In addition to international programming, Tara has developed and led programs to help New Yorkers get involved with their local and global environment, including:
From Local To Global: The UN as a local NYC Resource
Since 2005, Tara has been facilitating the participation of young and minority New Yorkers in environmental policy development processes at the United Nations. Participants are trained in issues of climate change, resources management, food policy and other pressing environmental issues before attending official policy sessions with delegations from around the world. Participants have the opportunity to not only observe policy-in-action, but to see the transformation of local, environmental issues into global negotiations and legislation. Tara has facilitated representation to policy development such as the DPI Climate Conference, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the World Water Forum and others. If you are interested in sponsoring "From Local to Global" in your community, please contact Tara@HumanImpactsInstitute.org or +1(917) 727-9761.
New Yorkers for Science
“New Yorkers for Science” is a program created to introduce young women and men to futures in environmental activism, education, and research in the natural sciences, the program cultivated the minds of our future environmental leaders. Participants will visit laboratories, participate in environmental science workshops and attended panel discussion on pursuing careers in the natural sciences, policy making, public health, and environmental justice. After the classes, participants attend a panel discussion on the subject of “New Yorkers in Science," with diverse representatives from NYC's scientific community. Past panelists have included Biologists, Geomorphologists, Professors, Environmental Educators, and representatives from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYC Parks, the Natural Resources Group, Professors from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, Manhattan Waste Advisory Board, the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions at Columbia University, and the Prospect Park Audubon Society. Afterwards, participants have the opportunity to apply for summer internships at a number of these environmental organizations. If you are interested in sponsoring "New Yorkers in Science" in your community, please contact Tara@HumanImpactsInstitute.org or +1(917) 727-9761.
Women’s Sustainability and Leadership Training
The goal of the women's sustainability and leadership trainings are to help women and girls achieve fuller representation within the environmental community both near and far. Classes are developed for women and girls from the local community including Green Job Training, Small Business Sustainability Survey, Environmental Activism, Environmental Journalism, International Sustainable Development, Climate Change Solutions, and other women's environmental leadership programs. These programs place participants in charge of research, management, networking, and gathering of background information, outreach and program development. Projects for young women have included the creation of a native plant garden for Neighborhood Women's Rennaissance (NWR), a low-cost housing space for women and their families, located on the grounds of the old Greenpoint/Williamsburg Hospital, the 2007 Women's Grassroots Academy, which facilitated the participation of international grassroots women at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, and a diversity of young women's sustainability and environmental leadership training opportunities. In completing such projects, pariticpants gain priceless leadership qualities and skills in community organizing, public speaking and education. If you are interested in sponsoring "Women's Sustainability and Leadership Training" in your community, please contact Tara@HumanImpactsInstitute.org or +1(917) 727-9761.
