PGC 2024 Day 17: Community – Project Green Challenge

Day 17

Community

How do the communities you are part of shape you?

Introduction

Community is where anything becomes possible. Though we may live in different parts of the world, coming together is vital for building resilience against social and environmental challenges. Today, we focus on the power of community because facing life’s challenges is easier with a strong support network. Research shows that when we share our work, emotions, struggles, and triumphs, we not only cope more effectively but also create change and growth in our lives and in the world around us.

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If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
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African Proverb

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Facing Challenges and Building Movements

Activism can be exhausting as we pour our hearts into imagining a better world. Environmental issues often feel overwhelming, but when we face them together and support one another, we can make real progress. Building community not only benefits us personally but also strengthens our movements. Our diverse perspectives and experiences drive innovation and inspire new ways of thinking. History shows us that when people unite—whether during the Civil Rights Movement, Earth Day, Environmental Justice, Black Lives Matter, March for Our Lives, or School Strikes for Climate—they can demand and achieve lasting change.

Empowering Youth and Global Action

Leaders worldwide recognize the power of youth in driving change. Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund empowers young people by funding 100 mayors across the globe to collaborate with local youth on climate projects. These initiatives tackle diverse challenges, from expanding tree canopies to enhancing environmental education and developing recycling centers. Global coalitions like Climate Mayors and C40 Cities also support youth activism, offering platforms for young people to influence policy and drive meaningful action.

Real-World Impact and Moving Forward Together

This summer in Bangladesh, devastating floods threatened the health and food security of many communities. In response, youth took the lead, raising funds and providing essential supplies. Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi economist, entrepreneur, politician, Nobel Laureate, and civil society leader, has been serving as the 5th Chief Advisor or the interim government of Bangladesh since August 8, 2024. The 84 year old leader is urging national unity as he brings his country together again. As we continue our PGC journey, we look forward to learning and growing alongside community members, activists, leaders, and each other. Together, we can drive positive change both locally and globally!

At the end of Project Green Challenge, we will help you launch a climate action project fueled by your passion and informed by your learning. Explore past finalists’ projects for inspiration and discover how they transformed their ideas into meaningful change.

We are proud to collaborate with our partners who empower the next generation of leaders. The prestigious $5,000 Acure Green Award is presented to the Project Green Challenge (PGC) Champion, supporting their continued work through their Climate Action Project. Friends of the Earth provides valuable training and coaching to young people, equipping them with community campaigning skills through various programs and initiatives that foster environmental leadership worldwide. Climate Stories Project amplifies the voices of young people by facilitating storytelling workshops for organizations, schools, and communities, highlighting their impactful efforts around the globe.

PARTNERS

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Resources for Community Action

To build a resilient and supportive community, it’s essential to have the right tools and knowledge. The following resources offer guidance, inspiration, and practical steps to help you engage with your community, support youth-led initiatives, and drive meaningful change. Whether you’re looking to join global movements, start local projects, or connect with like-minded individuals, these resources will help you amplify your impact.

CHALLENGES

Green

20 POINTS

THINK

Wisdom and inspiration can come from anywhere. Like-minded people, digital networks, clubs, and organizations are likely present on your campus, in your neighborhood, and within your circles. Engaging with groups that share your interests is a powerful way to build a natural community. It offers inspiration, support, opportunities for learning, and a path to progress toward shared goals.

CHALLENGE

Begin to find and foster connections at your school or within your town. Identify sustainability, environmental, conservation, and/or justice-themed groups—whether formal organizations, clubs, or informal gatherings.

Write a short response to the following:
- What are 3 existing entities that share or pique your interests?
- Are you involved with any? Why or why not?
- Would you consider joining one?
Identify other ways to participate:
- List 3 additional ways you could engage with your local environmental community.
Commit to one action:
- Choose at least one action to connect with local like-minded work. This could be attending a meeting or info session, signing up as a volunteer, or going to a training. Write it down.
Share your action:
- Post about the action you’re taking on social media, tagging @TurningGreenOrg, #PGC2024, and the organization/group. This helps spread the word, inspire others, and hold yourself accountable!

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

Create a PDF: Combine your deliverables and a screenshot of your social media post into a single PDF. Ensure your name (or team name), username, and school are included.
File Naming: Save your PDF as firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel_year.pdf
e.g.: kasie_jones_day17_green_2024.pdf
Avoid using symbols (including #) or spaces in the file name.
File Size: Ensure the file size does not exceed 5 MB.
Submit: Upload your PDF. A green confirmation message will appear if your submission is successful. If you don’t see this, please try again.
Points: If your total points don’t update, your submission may not have uploaded correctly—please retry.
Score: Points can be checked by going to Edit Profile on the bottom navigation bar. Your score is at the top of the page.
Questions: Direct any inquiries to info@turninggreen.org
Social Media: Share your challenge activities on social media, tagging us on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg, Facebook @Turning Green, and using #PGC2024.

The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

Greener

40 POINTS

THINK

Reflect on everything you’ve learned from PGC so far, along with the leaders dedicated to climate change, environmental sustainability, and social justice. Who is one person or organization member, anywhere in the world, that you would be honored to connect with?

CHALLENGE

Choose one environmental leader you discovered through PGC that you want to share with the world.

Learn about this person and their work/organization:
- What do they do?
- Why do they do it?
- How are they changing the world?
Create a visual story:
- Develop a slider or photo essay to introduce this leader.
Share on Instagram:
- Post your creation on Instagram, tagging the person and/or organization, @TurningGreenOrg, and #PGC2024.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

Create a PDF: Combine your deliverables and a screenshot of your social media post into a single PDF. Ensure your name (or team name), username, and school are included.
File Naming: Save your PDF as firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel_year.pdf
e.g.: kasie_jones_day17_greener_2024.pdf
Avoid using symbols (including #) or spaces in the file name.
File Size: Ensure the file size does not exceed 5 MB.
Submit: Upload your PDF. A green confirmation message will appear if your submission is successful. If you don’t see this, please try again.
Points: If your total points don’t update, your submission may not have uploaded correctly—please retry.
Score: Points can be checked by going to Edit Profile on the bottom navigation bar. Your score is at the top of the page.
Questions: Direct any inquiries to info@turninggreen.org.
Social Media: Share your challenge activities on social media, tagging us on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg, Facebook @Turning Green, and using #PGC2024.

The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

Greenest

60 POINTS

THINK

Throughout October, you’ve embarked on this PGC journey alongside participants from across the U.S. and around the world. Now, we invite you to connect more deeply with someone whose work has inspired you. As a leader, you have the power to effect change and inspire others to work toward the healthy, just future we all dream of!

CHALLENGE

Build Community: Reach out to a fellow participant you don’t know yet to make a new connection. Look for them via our Instagram regrams, @TurningGreenOrg tags, or the #PGC2024 hashtag. If you need help finding or contacting someone, feel free to DM us.
Set Up a Conversation: Coordinate a time for a conversation on Zoom or another platform (phone, FaceTime, WhatsApp, or even Instagram Live!). Record the session and take notes to accurately capture quotes for the profile you’ll write. The maximum conversations each participant can have is two.
Spark the Conversation: Here are some questions to get you started, but feel free to ask anything.
- Why did you join PGC?
- What are you experiencing in your city or community relating to climate change that you want to address?
- How has PGC inspired change in your life?
- What is one moment when you felt empowered during PGC?
- Which themes resonate most with you?
- How will you carry these learnings forward?
Write a Profile:
- Write a short, insightful, and inspiring profile about your fellow PGC participant.
- Include their name (first name only), photo, hometown, school, and at least three things you learned about them.
- Reference your favorite quotes from the conversation.
- Include at least one of their PGC submissions that inspired you (either from their social media or directly from them).
Share on Instagram:
- Post a photo of both of you from your Zoom conversation.
- Share three things you learned about them.
- Tag @TurningGreenOrg and use the hashtag #PGC2024.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

Create a PDF: Combine your deliverables and a screenshot of your social media post into a single PDF. Ensure your name (or team name), username, and school are included.
File Naming: Save your PDF as firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel_year.pdf
e.g.: kasie_jones_day9_greenest_2024.pdf
Avoid using symbols (including #) or spaces in the file name.
File Size: Ensure the file size does not exceed 5 MB.
Submit: Upload your PDF. A green confirmation message will appear if your submission is successful. If you don’t see this, please try again.
Points: If your total points don’t update, your submission may not have uploaded correctly—please retry.
Score: Points can be checked by going to Edit Profile on the bottom navigation bar. Your score is at the top of the page.
Questions: Direct any inquiries to info@turninggreen.org.
Social Media: Share your challenge activities on social media, tagging us on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg, Facebook @Turning Green, and using #PGC2024.

The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

PRIZES

Up to 10 Greener and 10 Greenest outstanding submissions will be selected as winners.

Each Greener Winner will receive:

A selection of clean skincare, haircare and body care products from our partners at Acure. They have one simple mission: to make clean beauty products accessible through ongoing product development and rigorous clinical trials. Acure: Pioneers with a purpose!
Mindfulness Cards from Chronicle Books, 50+ Prompts and Exercises for the Mind and Body. An easy way to cultivate mindful moments—anytime and anywhere.

Each Greenest Winner will receive:

A selection of clean skincare, haircare and body care products from our partners at Acure. They have one simple mission: to make clean beauty products accessible through ongoing product development and rigorous clinical trials. Acure: Pioneers with a purpose!
Fitness Dice from Chronicle Books. For fitness lovers of all levels, this handy kit includes 7 wooden dice and an instructional booklet with 36 different exercises—offering a fun and effective way to get a full-body workout at home or on the go.