Where does your inspiration come from? Does it come from your family? What about a friend or a co-worker? Are you inspired by what you see in the media? Where does your inspiration come from? I ask this question because it is important, but also because for our team in Chicago, there is only one source that inspires us like no other, young people! From our own children to youth leaders who are taking on climate change and global warming in their communities, inspiration is contagious. And Saturday, September 25th, Chicago had inspiration fever!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFIzdQV3YbI

Usually the weekend is reserved for relaxation, family, and friends, but at Chicago’s Student Training, located at Inspiration Café (4554 N. Broadway St. #207), young people where up bright and early to discuss the science behind climate change and the local solutions they want to bring back to their schools. Students from Fenwick, North Grand, Stagg, and Dundee-Crown attended this year’s first, four-hour orientation training. They learned about regional climate science that impacts the Midwest, participated in an activity that taught them how to share resources and information linked to environmental justice and the larger environmental movement, learned about ACE’s resources and how to communicate those resources to their peers, learned how to network and identify assets within their school and community, and even spent time building their public speaking skills. And if that wasn’t enough, they worked with each other to create projects that they could take back to their schools that would help students generate awareness and involvement around the green movement!

It was truly inspiring to watch students of all backgrounds share and learn from each other for one common cause. They understand the need, and they understand the importance of a diversity of thought and perspective. All of us in Chicago were truly inspired by each and every one of them. We were so moved by one of them that they will be our new Chicago Youth Representative for the region! We don’t want to spoil the surprise, but look out for their blog post soon.

So what inspires you? What makes you stop and recognize the potential that could be? For us, it is young people in Chicago and all over the world working to better themselves and their communities. What legacy will they leave? Who will they inspire next?