It’s Our Future

• – IOF students helped to craft and pass a comprehensive School Sustainability Policy including metrics and goals regarding energy use, zero waste, climate literacy and more for Oak Park River Forest High School (OPRF). They are now helping with implementation.
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• – Evanston Township High School, with the leadership of IOF students, is now in the process of designing their own policy following the road map created by OPRF.
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• – IOF students are pushing for their schools (there are 7 high schools  represented in IOF)  to craft similar climate policies. 
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• – IOF youth attend the United Nations Climate Conference, also known as COP where they meet with world leaders, other youth activists, indigenous leaders and share their views. When they return they educate their peers and communities through daily dispatches, social media, presentations and livestream events. 
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• – IOF students gave powerful testimony to Evanston’s city council before the unanimously voted to declare a Climate Emergency

Below is part of a thank you letter from David Pope, President, Oak Park Residence Corporation and Executive Director, Oak Park Housing Authority

“Sophie Ball, a [then] OPRF High School student and member of It’s Our Future, provided what was singularly the most important testimony about the entire project [a net zero energy apartment building that will be the most significant new multifamily building in the entire Midwest ] to the members of the Oak Park Plan Commission, thereby enabling us to obtain the necessary local zoning approvals that have paved the way for us to advance this project through to construction.”