Only six months after its creation, the Student Environmental and Sustainability Network has launched with vigor and set the groundwork for a strong future. We have connected dozens of students, activists, and school communities for the purpose of creating a network to implement and push for environmental action. We now cast our net wider than ever, sharing this publication with thousands of students across our communities. As the academic year draws to a close, it is a good time to reflect on what we have accomplished and look forward to what the future holds.
Back in March, when discussing what initiatives to pursue as a group, one idea stuck out above all other: an environmental publication. We recognized that without writing and art, a movement cannot be successful. We have amassed quite the network of passionate environmental activists and even some aspiring journalists working to create what you are reading now. Following the success of Sidwell Friends’ FEAT newsletter, we have expanded the publication to many more schools with dozens of passionate student writers, artists, and journalists contributing. With all of the dedication and hard work committed to creating Ecosystemic. It is incredibly gratifying to see this end product. From text chains to google forms, meetings, and editing, we have come together and created something incredible. But this is only the beginning. As we consider launching a website, attract more passionate voices, and reach more students than ever, one cannot help but feel a certain sense of optimism.
As for the name itself, Ecosystemic has many interpretations. When you break down the word itself you get “Eco” and “Systemic.” Eco, relating to ecology and the connectedness of nature, and systemic relating to a system, especially as opposed to a particular part. We wanted to stress the earthly aspect of our publication because that is what we are trying to preserve. An ecosystem is a space in which organisms interact with each other and their environment, forming a dynamic yet broadly stable system. Technically speaking, we are organisms interacting with each other forming a powerful dynamic to help save other organisms. Alongside this, we also wished to imply the humanitarian issue at hand. If one thing goes wrong within a system, the system malfunctions and others suffer. That is what is happening with the environmental crisis we are facing. The Ecosystem is a living thing that accomplishes much, and as a unit, is reliant on its parts. We need everyone if we wish to see change. The issue is Ecosystemic, and we are Ecosystemic.
SEASN’s work goes beyond this publication. One of our earliest goals was to hold a summit, gathering like minded students and faculty together to support and encourage each other in climate action. Guided by the principles of collaboration and cooperation, we aimed to maximize our collective impact by working together. Taking advantage of the Friends Environmental Education Network (FEEN), an annual conference for faculty coordinated by the Friends Council on Education (FCE), we lended our voices to the conversation. Organized skillfully by faculty at Friends Central School and the FCE, we co-hosted the virtual conference. Under the guidance of keynote speaker Jay O’Hara, co-founder of the Climate Disobedience Center, students and faculty alike discussed the intersections of climate with Quaker education, sharing struggles and successes, ideas and support, all while challenging ourselves to evaluate our roles and actions in the environmentalism movement. Although held virtually this year, SEASN is excited by the prospects of an in-person summit in the coming year, engaging students, faculty, and staff from a variety of communities and backgrounds with this important and pressing issue. We are excited for what the future holds. Alongside this, we are incredibly excited for the great change possible through uniting schools and passionate people with the shared objective of creating a more sustainable and just world.
The Climate Crisis is a pervasive environmental and social issue, which will require collaboration and cooperation to effectively address. As students, we in SEASN aim to maximize our collective impact, inspiring and encouraging each other, offering guidance, and leveraging our collective influence to encourage a just transition to a greener future for all. Will we single-handedly change the world? Of course not! But with every peer we support, every person we inspire, and every student we encourage, we come one step closer. With that, we urge each and every one of you to think about what you can do. I am sure that reading Ecosystemic will give you many ideas! If nothing else, share this publication. And if you are even the slightest bit interested in writing, art, journalism, activism, or sustainability, we at SEASN would love to have you.
To join us, follow this link to gain access to our Slack channel. Can’t wait to meet you!
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