The Amp Up Summit, a project of Earth Day New York

The Amp Up Summit engages and connects a diverse movement of youth and student organizers to work collectively on creating and advocating for a sustainable and equitable future for New York.

Inspired by the teach-in model of the first Earth Day, and in recognition of the need to empower youth to fight for the future they will inherit, Earth Day New York celebrated Earth Day’s 40th anniversary by launching the Amp Up Summit.

The first Amp Up Summit took place in New York in March 2010.  The Summit brought in more than 10 college campuses for a day of collaboration, skills-sharing, and community-building.  It also provided a platform for youth organizers and leaders to form the Amp Up Network, facilitating further collaboration throughout the year.

The February 2011 Summit brought in more than 80 students from 15 different college campuses and provided a platform for collaboration, coordination and skills-sharing.  Our keynote speaker was Dominic Frongillo, one of the youngest elected officials in New York State history and a U.S. youth delegate to the United Nations climate negotiations in Cancun in 2010, Copenhagen in 2009, and Bali in 2007.  The Summit featured speakers from WE ACT, Solar One, Frack Action, Sierra Student Coalition, and NYPIRG who worked with students on developing campaigns focused on environmental justice, green education, and hydraulic fracturing.

Our next Summit is planned for the fall 2012.

For more information about Amp Up please email John at joppermann [at] earthdayny.org