were amazed by their enthusiasm and their ability to work together as a team.
At the end of the two-week sprint, the students presented their prototypes to the team. The audience was impressed by the quality of their work and the creativity that they brought to the table.
Overall, our experience working with the Brown University students was rewarding and enjoyed helping unleash their energy, creativity, and passion for a new form of education in action. It was a great reminder that the next generation of innovators is full of brilliant minds and that there are many exciting developments on the horizon for gamification. We are excited to see where these students’ careers will take them, and we feel lucky to have been a part of their journey.
CALL TO ACTION:
- 🆒 Join our DAO – use this form for the following three interests. Upon receiving the form, we will send you an invite to our Discord, onboarding info and set up a call to connect 1:1 and explore what exponential opportunities we have together!
- Indicate your interest in investing / DREAMS / EXOS tokens
- Indicate your interest in helping with the Buy 1 Give 1 Survival Kit Business Model & Partnerships
- Offer additional feedback, resources, ideas and more to the student
2. 🎤 Subscribe to our new podcast – The first episode is published; the first five will highlight the youth from this program.
- Podcast website with Youtube, Spotify, and other podcast platforms
- Direct link to Episode 1, featuring Yabeke Zike, Team lead: 📸Video 🎤 Audio on Spotify
3. 🐬 Land cooperative development & ownership opportunity on the Sea of Cortez in Baja
- Follow & Join our journey to build a land-based Dream Tank / Island17 “Mission Control” school & eco village resort on Patreon.
Watch the DEMO DAY Replay here: Island17 Winternship 2023 Full Edit
Review the DEMO DAY presentation deck here: DECK