(1888PressRelease)
February 16, 2008 - (San Francisco, CA) – Urban Re:Vision (www.urbanrevision.com), San Francisco Magazine’s 2007 pick for “Most Forward-Thinking Company,” along with other leading, environmentally-focused organizations has announced a national eco-literacy program intended to both inspire and engage middle and high school students throughout the nation. Envision 2050 will ask students grades 6 through 12 to imagine their world in the year 2050 and present their thoughts, dreams and ideas in the form of a poster which will be judged by some of the leading innovators in the eco-conscious movement.
The Envision 2050 program gets underway on January 31, 2008 with deadlines for submissions on May 15, 2008. Students are asked to submit their 24" x 36” poster by mail or via email in the form of a high-resolution photo. If submitted by mail, Urban Re:Vision will purchase “carbon credits” through Native Energy to offset the carbon output. There are no restrictions on content or theme however recycled or recyclable materials are strongly encouraged and a written description of the vision is required. The posters should convey how students feel their city or neighborhood can and will look like in the year 2050 with a focus on sustainability, reduced carbon emissions and the balance between environment and nature.
An expert jury will choose 20 finalists who will be highlighted in a gallery exhibition and The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) will be awarding four scholarships, valued at $4,250 each, to high school students for the summer of 2008 with three additional top prizes for middle school students. Teachers are encouraged to incorporate the competition into their curriculum and will also receive rewards and recognition should their participating student win. Complete rules, judging criterion and teachers resources are available at www.urbanrevision.com/envision2050.
Urban Re:Vision founder Stacey Frost launched the wide-scale program to provide students with a tangible method of expressing their concerns and visions for the future. “American youths are being raised in a rapidly changing global environment that will affect their future on every level: social, economic, and ecological” she says. “By providing a creative forum that encourages their ideas and visions for the future, we hope to not only inspire the younger generation to join in the national dialogue but to also encourage teachers to engage their students in thought-provoking discussions on issues that affect us all.”
Partners of the innovative program include such leading eco-conscious and educational organizations as Focus the Nation, The Natural World Museum, The Earth Day Network, Conservation International and National Environmental Education Week. Amongst those serving as Envision 2050 judges are experts such as Mia Hanak, Founding Executive Director of the Natural World Museum, Producer Midori Willoughby of kontentreal films and Bill Cahan, Founder of Cahan & Associates. Envision 2050 Board Members including Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, Eco-Activist Van Jones of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Eban Goodstein, Director of Focus the Nation and leading environmental attorney and advocate Kathleen Rogers among others.
In addition to teacher’s resources and poster ideas, the Envision 2050 website will include a special “Ask the Expert” forum which will allow students to pose their questions and opinions to some of the leading minds addressing the global energy and climate crisis.
Re:Vision founder Stacey Frost is currently available to speak about Envision 2050 and the Re:Vision competition. Media inquiries may be directed to Todd Fraser of agitprop media group at 310.278.2630 or via email at todd ( @ ) agitpropmedia dot com dot
About Urban Re:Vision
As led by fonder Stacey Frost, Urban Re:Vision is committed to creating the national prototype for sustainable urban living via a six-part, international competition to solicit innovative, actionable plans from industry professionals and concerned citizens that address the environmental, transportation, energy, economic and design needs of our urban areas. At the completion of the competition an entire major-market city block will be renovated into a wholly sustainable urban community thereby creating a template that can be incorporated into additional cities throughout the United States. Additional information can be found at www.urbanrevision.com
About Focus the Nation
Focus the Nation successfully coordinates teams of faculty and students at over a thousand colleges, universities and K-12 schools in the United States, to collaboratively engage in a nationwide, interdisciplinary discussion about “Global Warming Solutions for America.” With the support of leading politicians, celebrities and eco-activists, Focus the Nation is the nation’s leading educational initiative while also promoting civic engagement. Additional information can be found at www.focusthenation.org.
About Earth Day Network
Earth Day Network is a driving force steering environmental awareness around the world. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and have an impact on their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies. EDN's international network reaches over 17,000 organizations in 174 countries, while the domestic program engages 5,000 groups and over 25,000 educators coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities throughout the year. Additional information can be found at www.earthday.net.
About the Natural World Museum
The Natural World Museum (NWM) is a mobile and global cultural institution – a “museum without walls” – that operates as the premier international art organization partnering with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through the Art for the Environment initiative. Additional information can be found at http://www.artintoaction.org.
About Conservation International
For more than 20 years, Conservation International has combined rigorous science and innovative and far-reaching partnerships with a belief in the power of individuals, communities, and governments to act as stewards of the environment that sustains. Conservation International, through a host of innovative programs, continues to work towards making conservation an inherent part of the way people live, the way corporations work, and the way governments legislate. Additional information can be found at www.conservation.org.
About National Environmental Education Week
As the nation's largest environmental education event National EE Week promotes understanding and protection of the natural world by actively engaging K-12th grade students and educators in an inspired week of environmental learning before Earth Day. Additional information can be found at www.eeweek.org.
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