D-YES at Power Shift

On April 15th, students in WARM’s Detroit Youth Energy Squad (D-YES) stood alongside 10,000 youth gathered from around the country to voice their support for clean energy initiatives at the 2011 Power Shift conference in Washington, D.C. During the conference, D-YES crew member Miah Ward attended a meeting with President Obama to discuss current energy policies with the President. Students also led a workshop titled “The First Green Steps: Engaging People in Disadvantaged Communities.” All 19 D-YES crew members played a direct role in teaching over 100 attendees about low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy.

Miah Ward (bottom left corner) at meeting with President Obama

D-YES is an innovative program that trains high school students and AmeriCorps members between the ages of 16 and 24 to help low-income households reduce their energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. D-Yes is supported by funding from the Erb Family Foundation, the Michigan Public Service Commission, the National Audubon Society, and AmeriCorps.