Community Energy Ambassador Project 
The Community Energy Ambassador Project, facilitated by the Desert Research Institute (DRI) EnergySmart Education Program, engaged high school students in creating and presenting locally relevant energy conservation projects. The program aimed to develop the next generation of stewards for a sustainable future by educating and empowering youth through curricula, school programs, and student-directed initiatives. 
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Participating learners became more comfortable and confident as they developed and spoke about their unique energy conservation projects, gaining a variety of portrait-aligned skills, such as time management, data collection and integration of results, effective communication, and adaptability.
What is the connection between this outreach project and the principles of the portrait?
Taking projects from the classroom to a community event provided learners with a tangible way for the learning to come to life
Presenting at diverse community events broadened and deepened learners’ perspectives on where they live
Students identified problems, then designed and communicated solutions
Learners became more comfortable and confident the more they spoke about their project, and gained a variety of skills such as time management, data collection and integration of results, effective communication, and adaptability
"Taking the projects from the classroom to a community event have provided the students with a tangible way for the learning to come to life. Once the students completed their projects and started to consider how they would communicate it with the public, they began to focus on communicate skills and how to best share their projects with others. It has been inspiring to hear from the teachers about their progress!"
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- COMMUNITY PARTNER