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Day 26

Eco Hero

SPONSORED BY ACURE ORGANICS

OVERVIEW

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than one’s self.” ~ Joseph Campbell, American Mythologist, Writer and Lecturer

Heroes are more than fictional characters that wear capes and save the day from villains. From teachers and friends to world-famous activists and established leaders, there are real-life heroes everywhere, helping to change the world every day through passion for peace, justice, and equity. Every bold leader who questions the status quo and works to shift the paradigm is a hero – including you!

Today, we’re talking about a specific type of hero. Someone who stands up for those without a voice to protect natural resources and all living species. Someone who understands that man does not dominate nature, but is rather an interconnected part of it. Someone who hopes to pass on a healthy and thriving planet to their children and grandchildren. That’s right, today is all about ECO-heroes!

Through Project Green Challenge, we seek to not only empower you with information, but to introduce you to mentors and role models who are engaged in positive change around issues impacting our shared planet. We find eco-heroes in each and every one of our partners, and are so honored to support the incredible work they do and the positive impacts that their companies and organizations have on people and the planet.

We read about heroes everyday, some are catalyzing our planet around climate change, like Leonardo DiCaprio, who’s new documentary, #BeforeTheFlood, will be available to stream for free on October 30; some are vocal advocates for environmental action, public health and equal justice, like Turning Green’s co-founder, 25-year old, Erin Schrode, who ran an unprecedented campaign for US Congress in California; and some are mobilizing the youngest members of society, like Mr. Eco, an environmental rap hero who uses music to empower children to become activists called – that’s right, you guessed it – #EcoHeroes.

For every challenge, there are solutions. Whether it comes from one person, or a collective of great minds working together, there’s nothing we can’t solve to help make our planet thrive. What does it take to be a hero? Passion, dedication, and a little bit of courage – that’s it!

So, who’s your eco-hero? Today, we give you an opportunity to discover different people who are setting the stage and forging new paths toward a healthy, sustainable, and just planet. At any given moment we are all asked to be extraordinary, and with that comes responsibility to ourselves and to all humanity.

CHALLENGE

Green

20 POINTS

THINK

You don’t have to look far to find a hero. There are students on your campus and people in your community who are actively changing the world.

 

CHALLENGE

  • Find someone on your campus or in your community who has effectively instituted sustainable change. It can be anyone from students to faculty to administration, someone you admire for the work they have accomplished.
  • Who is this person? What have they done to create change?
  • Have a short conversation with them and ask a few good questions. If you can’t reach them to have a conversation, write out the questions that you would have asked them.
  • Share what you admire about them and any hurdles they had to overcome to reach their goals.
  • What did you learn from your conversation?
  • How did it impact you?

 

DELIVERABLES

Upload a PDF document with your responses. Please include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.

 

Submission Guidelines

  • Please submit all entries as PDFs – no word or pages docs.
  • Please save filenames using the following format: firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel_year.pdf (ex: kasie_shils_day1_greener_2016.pdf)
  • Do not include # in filenames
  • Please be sure to include all content for your submission in one doc
  • Do not upload a file bigger than 5 MB
  • Link images if possible
  • You will get a confirmation that your submission uploaded correctly. If you did not get a confirmation, please try again.
  • If your total points do not change, your submission did not load correctly and you will have to try again.
  • Send any questions you have to info@turninggreen.org
  • Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #PGC2016.
The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

Greener

40 POINTS

THINK

There are extraordinary people across our globe who have stepped up to effect change against all odds. Their voices allowed them to start a movement or create that change, and their actions have a ripple effect. This is the power of one!

 

CHALLENGE

  • On a national or global context, who is a person that you would call out as an eco-hero, a person that you really admire? Identify that person, get to know them and then introduce them to us.
  • Approach this challenge as if you were writing a story for your campus newspaper, the New York Times or a favorite blog.
    • Share the name and a photo of your hero
    • Tell us their story in 500 words; where are they from, what they have accomplished, speak about challenges and obstacles they faced, and why you were drawn to them
    • What resonated for you from their experience?
  • If you were to meet this person, what would you share about how they have impacted you?
  • Write up three questions you would ask your hero?
  • See if you can find an email address for your hero and tell them how they have inspired you. Extra points will be awarded for emails sent.
  • Upload a picture of your hero on the social media platform of your choice and caption it with a short blurb explaining why they inspire you. Use the hashtags #PGC2016 and #ecohero, and don’t forget to tag us @TurningGreenOrg. Try to tag your hero as well, if they have a social media profile!

 

DELIVERABLES

Upload a PDF document with your responses and a screenshot of your social media post. Please include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.

 

Submission Guidelines

  • Please submit all entries as PDFs – no word or pages docs.
  • Please save filenames using the following format: firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel_year.pdf (ex: kasie_shils_day1_greener_2016.pdf)
  • Do not include # in filenames
  • Please be sure to include all content for your submission in one doc
  • Do not upload a file bigger than 5 MB
  • Link images if possible
  • You will get a confirmation that your submission uploaded correctly. If you did not get a confirmation, please try again.
  • If your total points do not change, your submission did not load correctly and you will have to try again.
  • Send any questions you have to info@turninggreen.org
  • Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #PGC2016.
The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

Greenest

60 POINTS

THINK

Do you see yourself as a hero? We do! Sometimes we’re reluctant to acknowledge just how awesome we, ourselves, are. If our task and our responsibility to future generations is to create a healthy, just and thriving planet, we need leaders that have confidence in themselves and others to move us forward. What can you start today, at this very moment, to be involved in developing a solution to a challenge you see in front of you?

 

CHALLENGE

Over this past month, you have learned about many themes related to everyday life. You have learned that you have the power to change the world, step by step. The time has come for you to identify an issue or cause, that you feel passionate about, one that will prompt you to take action to be that change.

  • Reflect on the past month and identify an issue or cause that you are passionate about, one, that truly resonates
  • What will you champion? What will you do in the world to help heal our planet?
  • Craft a vision of you as a hero.

Create a Humans of New York-style profile with you as an eco-hero. You are one of the incredible humans that allow Turning Green to thrive. Include a photo, quote, and your name on the post.

  • Now, this time, upload YOUR picture on the social media platform of your choice and caption it with your profile. Use the hashtags #PGC2016 and #ecohero, and don’t forget to tag us @TurningGreenOrg.

 

DELIVERABLES

Upload a PDF document with your responses and a screenshot of your post. Please include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.

 

Submission Guidelines

  • Please submit all entries as PDFs – no word or pages docs.
  • Please save filenames using the following format: firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel_year.pdf (ex: kasie_shils_day1_greener_2016.pdf)
  • Do not include # in filenames
  • Please be sure to include all content for your submission in one doc
  • Do not upload a file bigger than 5 MB
  • Link images if possible
  • You will get a confirmation that your submission uploaded correctly. If you did not get a confirmation, please try again.
  • If your total points do not change, your submission did not load correctly and you will have to try again.
  • Send any questions you have to info@turninggreen.org
  • Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #PGC2016.

 

 

The deadline for entering this challenge has past.