Hartford is Beautiful, Let's Keep It That Way!

Chanelle Adams, 15, Harford Connecticut

Chanelle Adams

I started when I was 12 yrs old. I was chosen by my teacher to represent Hartford, CT at the New England Tunza program. I heard about the organization from the Internet and I saw some of their work while I was visiting Japan. This trip to Japan was my most memorable time and I will always remember it because it was there that I realized I could be the one to change the world, one clean-up at a time. There is much to be done if we are to have a better environment when we grow up.

I decided to take an active part in making people more aware of the danger this world is in and I formed the organization called Hartford is Beautiful Let's Keep it That Way! I organize community clean ups and give out flyers about the importance of recycling and reusing products. In 2006, I received Action for Nature’s International Eco-Hero Award which is given to children and teenagers who help out to save the environment in any special way. I do not work directly with the Action for Nature organization, but I help spread the word about what they can do to help young people know how to make this world a better and cleaner place to live.

My favorite thing about working for the environment is going to the different conferences around the world. I have been to the UNEP (United Nation Environmental Program) in Japan, Malaysia and Germany. When I was there I distributed information on Action for Nature so that others around the world could know about the organization. The UNEP also gave me the opportunity to learn how to become a leader, to present my views in a way that the world can understand, and to meet other teens who believe what I believe. It was wonderful and I loved it!

When I started, teens here did not respond kindly to my activism. At first, I was not supported by my friends, but they eventually came around. Others laughed at me until the media got involved. Then they became curious and wanted to know more about what I was doing. Now, I think its "cool" to be part of saving the environment, because teens are more informed by the internet and other media coverage.

I want teens and adults to know that you don't have to grow up to become an environmentalist. You can be one right now! To preserve the environment, we can start in our own community by simply recycling or planting a tree. I plan to continue what I have started throughout my life because for me it’s a part of my life. My family has been supportive of all my decisions to keep the environment clean. My mom said that as long as it didn't get in the way of my studies, I can do as much as I want.

I am a normal 15 year old girl who likes to talk on the phone with my friends, loves acting and modeling, and really loves traveling. Another passion of mine is writing. I have already written a book called “MYRA,” which can be found on www.lulu.com . I also enjoy writing poems and I have attached one of them to share with you! I want to thank Ms. Mack, a teacher from Clark Elementary School in Hartford, CT, who has helped me throughout my time doing this work. I also want to thank Action for Nature for exposing many teens like myself to the world and letting the adults know that we are serious about the world of tomorrow!

My Blackness
By Chanelle Adams

Did you see all the obstacles we have overcome?
Did you see all the accomplishments we have done?
Do you know what black history means to me?
It’s our pride our history,
These are the things that makes me, me.
It’s not just the color of my skin,
Like the words of Dr. King, we can win!
I wonder why back then things was so segregated,
It just made things more complicated.
Rosa Parks paid her fee,
She didn’t get out of her seat,
And by doing this she kept her dignity.
Everybody says they have good intentions,
But won’t they just shut up and pay attention!
Why is that we are always doubted,
Why is that we are never counted,
If I can tell this message to people,
I would say stop being so stereotypical.
Explore your mind prove them wrong,
Explore your mind show them whose boss.
Tell them what you can do, and do it,
Show them what you went through, and prove it.
Don’t be another African-American statistic.
Show them you are realistic about who you are, what you’ve been through, about where you’ve come from and what you’ve brought with you. Tell them you brought passion,
Tell them now that you learned it your mind is everlasting.
Don’t be ashamed of what you know,
Tell the whole world so we can all grow.
We were dreamers: we are leaders, we are doctors, we are lawyers, we are over achievers, we are compensated, because we are educated!
Freedom, freedom at last! No longer in the dark of our illiterate path.
From the baby steps of our origin,
We crawled, we fell but got up to tell
The blight but delight of our dark skin.
It is on me to go out and seek what education can bring me.
Is it the lessons I’m learning, or through life that I’m growing, or could it be a reward I’m earning?
Education equals life, without it you surely will die!
Reaching your fullest potential, achieving your goals, dreams, living your life.
My education My paradise!
Where every creed and race will find an equal place, and even stand face to face.
This is the time and place, nothing can replace what we’ve learned and nothing can retrace what we’ve earned.
It seems we’ve been through a lot looking back on black history; but then I realized this is our destiny.
I’m glad you see what I see, because that’s what black history means to me.
When I see myself up there getting my degree,
My heart will be filled with happiness,
And that’s how I know that I am proud of my blackness!

For More Information:

Action for Nature’s International Eco Hero Award: http://www.actionfornature.org/eco-hero/index.html
United Nations Environmental Programme: http://www.unep.org
Chanelle’s book: http://www.lulu.com/content/293802