Origins of FHTE: My name is Chloe Maxmin (19), and in 2007 I founded First Here, Then Everywhere. FHTE stems from my experiences with environmental activism. I founded the Climate Action Club at my small high-school in Maine. We provide opportunities for people in our school and community to fight climate change. Our work has spread across our school, community, and the nation. We have had a major impact on our social and natural environment.
The Climate Action Club taught me that young environmentalists from anywhere in the world can have their voices heard and their goals accomplished. I also realized that my generation--today's youth--will be the ones to confront and mitigate climate change. These two ideas put together taught me that our social solidarity is one of our most important tools. I founded FHTE so young environmentalists would have a place to connect, collaborate, share, and learn from each other. This network is a support system, a place of inspiration, and a place of motivation.
My mission: My personal mission it to make climate change the defining mission of my generation. We enter adulthood at a crucial point in the history of humanity. We are the first to see the devastating effects of climate change. The responsibility to mitigate climate change, change human behavior, and heal the planet will fall to us. As each individual on Earth feels the effects of a changing world, humanity will turn to me, to my friends, to my peers, and to my generation to find solutions for the future. We will be defined by our response to these new realities. We must rally to change it for the better. Rise to fight, rise to educate, and rise to protect.
I have learned many invaluable lessons about activism and networking, and I wanted to write about them and share them with you. Here is my blog: http://firstheretheneverywhere.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @chloemaxmin
Awards and Recognition: Chloe's achievements as a youth activist have been recognized both nationally and internationally. In 2011 she was a recipient of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, awarded to the top 10 youth activists in the US. Her work as the leader of the CAC was the focus feature of the Sundance Channel's award-winning eco-documentary, "Big Ideas for a Small Planet," the "Communities" episode, in Season 3 that premiered in 2010. She was awarded the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, given to the top high school volunteer in each state. She has also been awarded the international MTV Switch award and the Best Buy @15 Community Impact Challenge. Chloe has received numerous state, regional, and school awards for her activist and scholastic achievements. She is currently a Freshwoman at Harvard College.
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