results of ISEC conference

Hey Everyone

Here is a quick summary of the conference. The answers come from Andrew Weithe, program coordinator for the Illinois Student Environmental Council.

WP: What was the reason behind the conference?

AW: The conference was held for a number of reasons. The broadest reason was that bringing students together from all over the state to dialogue with, and learn from, each other helps to create a sense of community and a collaborative spirit among student environmentalists. The energy and actions being generated by young people around Illinois is truly inspiring, and as we look to the environmental challenges of the future, the best way to meet these challenges head on will be by bringing all that intellectual and social capital together as much as possible.

WP: How many presentations were there and how many people attended?

AW: Nearly 60 energized students gathered at Loyola to hear stimulating speeches from Gina Lettiere, of the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy, Barry Matchett, of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, and Lt. Governor Pat Quinn. Additionally, workshop sessions were held on the topics of leadership development, strategic planning, alternative transportation, and university green fees.

WP:Do you see the conference growing into the future?

AW: The energy and momentum carried forward from this conference gives me great confidence that it will only continue to grow. The feedback on the program was overwhelmingly positive, and the conference concluded with a networking and idea-sharing activity that stimulated an incredible volume of conversations which will no doubt continue to spur creativity and action.

WP: What do you hope the participants got out of the conference?

AW: I hope that participants came away with a stronger sense that they are not just isolated actors doing good things on their individual campuses, but also part of a wider community of environmentally concerned youth. The conference provided excellent content on sustainability issues, leadership development, and environmental policy, and I believe that the students came away feeling empowered to synthesize the information they learned with their existing efforts, and to apply it to those they hope to initiate in the future.

Great job Adam! Hopefully Wikipower can be part of the process.

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