By Scott Hardin-Nieri, Director of Creation Care Alliance of WNC

The Creation Care Alliance partnered with the Asheville Youth Mission and Christmount Conference Center on Oct. 14 for our 2nd annual “Mission: Earth” conference, an afternoon of youth programs about climate, social justice and faith.

The afternoon was a sight to see: teens cultivated pollinator gardens, distributed food to those in need at 12 Baskets Cafe, and listened to stories and shared time with people without homes at the Saturday Sanctuary Homeless Day Shelter at First Presbyterian Church.

MountainTrue’s Watershed Outreach Coordinator Anna Alsobrook guided one youth group in stenciling storm drains throughout West Asheville to remind the public to protect our shared water resources.

Young people from Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Circle of Mercy, Land of the Sky United Church of Christ and New Hope Presbyterian Church took part in the conference. In small groups, the teens listed challenges and possible solutions for poverty, climate change, pollution, food insecurity and faith. Then, they “cross-pollinated” ideas – seeking out challenges or solutions that apply to one or more of the issues. “It is all interconnected,” several teenagers determined as they completed the activity.

Mission: Earth closing circle at Christmount Conference Center. 

This past year, CCA staff and volunteers have encouraged youth participation in events like the Earth Day Vigil and the 100 Days of Creation Care Action event. Most recently, we’ve launched Spiritual Opportunities for Intentional Living (S.O.I.L.), an intergenerational, collaborative week-long conference exploring climate change, pollution, poverty, race and reconciliation. Participants learn to incorporate resilience through spiritual practice and by sharing their own creation care work in TED talkstyle presentations, and also find time for play throughout the week by whitewater rafting, swimming and square dancing. CCA believes that young people have a crucial role to play in tackling issues of social and environmental justice, and we’re expanding opportunities for youth leadership in our work. We hope you’ll join us.