blue vision summit conference

(from left to right) Thomas, Avrielle, Syed, me (Jessie), Halcyon

Voicing our concern with Priscila D. Abraham, a staff member from the office of Congresswoman Kathleen Rice

Our meeting with Congressman Jerald Nadler

The conference day also marked the day of the Youth Panel. For the youth panel, I gave a brief talk on the Harbor School and it's programs that inspire new teenage environmentalists. People were impressed with the school's Billion Oyster Project, each CTEs involvement with that project, and the overall attitude each Harbor Student learns.

On the second day, the whole conference of Seaweed Rebels descended on the hill. The Harbor School crew spent the first half of the day working seeing staff of congresspeople and discussing a bill on offshore drilling and a bill on pirate fishing. We also discussed our school and what had brought us in particular to the conference. We met some amazing and receptive people.

The conference was as good as it sounds and better. We went down to Washington D. C. on a long Megabus ride. On the conference day, my favorite was hearing from the Waitt Institute. I was really inspired by their method of conservation. The nonprofit asks the locals on the islands they're working with which areas need to be protected and which species need to be cared for.Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of going to the Blue Vision Summit Conference with four other students and two teachers. Back in  January, the organizer of the conference came into my Vessel Ops class with Sam Janis. He spoke briefly of the conference he was working on. The conference would take place in Washington D.C. Hundreds of passionate environmentalists would share their perspectives on ocean conservation. The next day we would all go out to the hill to talk to politicians about specific bills they could support that would help the ocean. 

Then, with the help of an email to Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Harbor Students and teachers got to meet with Jerald Nadler, New York City Congressman. Congressman Nadler was great. He had been to the school and enjoyed hearing from us on how the Billion Oyster Project was going. He was also interested in how oysters in the water could lessen the blow of a storm like superstorm Sandy. 

Overall the trip was a great learning experience and an important way to spread the mission of this high school.