 And can you just share a little bit about why you're here today lobbying on the state the State House law? Yeah, I'm here because I've been in the State House a lot in the past year and I've heard a lot of excuses I've heard them say we're too busy. I've heard them say we don't have all the information And I'm here because I want to respond to that and I want to tell them that we do have the information we are moving too slowly and We need to see action in our generation because Our planet is being destroyed by human actions. That is the truth and We have the power to stop that in our state and all over the world Thanks, Miriam, and can you talk a little bit about this event today who you've brought out who you're hearing from and You know what you hope to accomplish with this event. Yeah, so the Vermont Youth Lobby's Goal is to bring together young people and lift up their voices and to get action on climate change and so today we have about 400 to 500 students from schools all across Vermont from the Northeast Kingdom from the south of the state from right here in central Vermont all here to learn to learn from each other to talk to hear speeches and Ultimately to make our voices heard to demand action on climate change from our legislators I'm Molly Levy. I use she her pronouns and I'm here because I feel like as young people it's often really really difficult to have our voices heard Especially with government and could feel like we're very powerless in these situations And I think this event is just a great way to meet people and kind of amplify our opinions I'm Kamaria. I use she her pronouns and I'm a freshman at South Billington high school And I should be at school right now But I feel like this is climate action is such a big thing that we need to have a voice in and it's really hard like Molly said To have a say when you're a teenager and you don't get taken seriously And it's just a way to be like seeing and get your voice and ideas spread Hi, my name is Earl. I use he they pronouns and I guess a big reason that I'm here is It's really cool to meet a lot of like-minded people my age who are interested in climate action and climate justice I guess it's it is not only is it hard to have our voices heard it's hard to like get involved and there are a lot of different organizations here that are amplifying youth voices and it's very empowering and I feel very happy to be here Hi, I'm Nico. I use she her pronouns. I go to Burlington high school and I'm here today because We are the future children are the future and we need a home and Being here today has shown me just how many people how many kids are involved and care about this and I've seen that even just me talking to people has spread information and has been able to help us I'm a community organizer with 350 Vermont and we're here just to support youth lobby and all of the kids here in the state Part of like the whole idea of this entire day is to bring people together and learn about all the opportunities That we can build a movement in Vermont and kind of advance climate climate initiatives forward. So and what does 350 do for Vermont? Yeah, so 350 Vermont is a climate justice org so what we really try to do is center the intersection of the climate crisis and like economic and racial oppression and inequality and what we kind of Assume as our theory of change is that that's actually the best access of making and building like real political power and that the real solutions out of a climate crisis aren't say like Incentivizing markets to like make a gradual shift that companies can make profits off of it It's about like really building power and building a people-centered movement that can demand the changes that we need to see Oh and can you speak a little bit about just the value of Having a rally on the state house lawn like why rally out here. Why you know, what's the intended impact today? Yeah, well, I mean, it's a beautiful day out. It's just it's gonna be fun Part of having a rally is building community, you know And so we're making a statement externally to the to the state house and our legislators but what we're also doing is making friendships and Networking and connections so that we can build the movement and like take the energy of today and Kind of bring it back into our communities and really like build the power from there So, yeah, do you want to just share a bit about why you're here today and why rally on the state house lawn today? Yeah, absolutely So I work for VPurg the statewide environmental organization and young people have always been so critical and key and central to VPurgs work and environmental work in general It's so motivating to see young people taking time off of school and getting the resources that they need to know What's happening at the national and state level of politics and paying attention to what elected officials are doing with the resources? We have as a state and the power they have right now and They're they're incredible. They're really motivating and they definitely know what they're talking about and they're not afraid to To put it in the exact terms that the climate crisis needs to be put in and I just really applaud them and I am a young person but it's another thing especially to see folks that are students and Under the age of 18 and can't vote yet and this is how they show up for their community and their their futures, so it's great Can you talk a little bit about what VPurg is trying to do this session and how you're trying to impact legislation Currently, yeah, so VPurg really kind of serves as a watchdog in the state house We follow policy and I personally work on the environmental team So protecting room honors from toxic chemicals and zero waste issues We're really excited to see the bottle bill each 158 that passed in the house a couple weeks ago With overwhelming support and out heads to the Senate We need the full benefits of the program of of our bottle bill It works really well at turning cans into cans bottles into bottles and given the acuteness of the plastic crisis We can't opt out of any ways that we can be Responsibly collecting our waste and doing real recycling so I'm really excited about that As well as the affordable heat act is something that we've been really pushing for and equity is at the forefront of it And the price should not fall on Vermonters to address this it really is going to be The people with the resource in the and the capacity to make this transition They're gonna do that and that's what that bill is about. We're excited to see past Yes, so I was saying that I was a global studies major and I definitely thought that after college I would work for a big international non-profit and I've actually I'm so glad that I found VPurg because I found that state politics is this really empowering sweet spot of Local solutions the proximity that we have to our legislators here I'm not peculiar is really special in something that when you take advantage of it has an impact of passing legislation for a state You know right now if we ban a list of toxic chemicals from period products and personal care products That's protecting hundreds of thousands of Vermonters on that issue But also it makes it easier for other states to follow suit and pass something similar in the ripple effect so it's it's really exciting to be able to work on this level of things and I Feel like I'm truly making a very big impact with the work that I do and I'm so young and it's it's really cool You mentioned a bit of climate related legislation there You can tell from your sticker are aware of the youth climate Lobby's rally on the state house lawn today. What is the value of rallying on the state house lawn? And what's the importance of that work for the work that you're doing? Yeah, that's a great question. I think a lot of people wonder what's the value of protest. What's the value of rally? I think there are two two primary things That are valuable about protest and rally first as a participant in the protest and rally You're with your people you don't feel alone if you're frustrated about something that's going on in the world If you're having an existential crisis about the climate for example You're with people who share that concern and you're taking action together and it renews a sense of hope From the perspective of a legislator One of the reasons I'm here is for our youth. I have children who are 20 and 18 years old and they're not particularly hopeful about our climate future and That's one of the reasons why I wanted to run for office and serve in state legislature Especially when our federal government isn't taking the action that we need to on the climate As you're probably aware the youth climate rally happened on the state house lawn today Can you talk a little bit about just the importance or value of rallying on the state house lawn? What does it mean to you as a legislature as a legislator when? People especially youth come to the state house to share and amplify their voices and their concerns Oh, it is so heartwarming and it is the perfect visual reminder of the issues that are facing Vermont and facing our nation And that we need to take action So of course the best place to tell folks to tell this state that we need to take action is right on the state house lawn I'm actually I feel very privileged that our committee room is right on the front end of the building So we get to see Everything that is happening from the child care rally that happened the other day to today's rally on climate And even when the outright youth were here on trans day of visibility and speaking truth to power But specifically to the peace peace around youth It is so important when we talk about the climate crisis that youth are the ones who are really leading on this charge Though it is a majority of adults who hold the power to actually enact that change our youth understand that the climate crisis Is directly impacting them their future and the sustainability of this earth? And it's amazing seeing them come through the hallways both with their very creative signs We need creativity when we're coming up with these bold solutions But also that confidence to be able to talk directly to legislators It is such an an honor and a privilege to be able to have those conversations as well as opening up Possibilities for the average remanter to come into the people's house and understand that it truly is for the people I think that's what comes up most often as folks that are like oh, it's really intimidating It's a big building the golden dome It kind of feels like a museum and then they show up and they're like wait There wasn't security right out the door. I could literally walk into any committee room and listen I can meet directly with my representative It shows the ways that we can directly engage with democracy You may have noticed that there was a rally on the state house steps today led by youth activists looking for climate action What's the value of that work specifically to you know youth led climate activism, but also just in general You know rallying on the state house steps. How does that work impact what you do and your colleagues do here in the state house? Yeah, it's I will say again from a logistical Point of view it's great to have groups right here because our days don't have a lot of room for like There are hundreds of people I would love to meet with and talk to and I just don't always have time And so as silly as it may sound like having folks right here Sharing what they're asking for what they're worried about what they want to have happen And we can just walk outside and listen to them. It sounds It's significant. I'll just say it may not sound significant, but it is I was really lucky today to meet with a group of students from CVU, which is the high school in my district. I also happened to be school board chair For our school district. So it was so great to on my lunch hour stepped outside Along with a bunch of other representatives from within our school district And we got to hear from the kids about why they were here and what they were Worried about certainly youth Coming here sharing their concerns about the climate. I mean it has it's been said a million times, but We're talking about their future The things that need to be done and need to be changed are in order to give them a future essentially and their Children and children's children like it's all about So The future and so it's just too easy for folks who are like My age and older maybe to say like I don't know. We're doing aren't we doing okay? Like no, we're not and they know it because they Younger people feel a different kind a different level of anxiety. I think then Then we may so it's really really important to have them Speaking up and they bring questions that we don't know the answers to and that's so important too So having them speak up a is Is super important and having them do it right here on the state house lawn. There's a real utility to that Thank you so much angela. What is the value of rallying on the state house law? What does it mean to you as legislators when a group comes together to Advocate for an issue and comes to the state house to to amplify their voices here I So This is really the first year since I've been here Because I I was elected during the pandemic. So I was in my home office the first year. We came back in february But to a very diminished outside presence within the state house And there just wasn't that kind of activity So I've just been so excited because like this is why I'm doing this is and it's especially exciting when there are young people Who are here who are asserting things about What they care about or their fears? And what they want us to do about those things. Um, I just It makes me feel like okay. This is why I'm here. Just a good reminder And I so I'm very energized by it and and um, and it doesn't it doesn't have to be young people, but I mean we had a We had a trans visibility day here. Um, and I mean I will remember forever some of the speeches that that some of these kids made some of them 11 years old And so I am anyway for me It is a great reminder a very visceral one of like this is why I'm doing this That's so true whether it's what um Tiffany was just talking about or whether it's uh A small group of students coming to be honored for their accomplishments in the community or for winning a sports event or a group of students from another country or um A group of students from the boys and girls club It's around vermont And actually a burlington young woman one That award this year for launching girls and boys club youth of the year and she's going to be advocating for Mental health her name is kate and I don't know if I remember her last name But anyway, I think that you know those things are it's really important for us to see People organizing and caring and it's also really important for people who care a lot about issues to see how much we care about them