January 07, 2019
ACT 48 Workshop at La Roche College to Explore Climate Change
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 7, 2019 – La Roche University and Young Voices for the Planet (YVFP) invite educators of all grade levels and subject areas to earn ACT 48 credits at a Civic Engagement and Democracy Educator Workshop on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Funded by The Heinz Endowments, the day-long professional development course welcomes formal and informal educators to explore ways to empower and inspire their students in the face of climate change and other environmental concerns.
The event will be held in the Zappala College Center Square at La Roche’s campus in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. Visit laroche.edu/youngvoices to register. Tickets cost $15. Registration includes ACT 48 credits upon workshop completion, continental breakfast and lunch, and free on-site parking.
A professional facilitator will lead the workshop and guide teachers in discussions and break-out sessions. The workshop also will include a formal presentation by YVFP founder and children’s book author/illustrator Lynn Cherry. The workshop goals include:
- YVFP’s theory of change and approach to youth empowerment.
- Considering psychology and social science when teaching troubling environmental issues.
- How to overcome students’ “motivated avoidance” when learning about troubling issues.
- Helping students overcome doom and gloom, and be energized by hope for the future.
- Guiding students in creating their action plan to address an issue of their choosing in their community in Western Pennsylvania.
The mission of the YVFP film series is to limit the magnitude of climate change and its impact by empowering children and youth to take an essential role in informing their communities — and society at large, challenging decision-makers and catalyzing change.
For more information about the workshop, please contact Education Department Chair Kate Silvis, D.Ed., at kathryn.silvis@laroche.edu.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, six graduate degree programs and one doctoral program, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than 1,400 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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