the arctic encounter's

ARCTIC YOUTH INITIATIVE

In an effort to deliver a voice and a platform for young people living in the Arctic to engage in and shape Arctic policy, the Arctic Encounter Symposium (AES) founded the Arctic Youth Initiative (AYI) in 2014. The mission of AYI is to facilitate meaningful discourse between Arctic youth and today's most influential domestic and international Arctic policy leaders.



At AES, we believe that by listening to the young people of the Arctic with an open mind and open heart, together, we can make a difference and bring positive and desirable change to the lives of people living in the Far North. As conveners, we have the power and the responsibility to incorporate the voices of our future Arctic leaders and to consider the wisdom that these young people have to offer.

Let us understand the urgency and call to action these young people are asking of us and recognize our duty to respond. 

summary of the 2015 arctic youth survey

In an effort to fulfill this mission, members of the Arctic Encounter's leadership team developed a comprehensive survey to learn more about the hopes, dreams, and concerns of young people in Alaska's Arctic. The sole objective of this survey process was to give a voice to those most affected by Arctic policy decisions today and in the future. We explained to these young people that their responses would be heard by some of the most influential Arctic policy leaders in the nation. The survey results and their responses were presented by AES Founder and Executive Director, Rachel Kallander, at the 2015 AES. 

To learn more and get involved, please fill out the AES contact form and specify your interest in the Arctic Youth Initiative!   

 

video presentation: results of the 2015 Arctic Youth Initiative survey effort in the alaskan arctic

 

a selection of responses from ALASKAN ARCTIC YOUTH - collected via survey in january 2015

 

Special thanks to members of the Washington Journal of Environmental Law and Policy for their dedication and time extended to the 2015 Arctic Youth Initiative's January 2015 surveying and analysis work.