Released April 18, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Central Ohio teenagers who are passionate about the environment are invited to apply for the "Sustainability Now!" Youth Summit, being held May 16-17 at Ohio State University.

Applications, available online at http://sri.osu.edu/sustainabilitynow/ , are due by May 1. The Youth Summit is free, but participation is limited to 25.

"The conference is bringing together national and community leaders and concerned citizens, and we know young people are interested in these issues, too," said Kristi Lekies, assistant professor of human and community resource development and state specialist with Ohio State University Extension's 4-H Youth Development.

"The Youth Summit is a chance for high school students to think more about what they are passionate about, develop their skills, and meet people with similar interests," Lekies said. The Youth Summit is designed to give young people the tools they need to initiate projects to protect the environment and address critical issues that communities throughout Ohio and the world are facing.

Youth Summit participants will gather at 5 p.m. Friday, May 16, and will join with other conference participants later that evening at the keynote address by Jim Merkel, author of Radical Simplicity. Saturday's events run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Youth-driven workshops during the Summit include "Youth Role in Environmental Sustainability," "Assessing Community Needs and Your Strengths," "Strategies for Change: Developing Your Action Plan," and a networking lunch with university students.

Sustainability Now! is sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences' Social Responsibility Initiative, the community organization Simply Living, and the Columbus Green Building Forum. Conference details also are available at http://sri.osu.edu/sustainabilitynow/.

For more information on the Youth Summit, contact Kristi Lekies at lekies.1@osu.edu or (614) 688-3537 or Jane Harrison at harrison.253@osu.edu or (614) 499-2151.

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http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~news/story.php?id=4581

Contacts: Martha Filipic, (614) 292-9833, filipic.3@cfaes.osu.edu

Kristi Lekies, (614) 688-3537, lekies.1@osu.edu