real-world experience impacting change for sustainability
Liliana Carey, a senior in John Jay High School’s Sustainability Club, has a message for homeowners and tenants. “Switching to renewable energy is easy and it can save you money.”
She’s the point person for Go Green and Save Green, a community event on Tuesday, April 13 that the Sustainability Club organized with Sustainable Westchester and Bedford 2030.
Register here if you haven’t already: https://sustainablewestchester.org/webinar/
Spearheading the initiative has been a powerful experience for Liliana. She tapped her leadership skills and saw what she was learning in AP Government and Politics at a grassroots level. “I found I am really interested in the policy side of environmental reform,” said Liliana. She plans to pursue political science and journalism in college.
Liliana took her first environmentally minded steps two years ago when she joined Sunrise Katonah, a youth movement to stop climate change. She joined John Jay’s Sustainability Club as a junior. The club pitched a full year of school-based, environmentally-friendly activities to Bedford 2030’s Greenlight Awards this past fall. As part of the competition, Lily was put in touch with Lauren Brois, Sustainable Westchester’s Director of Energy Smart Homes, who guided the club through the process of educating the community on energy smart options for homeowners and tenants. The group will be presenting their results at the Greenlight Award finals this Saturday.
Steve Zoeller, the club's advisor, noted that this year's focus has been altered by COVID in a positive way. "In the past we looked at changes we could make within the high school. Since there were very few students, the club changed its focus to the local community. The students have gained real-world experience in promoting an event and impacting change for sustainability."
“I’ve grown passionate about energy technology,” said Liliana. “I’ve learned so much about it.”