With the annual Earth Advocacy Day event happening March 5-6, genCLEO members and first-time participants prepare to go to Tallahassee and advocate under climate, leadership, engagement and opportunities.

Students like Jessica Doyle, regional lead organizer for genCLEO, will be able to experience the Earth Advocacy Day event for the first time and advocate for what they believe in. Doyle, junior political science pre-law major, along with other guests of different majors will be heading to Earth Advocacy Day

Doyle said she looks forward to not only rallying for climate action, but also expanding her knowledge in public speaking and meeting new people from around the state.

“I think it’s just a really unique opportunity,” Doyle said. “It’s something that I even love UCF even more for having, just having so many different clubs, different opportunities to get involved in and in so many different ways.”

The event will be held at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee and will provide students with an introduction and in-depth training regarding legislation prior to the event. The event will include dinner, volunteer hours, the opportunity to meet new people across Florida and rally for climate action. It will also include the chance to meet with politicians and legislators to understand state politics.

Ticket costs for Earth Advocacy Day are on based on donations and the event is open to both high school and college students. The proceeds will be used to cover expenses such as lodging, bus transportation, training and meals, according to the Earth Advocacy Day website.

GenCLEO at UCF is one of the chapters from The CLEO Institute that will be attending the event. Around 10 first-timers will be attending the event this year, said Dylan Lovings, regional lead organizer for genCLEO and UCF alumnus. Lovings attended the event last year for the first time.

“I really felt inspired the whole time that I was there,” Lovings said. “I really felt like I was actually making a difference.”

Earth Advocacy Day is being hosted by the CLEO Institute and other organizations. This includes genCLEO Action, Florida Rising, Engage Miami, Youth Action Fund and Florida Student Power.

Members and interns of the organizations are prepared prior to going to the event and speaking with legislators. This includes different roles in order for students to focus and getting comfortable, Lovings said.

“It’s gonna be a really important opportunity to just show the collective power of youth led priorities,” Doyle said. “And one of the biggest priorities for us specifically is going to be in environmental and climate change, like climate friendly legislation. It’s an amazing opportunity. It’s a really unique experience.”

Josefine Majdoch, secretary and policy intern for genCLEO and sophomore biological sciences major, stated in an email she has always been passionate about environmental advocacy. This year will be her first time attending Earth Advocacy Day.

“Attending Earth Advocacy Day gives me the chance to engage directly with lawmakers and advocate for policies that prioritize renewable energy and climate action,” Majdoch said via email.

To Majdoch, being able to go to an event like Earth Advocacy Day means having a voice.

“As young people, we’re inheriting the consequences of today’s decisions,” Majdoch stated in an email. “So being part of this movement is both empowering and necessary.”