BURLINGTON, Vermont— 350Vermont in Burlington, Vermont will host Gideon Mensah-Commey from Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) in Ghana through the Department of State’s Community Solutions Program (CSP), a professional development program for the best and brightest global community leaders working in Transparency and Accountability, Tolerance and Conflict Resolution, Environmental Issues, and Women and Gender Issues.
As a CSP Fellow, Mensah-Commey hopes to learn about tools and strategies for engaging government on climate policy issues and sharpen his skills in grassroots and digital organizing by learning from the divestment and carbon pollution tax campaigns.
During Mensah-Commey’s four-month fellowship, he will be involved in class presentations in schools and connect with youth in the state to grow their awareness and participation in environmental justice issues. He will also connect with the solar industry in Vermont, creating networking opportunities for information and knowledge transfer with solar companies in his home country.
Mensah-Commey is an environmental activist and renewable energy entrepreneur at Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) whose work focuses on leading and engaging youth in promoting environmental sustainability and clean energy through innovative campaigns and actions that influence change in their communities.
“We are elated to welcome Gideon as our first international exchange fellow to 350Vermont and to our broad network of collaborators and partners,” said Maeve McBride, coordinator for 350Vermont. “We anticipate an important exchange of learning, ideas, and culture.”
350Vermont was chosen as one of 60 U.S. organizations to host Community Solutions Leaders from more than 30 countries this fall.
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For more information, please visit http://www.exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/community-solutions
For press inquires please contact:
Maeve McBride, Coordinator, 350Vermont: 802-444-0350. [email protected]
Taunya Atwood, Senior Program Officer, IREX: 202-628-8188. [email protected]
Anna Griffin, Public Affairs, Department of State: 202-632-6452 [email protected]