Grand Aspirations and Summer of Solutions featured on WorldChanging

Popular environmental news site WorldChanging has a story up about the Summer of Solutions. Check it out here, and then head over to the Summer of Solutions page for more!

Grand Aspirations announces Summer of Solutions 2009

“We need to take steps, however small to begin with, towards creating a local sustainable economy that enables us to work, eat, and take care of our families, bring the neighbor back into the 'hood, and slow down global warming.” – Grace Lee Boggs 

In the face of a falling economy, an energy crisis, fragmented and inequitable communities, and the growing threat of global warming, youth are coming together to create and implement solutions that address all of these challenges together. These are solutionaries - youth leaders who work as innovative organizers across issue lines to build the green economy as an engine for local opportunity, climate and energy solutions, and social justice. 

This summer, youth will gather in communities across the nation for the Summer of Solutions - a training ground for its participants and a launching pad for the solutionary vision.  With the support of local partnerships that they will forge and a national network of fellow solutionaries, participants will create self-sustaining projects that will have a direct impact on their communities and that will serve as models for others to build on.  

The Summer of Solutions is a grassroots, volunteer-based, people-powered program, and we rely on people just like you for just about everything – from the project expertise, to the local partnerships, to the financial support for the young people dedicating their summer to build the solutions. We are hosted by a student-led group called Grand Aspirations, which is fiscally sponsored by Global Exchange. 

Check us out! Then help make it happen: 

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Minnesota Powershift a raging success!

This past weekend October 3-5, the Grand Aspirations-sponsored Minnesota Powershift brought over 150 youth, community members, and environmental leaders together at Washburn High School in Minneapolis. Over the course of three days, participants listened to speakers, went to workshops, and networked with each other. We empowered ourselves by combining our knowledge and skills and developed new and lasting relationships that are the foundation for change in our society.

Grand Aspirations served as a fiscal agent for the event. We are happy to partner with such innovative people, and look forward to all of the projects and benefits that will come from Minnesota Powershift.

Summer of Solutions ends

Although I posted few updates in the last two months, much has happened. Sadly, our fantastic summer has come to a close, but with the launch of our new website, I've included a section where project members can tell their stories. Look for updates in the next month or so.

Rio Tazewell, a student from North Carolina, made this video documenting his Summer of Solutions:

Summer of Solutions begins

Our first major program, the Summer of Solutions began today. The Summer of Solutions is a two-month long activism training camp. We're very lucky to have almost twenty participants in the Twin Cities working on a number of innovative projects. Head over to the Summer of Solutions section of our website for more info.

Grand Aspirations receives fiscal agency

The San Francisco-Based Non Profit Global Exchange has granted fiscal agency to Grand Aspirations. Global Exchange is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Global Exchange will take Grand Aspiration's donations until we file with the IRS, and you can read more about what that means here. We are very excited to be working with such an amazing organization.

In related news, GA is now an officially incorporated non-profit organization! We recently recieved our certificate in the mail. Sweet!

Summer of Solutions intro video

Read more about it in this It's Getting Hot in Here post and then head over to the Summer of Solutions page to apply.

Summer of Solutions info is UP

Calling all climate leaders! Are you ready for an intensely fun and productive summer of working on building a climate positive vision? Check out the section on Summer of Solutions - one of our most exciting projects to date!