Mission Mayor: Take Students Out To City Hall

Take your students to the systems level and help students bring their environmental ideas directly to local decision-makers.

Mission 12 of Earth Doctors takes a big leap—from changing our own actions to understanding how we can influence the systems around us.

This week, students prepare to meet their local mayor. In many cities, mayors and local representatives are surprisingly accessible—especially when young people arrive with thoughtful ideas about making their community greener.

Before the visit, each student develops a specific request for something they would like to see changed in their city. They’ll think about what they want to happen, why it hasn't happened already, who has the power to make it happen, and what steps would be required to turn their idea into reality.

Then they get to ask those questions for real.

The activity introduces students to civic participation, systems change and environmental leadership, while showing them that the people making decisions about their city aren't abstract or inaccessible—they are people they can meet, question and influence.

Students will:

• Identify an environmental change they'd like to see in their community
• Develop a clear request for their mayor
• Investigate why the change hasn't already happened
• Ask what practical steps would be required to make it happen
• Meet and speak with a local decision-maker
• Discover how citizens can participate in shaping their community

Earth Doctors workshops are designed for teachers, parents, and environmental educators looking to bring more hands-on, action-oriented environmental learning into classrooms and community groups.

Our live sessions exist to support you: a co-design space where we mentor, troubleshoot, refine activities together, and build momentum to support your sustainability mission to come alive.

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