PROFILE: Emma Krautheim, Youth Environmental Activist

Environmental Political Forum
Emma, driven to initiate environmental change, directed the
energy she formerly expended on the soccer field to being a founding member of
YEA (Youth Environmental Activists of) Minnesota, speaking at the Neighborhood
Sustainability Conference and helping Will Steger at his Focus the Nation event
at First Avenue. She also chose to put on an Environmental Political Forum for
her senior project.

Emma brought together legislators representing Eagan, Apple
Valley, and Rosemount with local high school students to allow the students to
voice their environmental concerns to those who have power at the state level.

Because Emma didn’t want this to be a typical assembly with
adults on a stage talking at youth, she devised a unique format. Small groups
rotated between legislators in order to address all concerns, including
recycling in homes, schools, and cities; alternative energy sources; and public
transportation.

This year’s forum was a tremendous success, with high
attendance. Emma planned ahead by having
an underclassman shadow her along the way in order for the forum to continue.
She graduated this year from the School for Environmental Studies in Eagan,
Minnesota.

To learn more about YEA Minnesota and the Will Steger
Foundation visit:

YEA Minnesota,
sustaincommunity.net/network/youth-environmental-activists-minnesota-yea-mn

The Will Steger Foundation, willstegerfoundation.org

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