How can I sign up?
We're currently accepting applications!
Our program is currently open to middle and high school students in the Sacramento region. Fill out our application form here.
Invite students to apply by directing them to this page (www.350sacramento.org/seat)
For any questions, please contact Moiz Mir.
Session Information
Our first session operated from January 25 until April 2. Educational modules were 4-5 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday each week, with an additional community, workshop, or guest speaker event on Fridays.
Our second session is currently in progress - we began on July 12. Educational modules are 4-5 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday each week, with an additional community, workshop, or guest speaker event on Fridays. Students are still welcome to join the program by applying here!
Our third session will take place as an after school program during the Fall 2021 semester.
Summer 2021 SEAT Program
Our schedule for this session will generally be as follows:
Educational modules
Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Starting Monday, July 12 with Unit 1
- All educational modules will be held over Zoom with auto-transcribed closed captions enabled and have accompanying presentations and agendas outlining the concepts that will be covered.
- The format of educational modules will include a mix of presentation and interactive discussion.
- Presentations from the program operators (Moiz & Jovanna) will be recorded, recordings will be paused whenever there are questions and during discussion.
- All digital content from educational modules, including the Zoom link to participate, will be made available on Google Classroom to review.
Community modules
Fridays
- Most community modules will likely be held over Zoom and follow the same 4 p.m. weekly schedule as educational modules - however they may occur at varying times, for varying lengths, and may include events open to the broader community or take place in person. These will be announced on a weekly basis.
- Community modules will include guest speaker events, more interactive discussion and workshops, community building activities, and may include events not hosted by 350 Sacramento.
Please also note:
- There is no attendance requirement or expectation in order to participate! Participants can (1) access content from modules that have already taken place and (2) participate in later modules even if they join the program late or miss earlier modules. We recommend following the sequence of modules for a deeper understanding as the concepts connect and build on one another, but you are welcome to participate by just attending whichever modules you can.
- There are no assignments or homework associated with the program, we are just providing modules as a resource and hope you participate in whatever way is beneficial to you
- We will be tracking attendance to keep track of program completion, and will award a certificate to participants who complete the program
- For students thinking about next steps after graduating school, jobs, or college we'll be happy to help you develop your resume, get you connected to our LinkedIn page, and can list program graduates that want to be listed on this web page.
- This Summer session of the program is open to students in middle school or high school, recent graduates, and students who've participated in our first Spring session earlier this year. Students can participate in multiple sessions (Spring, Summer, Fall) of the SEAT program, and are welcome to do so to complete modules that they may have missed in an earlier session.
SEAT Program Graduates
2021
- TBD...
What is the Student Environmental Activist Training Program?
The Student Environmental Activist Training (SEAT) is a free program open to middle and high school students in the Sacramento area. SEAT consists of a 10 unit curriculum designed and offered by 350 Sacramento, a local, grassroots environmental non-profit.
Key Goals of the SEAT Program
- Provide education and training around key civic, leadership, social justice, activist, and community organizing skills and concepts that aren’t traditionally covered in schools.
- Connect students across the region and create a network of support for students to create and collaborate across environmental, climate and social justice clubs at their schools.
- Connect students to opportunities: volunteer opportunities, workforce development programs, exposure to local groups working to advance environmental, climate, or social justice. Students will have a chance to hear from guest speakers including other nonprofits, community and social justice advocates and organizations, and green workforce development programs in the Sacramento area.
In the past, 350 Sacramento has hosted an in-person Youth Camp For Climate Action over the summer to connect students with a shared interest in learning about environmental activism across Sacramento. The COVID-19 pandemic took away many social, developmental, and extracurricular activities. We hope this program can provide students an opportunity to learn and connect with one another, and go on to create activities in their own communities.
How does the program work?
Each unit focuses around a topic and consists of 2 educational modules, with varying formats including: presentations, discussions, and workshops. This program doesn't require homework. We just ask for active participation - this is an interactive learning space to empower, not overburden.
Each unit also includes 1 community module, with varying formats including: community building activities, guest speakers from our partner organizations, networking spaces, and local events.
The SEAT program is offered as both an after-school program and a summer program. The frequency and structure of modules may vary with each full session (10 units) of the program.
Partner Organizations
- GRID Alternatives:
GRID is a leading voice in low-income solar policy and the nation’s largest nonprofit solar installer, having trained over 44,000 participants in solar installation and serving families throughout California, Colorado, the Mid-Atlantic region, and tribal communities nationwide. https://gridalternatives.org/ - Sunrise Movement Sacramento:
A youth-led group of environmental activists in association with the national Sunrise Movement. https://sites.google.com/view/sacsunrise/home - Fridays For Future Sacramento:
A group of young environmental activists founded in the spirit of the international Fridays For Future movement. https://fridaysforfuturesac.org/ - Resources for Independent Living:
Promotes the socio-economic independence of persons with disabilities by providing peer-supported, consumer-directed independent living services and advocacy. https://www.ril-sacramento.org/ - Social Justice PolitiCorps Sacramento:
Crowdsourcing politics, a collection of social justice advocates and organizations that track, report on, and mobilize around local government happenings. https://www.socialjusticesac.org/ - Showing Up For Racial Justice Sacramento:
SURJ Sacramento mobilizes white people to show up in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led movements in Sacramento in ways that are helpful to those movements. https://surjsacramento.org/
Check out these videos to hear a little more about the SEAT program!
Hear from our Program Coordinator and one of our SEAT graduates!
We gave a presentation about SEAT to the Sac Youth Commission!
Example Program Curriculum
| Unit | Educational Module A | Educational Module B | Community Module |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1: Baseline, introductions and climate change | 1A. Introductions, housekeeping and communal expectations, science of climate change | 1B. Social/political drivers of climate change, introduction to environmental justice | 1C. Ice breaker activity |
| 2: Environmental and social justice concepts | 2A. Environmental justice as it relates to waste, pollution, extractive economic model | 2B. Sustainability, energy, reciprocity, the history of environmentalism, equity and anti-oppression | 2C. Creating anti-oppressive spaces |
| 3: Approaches to change | 3A. Frames of individual action and collective action | 3B. Local agencies, utilities, and opportunities to affect local change | 3C. Guest speaker: Resources for Independent Living (RIL) - The social model of disability |
| 4: Local political processes | 4A. City government processes and methods of engagement | 4B. County government processes and methods of engagement | 4C. Guest speaker: Social Justice PolitiCorps (SJPC) - Crowdsourcing local politics |
| 5: Civic skills | 5A. News and media literacy | 5B. Public comment, office visits, and engaging with elected officials | 5C. Guest speaker: GRID Alternatives - Solar workforce development |
| 6: Activist skills | 6A. Power mapping, community building, and equitable base building | 6B. Facilitation, effective communication, clarity, structure, and security culture | 6C. Club recruitment and networking workshop |
| 7: Building a movement, not a moment | 7A. Burnout, information overload, and sustainable organizing | 7B. Transparency, democratic leadership, and shared decision making | 7C. Developing a club constitution workshop |
| 8: Campaigns | 8A. Goal setting, campaign development, targeting focus | 8B. Event planning, long term strategy, evaluating success | 8C. Documentary screening |
| 9: Engaging the public | 9A. Storytelling, sharing experiences, and creating a narrative | 9B. Social media and online activism | 9C. Guest speaker: Sunrise Movement Sacramento - Accessible graphic design for organizing |
| 10: Press, brand, and perception | 10A. Engaging with journalism | 10B. Media pressure tactics and strategies | 10C. Celebratory event |
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