10th Annual Massachusetts Water Youth Summit

The 2022 UN World Water Day theme is about the importance of groundwater, although "invisible..its impact is visible everywhere." To honor this special day, Foundation for a Green Future will host its 10th Annual Massachusetts Water Youth Summit under the sponsorship of Project Green Schools, Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA), Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC), Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA), YoDo Cameroon and Conscious Coalition.

This year, the Massachusetts Water Youth Summit will unite students from the USA with students across the country and the globe to actively discuss issues pertaining to our water resources under the UN's theme of Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible.

We will look at how we are dealing with groundwater issues in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and how we can work together to confront these issues worldwide. Within this space, the UN is inviting us all to look at bringing to the surface an issue that is vital to our wellbeing but is hidden from view. Along with our technical and environmental conversation, we also plan to add people to our discussion - how do we treat each other when it comes to our groundwater resources?

Finally, we will divide into breakout groups to write a song/poetry about water, peace, leadership and change with the help of artists from three continents.

Earn extra credit or a special grade when you attend this program. All you will need to do is fill out a quick 3 minute survey and we will submit your responses to your teacher.

The issues of groundwater vary across the Commonwealth’s communities and the challenges differ in various parts of the state. It is important for elected officials along with water experts and constituents to be aware of these issues and work together to sustain this valuable resource, so vital for our future.

10th Annual Massachusetts Water Youth Summit Program:

10:00 am Welcome

Dr. Karen Weber-Salamanca, Executive Director, Foundation for a Green Future

Senator Becca Rausch, Chairperson, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA)

Representative Mindy Domb, Vice Chair, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture

Representative Nika Elugardo, 15th Suffolk, Mass. Legislature

Fai Cassian Ndi, Executive Director, YoDo Cameroon

Adriana Cillo, Educator, Boston Water and Sewer Commission

Ed Koban, Mohawk Educator

10:15 am Short film about Groundwater

10:20 am International student panel discussion: Why does Groundwater matter?

Moderator:

Gretchen Rabinkin, Executive Director, Boston Society of Landscape Architects

Panelists:

Andrea Tutuny, Recent Grad, Sustainability & Poli Sci, University of New Hampshire

Angela Zhong, Environmental Studies, Harvard University and Rotary International District 5890 Interact (Governor)

Michelle Muchilwa, White Oaks High School, Kenya

Aubrey Organ, Senior, Plymouth North/South High School

Maryam Abdulkadir, Graduate Student, University of London

10:50 am Leadership and Action

Michael Bezdek, Executive Director, Conscious Coalition

Where Hope Lives - short film about youth in several communities in the USA and Africa who are "Water Solutionaries" by Benjamin Keller of Maine, USA, Filmmaker and Director of Photography

11:00 am Breakout Sessions

11:40 am Wrap-up led by:

Isaias Medina III, Environmental and Humanitarian Advocate, UN Ambassador-at-Large, Kingdom of the Hawai'ian Islands

Anselmo Cassiano Alves, Board Member, MIT Water Club

Dr. Karen Weber-Salamanca

Senator Becca Rausch

Representative Mindy Domb

Adriana Cillo

Fai Cassian Ndi

Robin Buchanan

Ed Koban

Gretchen Rabinkin

Andrea Tutuny

Angela Zhong

Michelle Muchilwa

Aubrey Organ

Maryam Abdulkadir