500 Grades of Green Eco-Leaders from Local Schools Make Waves

A leader in student-driven environmental change

for the past 9 years, nonprofit Grades of Green is launching its most ambitious program
yet, the Water Campaign. This year, Grades of Green is working with student groups in
35 cities around the globe to make water protection and advocacy second nature for the
next generation of leaders.

Representing the greater Chicago area, schools such as Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of
Global Studies, Dryden Elementary School, and Harper Elementary School have
already taken part in Grades of Green’s Environmental Education Programs.
Student groups who joined the campaign are currently innovating sustainable solutions
to water issues they have identified in their region. When asked which environmental
issue they were most concerned about, water scarcity was the most common answer
among Grades of Green Students.

Water Campaign participants work with Grades of Green Mentors, environmental
education experts who provide customized support to each student group, throughout
the Fall semester to expand their environmental knowledge, hone their leadership skills,
and create lasting environmental change. Currently, Student Eco-Leaders in Nairobi,
Kenya are investing water quality in their region. Meanwhile, Eco-Leaders in Los
Angeles, CA are preparing plastics presentations and Arts Students in Rome, Italy are
choreographing a conservation presentation for their community.

According to the United Nations, by 2025, 1.8 billion people are expected to be living in
countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world population
could be under water stress conditions. Through Grades of Green’s Water Campaign,
students do their part to protect water in their daily lives and incorporate educational
concepts to develop solutions to the water issues they care about.

“From Nairobi to New York City, students are educating their communities about the
crucial need to protect our water resources” said Emily Gee, Co-Executive Director.
“When kids speak, adults listen, and it’s the ripple effect of local change that will lead to
the global-scale impacts needed to address one of the most pressing environmental
issues of our time.”

The Water Campaign incorporates Next Generation Science Standards and
STEAM/STEM concepts, helping students bring critical thinking skills to hands-on
projects and activism in their community. 11th grader and Grades of Green Eco-Leader,
Cosmo from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in California, put his eco-leadership
training into action and was invited to participate in the United Nations Ocean Heroes
Bootcamp as a result of his Zero-Waste Campaign efforts. Incorporating NGSS
concepts, Cosmo presented his sustainability solution to a global audience. Cosmo
spoke about the single use plastics reduction movement, sharing his experience
reducing plastic pollution in his community.

“The environmental challenges facing our industry and our planet are real,” said Tamika
Lang, Boeing Global Engagement Senior Manager. “Grades of Green is doing its part to
engage students in thinking about solutions and we are proud to partner with them in
this cause.” The Boeing Company supports Grades of Green’s commitment to
incorporating Next Generation Science Standards in their Campaigns, citing the
importance of informed and educated leadership as we usher in an era of corporate
sustainability.

Past Eco-Leaders have even helped their city meet Sustainable Development Goals by
successfully passing resolutions through local government, such as Daves Ave
Elementary and their successful ban on single use plastics in the Los Gatos School
District. Our Water Campaign has already drawn attention from Elected Officials such
as Chicago Aldermen Gilbert Villegas, who has supported our Water Campaign by
sharing our program in his weekly newsletter to constituents.

Follow along as Grades of Green Student Eco-Leaders make waves in the Water
Campaign. Do you know students that want to take action now? While registration is
closed for the Water Campaign, Student Eco-Leaders have already begun signing up
for our 2019 Waste Reduction Campaign. Nominate three student groups to join Grades
of Green’s Waste Campaign by encouraging them to Email info@gradesofgreen.org.
Contact Justin Bulova at justinb@gradesofgreen.org for additional pictures,
testimonials, or a media kit.

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GET INVOLVED! Registration is open for the Waste Campaign beginning in January,
but spots are filling up fast, so take action today!

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: The Boeing Company is the founding sponsor of the
2018 Water Campaign. Thanks to the support of Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles
County, Long Beach Water, Metropolitan Water District, Long Beach Water Department,
LAcarGUY, Kings Care Foundation and Los Angeles Country 3rd District for making the
2018 Water Campaign possible.

ABOUT GRADES OF GREEN: Grades of Green is an environmental education
nonprofit dedicated to providing parents, students and educators with fun, hands-on
activities that inspire and empower students to care for the environment. To implement
sustainability programs, register your school online—at no cost—and gain access to
step-by-step instructions for 40+ Grades of Green Activities, including downloadable
games, resources, artwork, and measures of environmental progress. Every Grades of
Green school receives a one-on-one Grades of Green Advisor to mentor the school as it
implements Grades of Green Activities. Over 500,000 students and 600 schools have
joined our green school movement since 2011.

ABOUT THE BOEING COMPANY: Through purposeful investments, employee
engagement and thoughtful advocacy efforts, Boeing and its employees support
innovative partnerships and programs that align with the company’s strategic objectives,
create value and help build better communities worldwide. See how Boeing is making a
difference by visiting the 2018 Boeing Global Engagement Portfolio at
Boeing.com/community. Chicago-based Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace
company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and
security systems. Engage on social @Boeing with #BoeingInspires.