Frequently Asked Questions
The history of the Go Green Foundation from our co-founders perspective
Trevor Gutierrez
When and how did the concept of the Go Green Foundation originate? Have environmental protection issues been important to you for a long time? Or did the idea of come from something else? Something you read? Learned in school? Overheard on TV?
As a family we have taken many visits to national parks and regional parks. Our love of the outdoors and experiences in the outdoors has helped me appreciate the significance of preserving our environment. When I was in middle school, I learned about a few major climate-related catastrophes that happened around the world. This caused my family and I to become concerned that young people of my generation and future generations wouldn’t be able to share the same outdoor experiences that we all have had historically. It gave us a sense of urgency to take action to find solutions for climate change. We realized it couldn’t just be our family, but rather a global community of concerned students who care about the environment.
Who helped you develop the idea?
After my family and I decided to launch Go Green, I reached out to my friends to see if they would help grow a community of students that would take up the challenge to go green. My parents also spoke with a few of their colleagues to help us launch the foundation.
What was it like to create a foundation from scratch - from having an initial idea to launching your initiatives? What were you nervous about? What were you excited about? When did you actually launch the Foundation?
In the beginning I was concerned that the foundation wouldn’t grow and that young people wouldn’t be interested, or participate in our programs. I was also concerned that my friends wouldn’t be able to relate. I wasn’t sure my friends would understand the urgency of the issue or be willing to commit their time to help out and take action. But, I was pleased to see my friends show their genuine interest and support to expand our programs to other communities. I was also excited to see that Go Green was able to partner with major organizations like Nokia, AT&T, Environmental Defense Fund and UCLA. The foundation officially launched in 2007.
What were the reactions from your teachers? Your friends? Have their opinions or level of involvement changed at all?
My teachers were impressed to see that we were able to get thousands young students supporting and participating in our program to reduce their carbon footprint At first, not many young guys understood the impact of their lifestyle choices on our environment. After participating in our Spare Our Planet program they were able to measure and monitor the impact of their commuting habits to and from school. In the end, they learned that simple changes to their commuting habits made a significant difference towards reducing their carbon footprint.
How many hours a day or hours a week do you spend working on Go Green Foundation projects?
Aside from working on schoolwork and athletics during the school year, we are all working on projects throughout year. Over the past three years our workload has increased due to the many projects that we have undertaken, including our expansion of Spare Our Planet, improvements to our programs, and managing our online presence. As we move toward our national expansion of the Spare Our Planet program, and develop other new programs to attract more student communities to take action our workload has increased significantly.
What is your favorite initiative/project/part of running the Go Green Foundation?
Spare Our Planet competition is my favorite program because it is very simple to do, to manage, and to expand to many student communities. It has also proven to raise students’ awareness of the impact of their commuting habits and a measurable reduction of their carbon footprint. It has been very rewarding to hear from the participating students, student leaders, and faculty sponsors that the program has left a lasting impression of their awareness of the environmental impact of their transportation choices. They also express a desire to spread the word to go green and to maintain their new sustainable habits.
What is it like working with your family members? Has it changed your family dynamic or your relationship with your twin?
I enjoy spending time with my family and love working with them while managing Go Green. We work well together and respect each other. Our shared focus and determination has allowed us to work on multiple challenging projects throughout the year. While working with my sister these past 3 years I’ve gained a lot of trust, belief, and respect for her and am proud of what we have accomplished together. We’ve always been close, but I think working for the foundation has brought us even closer.
How do you see the Go Green Foundation evolving in the next few years? Are there any new initiatives you want to start? What will happen when you go to college?
Recently, we have partnered with Girl Scouts Of Northern California to take our Spare Our Planet program to many more schools. We are also talking with Girl Scouts of America to work with us to bring our program to schools across the country.
How has the Go Green Foundation changed you?
I have become more conscious and aware of my transportation habits whether it’s getting to and from school, or getting around the city on the weekend with my friends. My family and I have also become much more conscious consumers whether it’s at the grocery store or at a retail store.
How can non-high school students get involved?
This past academic year we’ve reached out to over 20,000 High School students around the Bay Area. We are committed to expanding our programs to student communities across the country. We have developed program resources and tools, such as instructional videos, and program handbook to help student leaders successfully implement our program in their community. We are eager to partner with youth organizations that are interested to take the challenge to go green in their communities.
How old are you and what grade will you be in during the 2010-2011 school year?
I am 16 years old and I will be a Junior in the 2010-2011 school year.
Anything else you'd like to share with people about the Go Green Foundation...
The time is now to take action. Young people of our generation and future generations will be inheriting the issues of climate change, and it is our responsibility to do something about it. Even the simplest changes to your lifestyle choices make a big difference. It’s fun and easy to make a difference, tell your friends and family to get involved and go green!
Catalina Gutierrez
When and how did the concept of the Go Green Foundation originate? Have environmental protection issues been important to you for a long time? Or did the idea of come from something else? Something you read? Learned in school? Overheard on TV?
My family and I have always enjoyed nature and spending time outdoors. Ever since I was born, we have taken vacations to national parks numerous times such as Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Sequoia, Joshua Tree, and our local, and regional parks. About three years ago, as we learned about the effects of climate change, we became very concerned about the future of our planet. Trevor and I knew that our generation would need to take responsibility for improving and preserving our environment. We recognized the need to create Go Green to encourage young people to take simple steps to reduce their environmental impact through out their daily lives.
Who helped you develop the idea?
Each of us played a part in developing the idea. For example, my brother and I named the foundation “Go Green” to signify taking of action, as well as becoming more environmentally conscious. We also asked our friends’ and classmates’ opinions and insight to make sure our programs would be fun, interesting, and achievable for students to learn to live more sustainable lifestyles. My parents also introduced us to their colleagues and close family friends who also gave us guidance and input.
What was it like to create a foundation from scratch - from having an initial idea to launching your initiatives? What were you nervous about? What were you excited about? When did you actually launch the Foundation?
From the beginning we knew that the foundation’s main focus would be youth sustainability education. At the time, our idea for young people to lead more sustainable lifestyles in their communities was relatively new. We knew it would take several trials to create an effective program. Also as we were starting out there were a lot of other organizations that had similar ideas and initiatives that we could collaborate and partner with to develop our programs. It was nerve-wracking to have so many options and to choose the focus of our programs. We knew that our programs would need to reflect the lifestyles of students. At the same time it was very exciting to see the potential impact of inspiring and motivating teens to be leaders for positive change in their communities.
What were the reactions from your teachers? Your friends? Have their opinions or level of involvement changed at all?
We have always had a positive response from the teachers and students from each school community that we have worked with. Students are enthusiastic and eager to participate in the Spare Our Planet program that is a student-led, friendly competition. It’s designed to demonstrate how making simple changes to commuting choices to and from school can significantly reduce the carbon impact. It’s very encouraging to hear from students. Some are a bit skeptical, at first. But once the competition is completed, they see the positive results for themselves. They realize that no action is too small to make a real difference. They realize the impact they can make by making informed decisions and small personal changes – and then telling more and more of their friends about it.
How many hours a day or hours a week do you spend working on Go Green Foundation projects?
After school and sport commitments, my number one responsibility is to further expand Go Green and our community of teens taking action. For us, family is always our number one priority and now, Go Green is part of our family. Because of this, we dedicate most of our available time and efforts to Go Green.
What is your favorite initiative/project/part of running the Go Green Foundation?
My favorite and most exciting part of Go Green is meeting and working with the thousands of students who have implemented the Spare Our Planet across the Bay Area. It’s really inspirational to see other students that are just as passionate about creating positive change in their communities to lower their carbon impact, to lead by example, and make a difference.
What is it like working with your family members? Has it changed your family dynamic or your relationship with your twin?
I really enjoy working with my family because we are very close and love spending time together. Because of this, it’s relatively simple to work together but also a bit difficult. While my parents and brother are still my family members they have also become my co-workers and collaborators. There are times when I easily get distracted and goof off while working with my brother but I have learned to be able to turn on the ‘working’ switch when necessary.
How do you see the Go Green Foundation evolving in the next few years? Are there any new initiatives you want to start? What will happen when you go to college?
Right now, our plan is to expand our Spare Our Planet program nationwide and grow our community of students motivated to reduce their carbon emissions. In a recent study by the Environmental Defense Fund, the total amount of CO2 emissions from driving in US was equivalent to the amount of carbon in a coal train 55,000 miles long which is enough to circle the world twice! This is why we need to take action now. We have recently partnered with the Girl Scouts of Northern California to implement our Spare Our Planet Program to many more school communities. We are also talking with Girl Scouts USA Headquarters and other youth organizations to team up with us and take our programs across the country. Our next programs will focus on raising awareness of the impact of our buying decisions. Young people in this country have $150 billion dollars in spending power. Through our program, teens will just have to use their cell phones to get an environmental impact rating of any brand right at the point of purchase and make more climate-aware buying decisions.
How has the Go Green Foundation changed you?
From our programs such as Spare Our Planet and Raise Your Voice: Check Before You Buy I learned that my lifestyle choices have an impact on our planet. Consequently, I have become more conscious and aware of the power of my decisions. It has also empowered and inspired me to take advantage of the influence and opportunities I have as a teenager.
How can non-high school students get involved?
Non- high school students can easily get involved. We have created tools such as an instructional video and toolkit for young people to bring Spare Our Planet to their community.
How old are you and what grade will you be in during the 2010-2011 school year?
I am sixteen and will be entering my junior year in high school.
Anything else you'd like to share with people about the Go Green Foundation...
Climate change is an urgent problem that all of us need to solve. We have to enact solutions now. It’s time to step it up.
