In less than a week hundreds of youth climate organizers will gather in Cleveland for Midwest Power Shift, a regional conference run by and for youth aimed at engaging and preparing the next generation of Midwest climate leaders to lead the transition to a clean and just energy future. Youth organizers across the region are hard at working finalizing workshops and logistics around the five main conference tracks coal, fracking, political engagement, tar sands, and the clean energy economy. A dynamic list of workshop are available online, including:

• Energy Efficiency on Your Campus: It’s in Your Hands
• Beyond Madison: Rural Wisconsinites Stand Up for Their Communities
• Building Power for the 2012 Election
• Food Desserts and Solutions to Food Access in the Inner City
• New Media for New Organizers
• Follow the Sun: Starting a Solar Company in the Midwest

Learn more about the Powershift Electives

Each of these tracks aim to empower coordinated regional or cross-state action/collaboration. Furthermore, members of the Midwest Youth Coalition are leveraging the opportunity of Midwest Power Shift to launch a youth steering committee with representation from each Midwest state, tasked with the following responsibilities:

• Support for coordinated actions/campaigns/events
• Cohesive messaging from a regional youth perspective
• Resource bank
• Asset mapping process

In the tradition of National Power Shift, Midwest Power Shift will also provide space for state breakouts as a means to supporting state networks. Currently, MI, OH, and IL are the only states with a formal state network structure, with MN and MO in the process.

The registration page is still open for any last minute participants, and features a phenomenal blog roll from youth organizers across the US:

Register for Powershift

For a quick overview of the goal, purpose, and tenor of Midwest Power Shift, check out this inspiring video from conference organizer and Director of the Ohio Student Environmental Council, Janina Klimas: