Arlington, VA, April 20, 2020 – The Global Co Lab Network has partnered with the Smithsonian Conservation Commons to empower teens, both in a global video contest on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in the creation of an Eco Teen Action Network. Both are highlighted at this week’s free digital Earth Optimism Summit on April 22-25. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day!

The Co Lab’s Teens Dream Collaborative 2019 Annual Video Competition provides teens ages 13-18 globally with a fun video contest to share their solutions to problems facing humanity with a focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Earth Optimism. 130 teens globally shared their dreams of change in areas ranging from ocean pollution to mental health and many other areas related to the SDGs and Earth Optimism. Nine videos were selected as winners and three of those will be showcased at the Earth Optimism Summit on Thursday, April 23 at 6:40. In addition, the Co Lab’s media partner Turkish American TV announced their own staff picks.

The Eco Teen Action Network (ETAN) created by the Co-Lab and Smithsonian Conservation Commons, has engaged teens from across the USA and world to address the SDGs in weekly video conferences over the past 18 months focused on building a network of teens to create action to fight climate change, plastics, and hunger and linking them to adult mentors. Teen ETAN Ambassadors from these three hubs will be interviewed on Friday, April 24th at 11:30 am at the Summit. Their videos for highlighting their hub work can be viewed here: plastics, hunger, and climate change. Co-Lab Teens Dream 2015 grand prizewinner teen rapper JAYO made a video for the summit as well.

The Global Co Lab Network congratulates all teens globally who submitted videos on their dreams related to the SDGs and earth optimism/positive solutions to the Teens Dream Collaborative 2019 Annual Competition, where each submitter has their own page, which can be viewed by region or SDG.