SR-09-09-2014-13E• t ' 1 `
CITY CLERIC'S OFFICE - MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Mayor Pro Tom O'Day and Councilmember Winterer
Date: September 9, 2014
13 -E: Request of Mayor Pro Tom O'Day and Councilmember Winterer to allocate
$20,000 of Council discretionary funds to Grades of Green Trash Free
Lunch program to enroll three new Santa Monica schools in the two -year
program, continue three Santa Monica schools into a second year of the
program and initiate yearlong leadership program called Youth Corps,
where students are empowered by seeing their green ideas turned into
action as they create real change on their school campus.
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Introduction:
Grades of Green is an award winning non -profit whose mission is to inspire and empower kids and the broader
school community to care for the environment. School communities, civic leaders, and the private sector
appreciate Grades of Green's work because the program offers simp le, fun, and effective, activities to green
schools, while also providing measurable results. AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
The Trash Free Lunch Challenge (TFLC), one of the most recognized
programs at Grades of Green, is a yearlong competition where Los
Angeles area schools compete to se ,e who can reduce the most lunchtime
waste. Grades of Green elps schools reduce lunch waste by providing
tools and training on topics
v..
•
Packing azero -waste lunch stems CHEILLeNGe
• Implementing lunchtime trash and recycling sorting sy
® Composting
twenty four schools competed in the Trash Free Lunch Challenge, teaching 13,000 students how
In 2013-14 snapshot , shot of program effortsdadn'dresu n Santa Monica:
diverting over 41 Oof trash from the landfill. The metrics below provide
to
a N
group of selected e OF Mea\i
The Grades of Green Youth Corps is a committed g p C
students actively caring for the environment by creating and
implementing a yearlong Green Project in their school community. This YOUTK.-',
rockstar team receives regular guidance and leadership tnetwogr from
fellow Youth Corps students. Members
passionate Grades of Green staff and a supp p us green
become inspired to help the environment and empowered when they see their actions spark change. Past
Youth Corp projects have included things like banning Styrofoam, diverting waste, and creating camp g
clubs. The awesome Grades of Green Youth Corps students are making huge impacts in their communities.
Thihoy tale, an Grades formational meet gat Sant MonicanHigh Scdhool and ereaching out to potential students and
by g
families in the TFLC schools.
LUNCH CHaLLeNGe STaTS
2p13 ®201 TRASH FRGO
SPONSOR (:D SCHOOLS
CITY OF SaNTa MONICa
4 cPIaLLeNee
xamhera aswaanu
v 9 SNJen1s ".aI9Tnsh
renl Tmsh Tolal Sa 1n To WIPor Yearie0s LI P., Year 5S 'ted.Md FreotOaY POr
Slanln9 Trash P.w Waek
School
PcrO
Caerl Per Oay Counc Per Oay aY
20 3,600 5900 OW 600
FranWin
22 2 5150 696 0
2 10 19W
Glr.k
12 514 911
3 17 .060
1,011
n+camev
20
7 47 6,460 $2,115 1, 060
TOTAL:
54
Lead ersidp of t eso City o
w h 6,460
ary
Total Number of Bags Diverled5an a Year aus toneomd Schools
1,960
Total bi ,b f Students Educated and Inspired 1611
Total Number of Kids Packing a Trash Free Lunch
group of selected e OF Mea\i
The Grades of Green Youth Corps is a committed g p C
students actively caring for the environment by creating and
implementing a yearlong Green Project in their school community. This YOUTK.-',
rockstar team receives regular guidance and leadership tnetwogr from
fellow Youth Corps students. Members
passionate Grades of Green staff and a supp p us green
become inspired to help the environment and empowered when they see their actions spark change. Past
Youth Corp projects have included things like banning Styrofoam, diverting waste, and creating camp g
clubs. The awesome Grades of Green Youth Corps students are making huge impacts in their communities.
Thihoy tale, an Grades formational meet gat Sant MonicanHigh Scdhool and ereaching out to potential students and
by g
families in the TFLC schools.
participated and each Ols A Successful Start in Santa IVlonica
TFrTe
saw astounding results. Below are highlights from the participating ng SM schools
Lunch Challenge,
® McKinley Elementary School was honored as one of the top 3 finalists in the Challenge for reducing
effective, easy to use
lunchtime waste by 85% and for their dedicated and involved student green team. This green team
The community is committed to
worked with adult volunteers to make the program successful through marketing,
sorting stations and a comprehensive for on -site composting Program. their
maki ngtthispr finalist, program
McKinley was years to awarded with through $750 educat ondgrantrto continue expanding their
program.
Franklin Elementary School was also very successful in creating a lunchtime waste reduction program
® program to compost leftover fruit
and achieved a 90% reduction of lunchtime waste. With the guidance and support of Grades o
Green, Franklin also successfully established an on -site composting p g
and vegetable waste from the cafeteria. Franklin was voted 4"
place elementary school in this year's
challenge and was awarded a $500 education grant. us to and achieved an
Grant Elementary School implemented sorting systems throughout their camp
® importance of recycling and sorting lunchtime waste. The
83% reduction in lunchtime waste. The 5�h grade girl scouts formed a green team that led walking
assemblies to educate their peers about the imp
school also held zero waste events throughout the year to educate their entire community on the
importance of waste reduction.
Request:
Both the Trash Free Lunch Challenge and the Youth
Corp programs fit perfectly with Santa Monica's
ongoing record of sustainability and environmental
leadership in Southern California.
Bringing the TFLC to more Santa Monica schools and
the Youth Corp to more Santa Monica students would
help Grades of Green teach and inspire even more
community members to become environmental
leaders.
Grades of Green respectfully requests that the City of
Santa Monicaa consider an�of $20, 000 will provide a two year TFLC program for'three new schools, f a one yea of
Green tip for
follow up for this past year's TFLC schools and funding for Santa Monica students to enter our Youth Corp
program.
Specifically, a $4,000 school sponsorship per 3 new TFLC schools (total of $12,000) would cover the cost of:
• program recruitment and school registration;
• Comprehensive site audit/ eco- consultation and personalized report with recommendations to
implement or enhance lunchtime waste reduction efforts;
• TFLC Training Day for school Green Team Coordinators and Green Team members, including site visit
and tour of a local recycling center;
GRdDES\ l,g
,__
® School -wide educational assembly and hands -on lunch time training to teach students, staff an
administration how to reduce lunchtime waste and sort lunchtime trash;
• Eco- Starter Kit valued at $1,000 with tools to implement the program and motivate students; the kit
includes: hand stamps, recycling signs, Trashy Trivia cards, raffle prize box and eco- prizes for
students;
m -wide celebration at conclusion of program when Challenge winners are
• Participation in progra
announced;
ssembly at the start of the 2015 -2016 school year to ensure sustainability oft the
• Another educational a
program and educate incoming students;
• Ongoing one -on -one support and mentorship from Grades of Green staff.
A $1,000 school sponsorship for this past year's 3 TFLC schools (total of $3,000) would cover the cost of:
®
administration as tolhow to redubcle lunchtime waste and sort lunchtime trash and ensure sustainabil ty
of the program;
® Follow up support throughout the year from Grades of Green staff.
A $5,000 sponsorship for the Youth Corp program would cover the cost of:
• Recruitment and registration of Santa Monica students for Youth Corp program;
• One -on -one mentorship and guidance in choosing and implementing a green project;
• Five meetings throughout the year where Youth Corp members can share ideas and collaborate with
peers including a final presentation to showcase green projects to the community;
• Regular guidance and leadership training from Grades of Green staff throughout the year. TFLC
schools in the form of redup I an investment in tomorrow's leaders, it
ced waste collection bills, ash bag liners, will
ndo associated man tenan'ce co'stts.
Follow ua and next steps:
We would like to hear from you by June 22, 2014 to allow time for Grades of Green to recruit, invite, and
register SM schools before the next TFLC Training Day which will be held September 17, 2014, and recruit SM
students for Youth Corp.
The City of Santa Monica will be recognized and celebrated throughout the 7 -month program (August 2014 -
April 2015), including:
• The City of Santa Monica will be mentioned in TFLC and Youth Corp press releases
• The City of Santa Monica will be spotlighted on Grades of Green's social media channels (including
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and GooglePlus)
• Logo /name placement on the TFLC program banner and training day presentation
• Logo /name placement on the TFLC and Youth Corp websites
• Logo /name placement and recognition on the Grades of Green website
• Invitation to TFLC Celebration, the culmination of our program where the Challenge winner is
celebrated
• Invitation to final Youth Corp presentation
schools from assisting with the school selection process to attending eassembl es gram with their sponsored
�
J�wN�~�'
on behalf of Grades of Green, thank you for your consideration, We look forward to working together to make
environmental protection second nature in Young minds in the Santa Monica schools.
UoxCopuedoo
Director ofPrograms
/310'202-0357