IYES — Interfaith Youth Energy Squad

by Justin Schott, Program Director

“There is nothing like a dream to create the future.” — Victor Hugo

Some of the greatest accomplishments arise from dreams.  For James Watson, one of the Nobel Prize winners for the discovery and description of DNA, it was a dream of two snakes intertwined that sparked the epiphany of the double helix.  Dreams can also play a role in igniting and propelling movements for peace and justice, as they did for Dr. King.  When life, communities, or country seem to be headed in the wrong direction, dreams are an antidote of hope, courage, and empowerment.     

The dream of IYES was inspired in large part by the impacts of Hurricane Katrina.  In June of 2006 I spent a week in New Orleans, participating in an eco-justice conference organized by the National Council of Churches.  In my first visit to the Big Easy, I saw the face of damage first hand.  We met with a Vietnamese pastor and some members of his congregation who were fighting an uncontained landfill that would permanently contaminate their water supply and a national wildlife refuge.  Perceived as a defenseless community, the EPA obviated the need for permits despite tests that had shown the debris to be highly toxic, a fact easily overlooked in favor of convenience and contracts for corporate cronies.  It was a battle the church ultimately won, thankfully, but the relief remains tenuous. 

Witnessing Katrina’s unprecedented devastation, I recognized how deeply the causes of our unsustainable society are interwoven.  Ignoring social injustices, poverty, struggling schools, unemployment, and a destabilized climate is a recipe for another Katrina.  My dream is that we unite to prevent future Katrinas, that we work to protect people, their livelihoods, their communities, and the planet.

I dream that in a time of economic recession, we can make energy-efficient improvements, encourage conservation, and ease the burden of rising energy bills.  I dream that no family will lose its home, have its heat shut off, or have to choose between food and light. 

I dream that faith communities are at the forefront of fighting global warming and working to protect people from the impacts of hurricanes, rising seas, drought, floods. 

I dream that the solutions to these problems strenghten communities, alleviate poverty, create leadership and professional development opportunities for young people, and generate good green jobs.

I dream that these benefits go to individuals and communities who have been disadvantaged, disempowered, and oppressed.  I dream of a movement that includes people of every color, class, ethnicity, faith, gender, sexual preference, political party, shoe size, and hair style. 

From the whirlwind of these dreams came the dream of IYES — an Interfaith Youth Energy Squad. The dream is simple — by training high school students to perform basic energy-efficient retrofits like weatherstripping doors and windows, installing programmable thermostats, and changing light bulbs, we will save families thousands of dollars, reduce air pollution and global warming, and empower students to excel. 

Imagine students learning about social justice, climate change solutions, and faith-based perspectives on service and environmental stewardship.  They work in teams and earn credits, certifications, and scholarships that help them succeed academically and open doors to college and future jobs.
  
Imagine parents, students, schools, civic organizations, businesses, government agencies, and faith communities coalescing around a program that harnesses the talents and resources of the community, rather than waiting for insufficient top-down assistance.

Imagine this all starting right here in Southeast Michigan, leading the charge to an energy-efficient, low-carbon economy.  This is my dream, that IYES is a force for tackling our energy and climate crises, a pathway out of poverty, and a gateway to green careers and youth achievement.  I hope by now you are dreaming with me.