Support Young Leaders Facing a World in Crisis

Invest in the Rooted & Rising Certificate Program!

Imagine a young person - maybe it’s you, or someone you know - who is facing a world in crisis. Facing the climate and nature emergency and all its consequences. Wildfires. Floods. Heatwaves. Global hunger, drought, and disease. Imagine how scared they must feel. How angry.

Imagine this young person, who in spite of this, is still full of passion and wonderment, with a million ideas about how to make things better.

Imagine them turning to their schools and their political representatives, only to find resistance to their ideas, insistence on business as usual, and resistance to the very existence of the crisis. Imagine them being told to wait until they’re older to have a seat at the table, and also being told that past generations messed up, and it’s up to them to save us all.

We were that young person, and we don't want that for the young ones rising up now. That's why we created the Rooted and Rising Youth Leadership Program, and why we are asking for your support to ensure that it continues.

We imagine that young person joining a community of learners. We imagine them stepping into a circle of inspired peers, held by experienced adults who honour them and are ready to collaborate. A circle where they feel nurtured, loved on, uplifted, and seen in all of their talents and gifts.

Imagine their confidence growing. Imagine them coming to understand themselves, standing strong in the gifts that they carry. Imagine them seeing themselves as part of an ecosystem, and a lineage, of dreamers and change-makers, people who live in their communities and around the world. Imagine them finding ways to live joyfully as they wade through the mess; them trusting themselves, knowing that they are enough.

In our own journeys as young people confronting climate and nature emergencies and injustices, we felt a lot of hurt. We learned through a lot of avoidable mistakes. It shouldn't have to be this hard, young people shouldn't have to start from scratch.

That’s why Rooted and Rising responds not only to the climate and nature emergency, but also to the gaps in education that have often ignored this emergency’s roots in capitalism, colonialism and white supremacy. And have left youth feeling isolated and abandoned.

When we ran the Rooted and Rising pilot in 2020, bringing together a group of 22 youth aged 13 to 30 for 12 weeks of collaborative, project-based learning, We created a space where youth felt cared for, and free to explore their visions for the world, and grow the tools and skills they have to get them there. We know this because they told us:

“I really like the non-judgemental environment and the strong determined personality that everyone has. It really inspires me to want to be a greater leader for the future” - R+R pilot student

“We wish we got to do this kind of work in school.” - 2 participants on R+R’s student project model

“I realized through this program what my real strengths are. I am a healer. And I know that I am meant to be a teacher. I am a teacher, I am a healer, and I’m proud to do that, I’m proud to be that person.” - R+R pilot student

We want more young people to have this experience, which is why we are inviting you to be part of that journey!

Youth need to feel the love of a wide and intergenerational network/community/family/circle. Rooted and Rising invites you to be part of that circle. Your generous offerings will help nourish the soil, allowing the youth leaders to root deep and grow tall.

This education and support should be made available to youth regardless of means, background, and ability. Young leaders should be able to enjoy this caring learning community without the added stress of wondering how to pay for it. This is why Rooted and Rising is pay what you can, with no minimum cost, and why we're asking you to contribute.

Your offerings will supplement the funding we have received from the Foundation of Environmental Stewardship and the Dahdaleh Global Health Institute. What Rooted and Rising offers is new, and radical, and funders are not always ready to support us. By turning to a beloved community/circle/network/family, we can maintain Rooted and Rising as a creative, caring and values-driven program for youth.

We're 75% of the way there! Help us bridge the gap!

Program Cost Per Student: $2,300

What we have:

What we need: $20,000

This is the full program cost, we are currently aiming to raise $9,000 to cover the minimum cost to run the program.

What the funds will cover:

Reciprocity:

Be part of the magic. Join the growing Rooted and Rising community/family/circle supporting young leaders. Together, let’s reach our goal!