Exploring local environmental change through filmmaking: The Lentes en Cambio Climático program

Abstract

How can youth become leaders in their communities’ resilience efforts? The Lentes en Cambio Climático (LECC) filmmaking program aimed to empower students to investigate how a changing climate affects their lives and use their own findings to inspire local resilience. Secondary students in LECC created films that explore the experiences of community members and document local knowledge around climate topics relevant to their lives. A mixed-methods study measured the program impacts on students. Results from summer implementations in 2018 and 2019 suggest that participation in LECC increased students’ awareness, confidence, and engagement around climate topics and their interest in contributing to community resilience efforts. Additionally, by leading community discussions during film screening events, students gained confidence in their leadership roles, and ability to share their expertise with parents and community members. These conversations appeared to both empower students and amplify their voices as advocates for change in their communities.

Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2021.1949570 .

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© 2021 The Author(s). Created by the Lentes en Cambio Climatico program. Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Keywords:

• Climate change education
• student-driven learning
• leadership development
• place based education
• environmental art and science or STEAM
• Puerto Rico

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DRL-1513320, through the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers program.