Forums-to-Action

Value: Campus & Student

Value: Student

F2A program provides students with Leadership Skills, Energy Literacy, Experiential Learning and Professional Development. In addition, student Focus Coordinators have the opportunity to earn:

FEDERAL WORK STUDY (FWS)

The F2A program requires a weekly time commitment of 4-10 hours (depending on the phase of the program). Students eligible for FWS can access this Financial Aid by working as a Focus Coordinator to educate and engage their community on local clean energy solutions.

INDEPENDENT STUDY CREDIT

The F2A program is designed for students to engage in a rigorous, experiential-learning, multi-disciplinary curriculum. This curriculum culminates in a student-led project that addresses local clean energy needs–not only benefiting the student but also the community.

SERVICE-LEARNING CREDIT

Students who work with FTN go through a transformative community engagement experience while immersing in the F2A curriculum, planning a forum, building an action plan and implementing it in their community.

Timeline

PHASE ONE: F2A CURRICULUM

FTN provides student leaders (Focus Coordinators) with a rigorous interactive curriculum through the Energy Primer, weekly webinars by industry experts and personalized coaching that increases students’ knowledge about our energy landscape and their leadership skills.

PHASE TWO: CLEAN ENERGY FORUM

Focus Coordinators lead their student F2A Team through the process of designing and planning a Clean Energy Forum; identifying panelists, securing partners and engaging the local community to attend the February Clean Energy Forum. These forums highlight the most unique, relevant and tangible clean energy issues to that community. At the event, Roadblocks & Solutions specific to the community are identified through an audience-engaged panel discussion moderated by a student leader. The Clean Energy Forum is the launching pad for the next phase of F2A.

PHASE THREE: SOLUTIONS IN ACTION

During the action phase of F2A, Focus Coordinators expand the F2A Team to include local experts, event panelists and/or community members who are invested in addressing the Roadblocks & Solutions. This Action Team works to create and implement a measurable project through an Action Plan. FTN provides support and resources to the F2A Team while guiding them through the planning process and implementation stages. FTN also provides a platform for these dynamic local solutions to be shared with other F2A Teams nationwide.

Relationship Model

FOCUS COORDINATORS

Two students act as co-leads in the role of Focus Coordinators. Focus Coordinators engage with the weekly F2A curriculum, plan the Clean Energy Forum and lead the F2A Team through the Action planning process. Focus Coordinators facilitate connections between the campus and the surrounding community creating powerful collaborations that drive dynamic solutions. Focus Coordinators receive guidance and support from an FTN Coach and the Campus Advisor.

F2A TEAM MEMBERS

Focus Coordinators build a team of diverse students (Innovators, Technicians, Politicos and Storytellers) who work together to create and host a Clean Energy Forum and participate in the development and implementation of the Action Plan. Through this volunteer opportunity, students gain collaboration and event planning skills and are an integral part of developing dynamic solutions.

F2A CAMPUS ADVISOR

The Campus Advisor is a faculty or staff member on campus who works with the FTN Coach to guide and advise the Focus Coordinators throughout the course of the F2A program. The Campus Advisor helps FTN identify the Focus Coordinators, guides them through bi-monthly check-ins and connects them with campus and community resources that can assist with the Clean Energy Forum and/or Action Plan. Throughout the F2A program, the Campus Advisor’s most important role is to mentor Focus Coordinators along their leadership development experience.

FTN COACH

Every team of Focus Coordinators works closely with an FTN Coach from our headquarters. The FTN Coach provides weekly support and guidance through webinars, individualized coaching and professional development. The FTN Coach provides connections to established clean energy leaders, industry experts and governmental officials through our network of national and local partnerships.The FTN Coach collaborates with the Campus Advisor to provide a dynamic leadership development experience for the Focus Coordinators. FTN Headquarters serves as a national platform to highlight and broadcast innovative youth-driven solutions to local energy roadblocks.

LOCAL PARTNERS

Local partners are on-the-ground experts comprised of business leaders, academic leaders, community leaders and elected officials already hard at work in the clean energy transition. These partners bring localized industry knowledge to Clean Energy Forum panels and help elucidate the Roadblocks & Solutions. After the Forum, these partners become advisors, mentors and/or team members in the action planning and implementation of top solutions identified at the February event.