Environmental activists are gathering at Florida A&M University to kick off the Southeast Student Renewable Energy Conference today.
FAMU will become a playground for climate justice with over 500 students coming from all over the southeast to create change in their communities.
Anthony Ward, president of the FAMU Green Coalition, was looking forward to seeing all of the ideas culminate in one spot.
“It’s going to be very interesting to see what great ideas come out of this weekend,” Ward said. “I feel the student body will have their eyes opened to all of the different problems and issues ailing their environment right now.”
Students will rally to the capitol to encourage elected officials to take a stance on climate change and promote a clean energy function Sunday.
The action will begin with a campus demonstration in the quadrangle by the eternal flame and continued to the capitol to show the power that the youth holds in this upcoming election.
“The mission of the rally is to send a message to politicians,” said Jacqueline Ayala, Florida organizer for the Southern Energy Network and SSREC planning committee chair. “If you want the youth vote, you have to break the silence on climate change.”
With FAMU being listed on the Princeton Review 311 Green College List for two consecutive years, students feel that hosting the conference at FAMU was a good fit.
“I believe this has great potential to be a great conference,” said Christopher Rich, 33, a senior environmental science student from Tallahassee. “I think the speakers that we have coming can offer insights to the students and community.”
On-site conference registration begins at 2 p.m. Friday in Tucker Hall. The opening session is at 7 p.m., Friday, in Lee Hall. Saturday’s sessions begin at 9 a.m. with a plenary session in Lee Hall, followed by concurrent workshops throughout the day in Tucker Hall and a final plenary in Lee Hall at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday’s activities start with the plenary session at 9 a.m. in Lee Hall, followed by more workshops in Tucker Hall.