It's Our Money

Name of Your Organization:

Audubon New York, a State Office of the National Audubon Society

Mission: The Mission of Audubon New York is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.  

Overview of the Project - Please provide a brief description of the project.

Audubon New York’s signature environmental education program for youth in New York City, For the Birds!, has operated for 23 years and is undergoing a transformation. Soon to be re-named Learn, Advocate, Rise-up, and Conserve (LARC), the program provides bird-focused environmental education and youth development programming to more than 2,000 NYC youth across 25+ unique schools each year. This year we launched our new Youth for Environmental Conservation & Justice Council program which aims to provide a safe space for NYC youth to make real change happen in their communities. Students ages 14-21 work with their peers and adult allies to research and investigate an issue they are passionate about and work collaboratively to develop an action plan. This leadership council chose to address fast fashion and manufacturing and its effects on birds and their habitats.  Members will also research why there is limited access to quality thrift stores in BIPOC communities, how the textile industry contributes to increased carbon emissions, and the quality of living/work conditions at the source of manufacturing.  

Which of the following issues does your project address?

1. Issue 1 - Addressing Mental Health
2. Issue 2 - Preparation for College and/or Career
3. Issue 3 - Youth Advocacy Promotion

Issue 2 – Preparation for College and/or Career

Issue 3 – Youth Advocacy Promotion 

Youth Engagement - Please explain how you will engage youth in the planning and implementation of the project.

Audubon’s youth leadership programs are place-based, experiential based programs that engage youth in local environmental issues through the unique lens of birds. Our youth leadership members meet virtually twice monthly to research their conservation topic and work on their action plan. Meetings are recorded for members who are unable to attend. In-between sessions, students are required to complete readings and view videos assigned by Audubon staff and be prepared to actively discuss those assignments at the following meeting. Additionally, staff from across our network volunteer to speak to members about their current role with Audubon, field students’ questions, and offer their own unique strategies on how to tackle fast fashion. Upon completion of their issue investigation, students will work collaboratively on creating and implementing an action plan to present at a future Youth Climate Summit hosted by Audubon NY.  

Budget - Your total project budget must equal $20,000 to be placed on the ballot for a youth vote. Please provide a brief description of what the funds would be used for to successfully implement your project. You will also need to download, fill in, and attach a full budget using this template (External link).

  Staff Time: A portion of the budget will be allocated to two full-time staff members to coordinate and facilitate youth leadership program. 

  Materials, Equipment and Supplies: Each student will receive a pocket field guide to NYC birds, a pair of binoculars, and copy of Organizing for Social Change 4th Edition a comprehensive manual for grassroots organizers working for social, racial, environmental and economic justice. 

 Youth Stipends and Incentives: Three youth volunteers who actively help with organizing and facilitating the youth leadership council will receive well deserved stipends.  

Timeline- Please describe the timeline for the implementation and completion of the project. All work for this project must be completed by June 30, 2021, which is the end of the city’s fiscal year and the deadline for the funds to be spent.

February, March 2021

 Leadership team chosen and roles assigned

 Issue investigation begins (ongoing)

April, May 2021

 Youth leadership members begin to reach out to experts in the field to conduct interviews

Students create and present results of their issue investigation

June 2020

 Students begin to design their action plan based on research and finalize their methodology for implementation

Students begin to implement their action plan (ongoing) 

Project Activity Alignment - How does your project align with at least one of the following topics:

1. Leadership skills development: organizing & advocacy trainings
2. Stewardship of public spaces: public parks, transportation, etc.
3. Youth and student engagement
4. Civic education and advocacy
5. Community outreach involving residents that have been historically underrepresented in or underserved by city government and its processes

 LARC aims to foster long-lasting relationships between NYC youth, local habitats, and the conservation community through a suite of highly interactive programs that foster environmental awareness, community action, and career readiness. LARC has two core goals: 1) Increase access to conservation education in NYC, especially for underserved youth, through hands-on, local programming with both classroom and “field” (outdoor) components; and 2) Inspire a culture of lifelong environmental stewardship in NYC youth through community engagement, advocacy, and career development. LARC consists of place-based, experiential programs that engage youth in local environmental issues through the unique and relatable lens of birds. Participants gain STEM-related academic skills, leadership development, and conservation career readiness.

What is your organization's area of focus?

1. Children and youth related
2. Advocacy and organizing
3. Arts and culture
4. Civic engagement
5. Education and literacy
6. Emergency management and disaster response
7. Employment and workforce development
8. Environment and sustainability
9. Faith-based
10. Food access
11. Health and medicine
12. Homelessness and/or affordable housing
13. Human rights
14. Human services
15. Immigrants and/or refugees
16. Justice related
17. Legal services
18. People with disabilities
19. Senior services
20. Women's issues

Environmental and Sustainability 

Affirmations - Type "YES" below each statement to affirm that you are eligible to appear on the ballot for this process.

I confirm that my organization will be registered in the NYC Payee Information Portal and in PassPort, NYC’s online procurement system, in order to receive funding from the City of New York.

YES

I confirm that my organization is able to front the costs of implementing this project. Organizations will be paid based on deliverables. 

YES

Completion of Deliverables: I understand all deliverables must be completed by June 30th, 2021.

YES

I understand a condition of funding includes submission of a final report upon project completion, and participating in a debrief session with the CEC.

YES