2020 Teens Dream - Litter Pollution in Marlborough - MHS - UN SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

In 2020 the McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University, a Smithsonian Affiliate in Framingham, MA, was selected to work with local teens to produce videos about the environment, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution. The McAuliffe Center worked in collaboration with the MetroWest STEM Education Network on a mentorship program where students were asked to identify the changes they have seen in their environments during the pandemic, whether in the community or at home. They associated their observations with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, 17 interconnected goals which serve as a blueprint to achieve a more sustainable future for all. Youth from Framingham, Marlborough, and Milford High Schools produced short videos to illuminate practices they want to carry forward, and that will inspire their peers to take action as well. The Teen Videos project is part of the Smithsonian’s Earth Optimism initiative which aims to change the focus from problem to solution in the dialogue around conservation and sustainability. The initiative is dedicated to sharing stories of small- and large-scale successful actions that can be replicated. This project is part of a nation-wide outreach effort to cultivate teen leaders around issues impacting the environment and is supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Women’s Committee.