Burlington, VT. – Vermont Green FC is partnering with the Vermont Youth Lobby at the Club’s June 28 home game to help grow awareness of and participation in the statewide coalition of young people and adult allies working to empower young people to lead the environmental and social justice movements younger generations are demanding.

Youth Lobby’s mission is to help Vermont youth more effectively use the power they have as democratic citizens to affect significant change through responsible, informed, collective action and civil discourse.  They strive to be polite, respectful, and fierce.

“Adults have known that climate change was a generation-defining crisis for as long as my peers and I have been alive, and those in charge have so far failed to take just and unified action to avoid the worst consequences of this global crisis. Youth Lobby is demanding meaningful policy changes from our communities and government, leveraging the power of younger generations who stand together to declare that our future is worth fighting for,” said Iris Hsiang, Vermont Youth Lobby member.

The future has a voice and the Youth Lobby is leading the statewide coalition that is elevating that voice at the grassroots level and in the Legislature. Vermont Green FC believes the younger generations have the answers to our greatest societal challenges, whether that’s climate change or systemic racism. The Club also is committed to learning from young people in our local communities who are working to make change and demanding greater responsibility and accountability from those in positions of power. 

“Our club has committed to using our platform to advance environmental justice in soccer and in our local community. In order to succeed in our mission, we have to both learn from and support the fantastic mission-aligned organizations already making an impact in Vermont. Vermont Youth Lobby is one of those organizations and they also represent an essential voice in the big conversation of how we transform our society and economy into systems that regenerate nature and uplift and empower those among us who are disproportionately harmed by environmental crises, like climate change, which includes young people.”

Youth Lobby has recently launched a Youth Climate Justice initiative that matches young people with the resources and connections they need to make a difference in the state and the world. ​The initiative focuses on the actions that young people can take right now to make a difference, including teaching advocacy skills, facilitating connections, and building the support network necessary for enacting change. 

June 28 Match Information

The Vermont Youth Lobby community spotlight will take place at Vermont Green FC’s home match on June 28 against Blackwatch Rush. Gates open at 6 pm and the game will kick off at 7 pm. Youth Lobby representatives will speak about their climate justice initiative at halftime and will be tabling at the game to talk with supporters about how they can get involved. For tickets, please visit: https://vtgrn.com/JUNE28MATCHTIX

About Youth Lobby

Vermont Youth Lobby is a grassroots coalition of young people and adult allies from across the state who are working together in partnership with legislators, community members, nonprofit organizations, and the local business community to affect the changes younger generations are demanding. We are committed to nonviolence and inclusivity of ideas from across the political spectrum, as long as they are for the betterment of our collective future, and not the profit of a few.