1.
Leveraging RCE Greater Atlanta Member
Institution ESD Initiatives for Youth
Empowerment and Mobilization and the
Formation of the RCE Greater Atlanta Youth
Network
Kristina Chatfield, Georgia Tech
Lisa Smith, Kennesaw State
RCE Greater Atlanta Youth Network

2.
What is the RCE Greater Atlanta
Youth Network ?
Objectives of RCE Greater Atlanta:
● Accelerating local and regional solutions to sustainability issues
● Re-orienting higher education for societal transformation into SD
● Developing SD & ESD competencies and capabilities as well as a science-
policy interface
Youth Network:
Network of collegiate students (undergraduate & graduate) and young
alumni in the Greater Atlanta area
@RCE.GreaterAtlanta.YN

3.
Youth Network Goals and Benefits
❖ Collaboration
➢ With students & faculty from other schools in Greater Atlanta
➢ With other RCEs (in the US and globally)
❖ Professional Development & Networking Opportunities
➢ Collaborations with RCE partners, including not-for-profits and businesses
➢ YN-specific certificates, badges, and/or recognitions
❖ Student Experience in Network Operations:
➢ Communications & publicity
➢ Event management
➢ Project & program development
➢ And more!
❖ Acts as a platform to showcase SDG related projects through the UNU

4.
RCE Youth Network Events & Initiatives
Fall 2017 - Spring 2018
❖ Georgia Campus Sustainability Network Conference (Oct 2017)
❖ Serve-Learn-Sustain SDG Speaker Series (2017-2018)
❖ UN Young Leaders for the SDGs (Mar 2018)
❖ Refugee Tutoring (Spring 2018)

5.
RCE Youth Network Events & Initiatives
Fall 2018
❖ Welcome Back Event - Atlanta Beltline Tour (Sept 2018)
❖ RCE Launch Event (Oct 2018)
❖ FarmFlix with PlantLanta at the Metro Atlanta Urban Farm
❖ United Nations Association Become a Global Leader Workshop (Oct 2018)

6.
University Youth Initiatives
RCE Greater Atlanta

7.
Emory University - 2018 Initiatives
#KnowYourGoals Panel and
Spirituality and Sustainability Forum

8.
Distinguished Global Ambassadors
First Cohort 2018-2019

9.
❖ Partnership between Kennesaw
State University’s Division of
Global Affairs, CIFAL Atlanta
and the United Nations
Institute of Training and
Research
❖ Students receive training on the
SDGs and leadership, part of
which takes place at UN
Headquarters in Geneva
❖ Create and implement projects
promoting the SDGs

10.
Owl Leadership Fellows

11.
❖ One year program which engages
students in practical leadership
through social justice education,
community engagement program
development, and active
citizenship
❖ Fellows create programming and
develop presentations for their
campus community revolving
around a specific social topic based
on the framework of the United
Nations 17 Sustainable
Development Goals

12.
Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain
Fall 2017 - Spring 2018 Event Series
Putting the Sustainable Development Goals into Action
❖ Liam’s Legacy Symposium: Creating, Implementing, & Measuring
the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (Jessica Espey/Fall 2017)
❖ Liam’s Legacy Symposium: U.N. Young Leaders for the Sustainable
Development Goals (Spring 2018 - Youth Network)
❖ Climate Change: Engineering’s Grand Challenge/Georgia Tech’s
Role

13.
Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain
Fall 2017 - Spring 2018 Event Series
Putting the Sustainable Development Goals into Action
❖ Collaborations with Georgia Tech Colleges/Schools
➢ Planning as if People Eat: Creating Equitable and Healthy Communities
➢ Planning in and for Cities in the Global South
➢ Faculty Research Highlight: Equity, Infrastructure, and Sustainable
Development
➢ Days of Service
❖ Partnerships with Emory University (Water Hub, Case Competition) and Kennesaw
State University (Community Impact Challenge)

14.
RCE Greater Atlanta Youth Network
Future Goals
❖ Increase student engagement & publicity across
all campuses
❖ Partner with student orgs at each member school
❖ Provide sustainability resources & opportunities
to members
❖ Provide a link to RCE Greater Atlanta and the
global network
❖ Provide professional development opportunities
❖ 1 -2 signature Youth Network events/programs

15.
Connect With Us!
RCE.GreaterAtlanta.YN
@rce_atl_yn
@RCEATLYN
LinkedIn
https://rceatlyn.wixsite.com/rceatlyn
rceatlyn@gmail.com