ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Young people in Allentown can play a crucial role in addressing the effects of climate change, city officials say.
Mayor Matt Tuerk on Wednesday announced Allentown received $50,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies to fund climate-focused microgrants for youth organizations.
Those microgrants will help pay for tree plantings, litter clean-ups, recycling programs and other ideas that Tuerk said would be “much more creative” than what he and city officials could conjure up.
The “decisions we choose right now really matter in the future. So it's very important if we can improve and start a better environment right now.”Scarlett, a student ambassador at Sheridan Elementary
The city is working to establish an application process for the grants, which will range from $1,000 to $5,000, according to Veronica Vostinak, Allentown’s new sustainability coordinator.
The climate change microgrants are among Vostinak’s first projects after starting in mid-March. She said she expects the Bloomberg money to fund 15 to 25 projects throughout the city.
Those projects are due to be completed by the end of this year, according to city officials.
Allentown is among 100 cities in 38 countries getting Bloomberg Philanthropies grants to drive youth engagement in climate change solutions.
‘These kids care a lot’
Three students from Sheridan Elementary School and Principal Peter Shahda joined city officials at Wednesday’s news conference outside the building.
Tuerk recently visited Sheridan to read Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax,” a tale about deforestation and the importance of natural resources.
His reading left an impression on Sheridan student Naomi, who said Wednesday that trees are important “because they help us breathe and they help us eat sometimes.”
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better; it's not. ... These kids care a lot — they do. And Allentown is going to get a lot better; it's true.”Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
Scarlett, a student ambassador at Sheridan, said she wants to help build a “happy environment” and urged people to not wait to respond to climate change.
The “decisions we choose right now really matter in the future,” Scarlett said. “So it's very important if we can improve and start a better environment right now.”
Tuerk read the ending of Lorax to underline his belief in the power that young people hold.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot/Nothing is going to get better; it's not,” Tuerk said, quoting the book’s main character.
“We're going to ask students across the city to help us design, produce and govern our action to meet the challenge of climate change,” he said.
“These kids care a lot — they do. And Allentown is going to get a lot better; it's true.”
