0 Acknowledgements Be the Change Earth Alliance humbly acknowledges our work takes place on the ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), sel̓ íl̓ witulh (Tsleil Waututh), and sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) peoples. This report is dedicated to all the wonderful members of this community - staff, volunteers, collaborators, supporters, and more - who have guided our growth this year, and in the foundational years before that. Thank You. We would also like to thank the following grantors who have funded our work this year: 1 Contents Vision, Values, History .................................................................................................................... 3 Program Highlights and Impact ...................................................................................................... 4 Student Leadership for Change (SLC) ......................................................................................... 4 Youth Voices for Climate Action (YVCA) ..................................................................................... 7 Youth Climate Ambassador Project (YCAP) ................................................................................ 7 Youth for Climate Action (Y4CA) ................................................................................................. 8 Teacher Professional Development ............................................................................................ 9 Youth Climate StriKe & LUSH Challenge ..................................................................................... 9 Covid-19 Adaptation ................................................................................................................... 9 Organizational Development ........................................................................................................ 11 Strategic Collaborations ........................................................................................................... 11 New Website ............................................................................................................................ 11 Financial Highlights ....................................................................................................................... 12 Grants ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Private Donors .......................................................................................................................... 13 AppendiX ...................................................................................................................................... 14 Where is SLC Being Taught? ..................................................................................................... 14 2 Vision, Values, History Founded in 2005, Be the Change Earth Alliance In 2009, BTCEA responded to parental requests (BTCEA) is a Canadian charity with a mandate to and stepped into the public education system empower an environmentally sustainable, with a series of school assemblies. We were personally fulfilling, and socially just human immediately impressed by the passion of youth presence on this planet. We deliver socio- to understand and address global sustainability ecological education and empowerment issues. We shifted our programming focus to programs that help youth and adults take youth, and worked collaboratively with teachers personal and collective action on environmental to develop curriculum materials and workshops and social issues. Our name befits our approach: to help students grapple with and act upon we aim to help individuals align their values and major socio-ecological challenges, ranging from actions, and truly “be the change” they wish to environmental justice to biodiversity loss and create in the world. climate change. We believe education has the power to inspire action, alter behaviour, shift worldviews, and create ripples of change throughout society. Therefore, our top strategic goal is for socio- ecological education to be commonplace in BC’s schools. We’re working towards this goal through providing free online learning resources to schools, workshops and trainings to students, In BTCEA’s early years, we worked in and Professional Development for teachers. communities offering Awaken and Change symposia, Be the Change Action Circles, What’s Your Tree Circles, and the Great Turning environmental forums. Our initiatives, inspired by the work of Joanna Macey and Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory, empowered concerned citizens to take real action for positive change. We hear stories even today of their lasting impact, and of circles that remained active for many ensuing years. At BTCEA, we value empowerment, connection, and authenticity. We take a holistic approach to sustainability that integrates environment, social, and spiritual connections and empowers action. We acknowledge that we live, work and play on ancestral Indigenous land and actively seek ways to bring the Truth and Reconciliation process into our lives and work. 3 Program Highlights and Impact In 2019-2020, BTCEA engaged over 8,500 strike for climate action, students in positive environmental action that BTCEA took SLC “Open- reduced the equivalent of 50 tonnes of CO2. Our Access” ahead of the 2019- flagship program, Student Leadership for 2020 school year, removing Change, saw significant growth in participants, the previous $100 annual we launched a new partnership with the UBC licensing fee for teachers. Climate Hub, and we held youth consultations to 429 teachers registered for prepare for a new and exciting pilot project in SLC over the last year – a 2020-2021. The impact of our learning resources 500% increase in program and workshops continued to grow in Metro reach -- and the feedback we’ve received from Vancouver, and we found new footholds in teachers and their students has been regions across BC. BTCEA overwhelmingly positive. responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by providing Since 2010, SLC has reached teachers with free online over 1,000 teachers and educational programming 30,000 students who have to engage their students in together taken more than meaningful eco-social 150,000 positive actions. For remote learning and action. a full list of schools where SLC is being taught, see the Student Leadership for report’s Appendix. Change (SLC) is an online library of learning resources including student Action Packs, worksheets, videos, lesson plans, classroom activities, and more. The learning resources we provide to middle and high school teachers help them engage their students in critical thinking, dialogue and action on eco- social issues. Co-created with teachers and classroom tested, Dive deeper and explore Student Leadership for SLC aligns with First People’s Principles of Change: Learning, and the B.C. curriculum grades 5-12. https://www.bethechangeearthalliance.org/slc Inspired by students taking to the streets to 4 Student Leadership for Change: Teacher Stories & Testimonial “This has been a great resource. It allows self-motivated students to be able to work at their own pace and have opportunities to extend their thinking. It also allows for me to guide others through the process step by step. Thank you!” Gold Trail Teacher “We live in a time on planet Earth when education regarding how to live sustainably, think critically and make accurately informed decisions is paramount! [This program] freely enables teachers to get this education to students in a manner that is current, engaging and flexible to many needs and situations!” Heather Coey, Reynolds Secondary School Teacher, Victoria “This program is full of well-researched materials for teaching students about human impact on the climate. The resources encourage students to be more self-aware, and sensitive to the world around them, while giving them tools to address the issues they learn about.” Burnaby Grade 5,6 Teacher Where SLC learning resources were used (teachers per school district) British Columbia Metro Vancouver 0 85 5 Student Leadership for Change: Student Stories & Testimonial “The [Living My Values] Action Pack was very informative and easy to understand... I really thought it was well put together and very impactful because our values as people are very important and we don't think about them as often as we should. This doesn't only get you to think about your values, it also makes you think about what actions you are going to take for those values. [For example] if your value is family, your action could be spending more time with family in new ways. This could mean playing board games or going for walks and things like that.” Grade 9 Careers Student “The program helped me deeply understand more issues relating to climate change. I learned about a new topic I was interested in. My family and I will be more aware of what we are consuming and live a healthier life. I think the program was a great, valuable experience and one of the best parts of my year in Science 8.” Surrey Student “I expanded my knowledge on relevant information on climate change. I also learned some new ways that I can take action that I have never really considered.” Grade 11 Social Studies Student “A great way to incorporate real world problems and solutions into education programs in schools. Very eye opening and inspiring.” Grade 7 Social Studies Student Subjects SLC learning resources were used for French, 5.4% English, 11.6% Math, 11.2% Elementary School, 10.4% Other,