NOTICE OF A PUBLIC LISTENING SESSION ON THE PRESIDENT'S AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE
America's Great Outdoors Youth Listening Session
August 4, 2010
Minneapolis, MN
"It's a recognition, passed down from one generation to the next, that few pursuits are more satisfying to the spirit than discovering the greatness of America's outdoors."
-President Barack Obama, April 16, 2010
Dear Friends,
On April 16, 2010, President Obama established the America's Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation and recreation agenda for the 21st century. The President understands that efforts for protecting and restoring the lands and waters that we love and reconnecting people to the outdoors must be community driven. For this reason, he has called upon senior government officials to host a series of public listening sessions in a range of locations across the country.
Young people play a critical role in shaping our country's environmental future. In his memorandum establishing the America's Great Outdoors initiative, President Obama asked that, "special attention…be given to bringing young Americans into the conversation." We want to engage you in this conversation from the beginning, and ensure that your voices are heard in the end.
In early August, the leaders of the America's Great Outdoors initiative are coming to Minneapolis/St. Paul to hear from you. Please join us for a youth listening session at the Mill City Museum courtyard, in Minneapolis, MN, on Wednesday, August 4th.
Who: Young people from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area
What: A discussion on America's Great Outdoors
When: Wednesday, August 4 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Mill City Museum Courtyard
704 South 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401-2163
(612) 341-7555
This event is hosted by the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
After the session, there will be the general America's Great Outdoors Listening Session. Youth are encouraged to attend the general listening session from 4:00-7:30 pm at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota.
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To ensure that we have sufficient space for everyone, we encourage you to let us know by Monday, August 2 if you are able to attend one or both of these listening sessions. You can do so by sending your name, email address, and telephone number via email to oliver_liu@nps.gov by Monday August 2. We will contact you if we reach capacity.
If you have questions, please contact John Anfinson at (651) 290-3030, x 285 or David Wiggins at 612-676-9486.
Thank you for your support. We hope to see you in Minneapolis!
The America's Great Outdoors Team
For more information on this initiative, please visit www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors.