UNC Asheville student groups have joined forces to host the first Statewide Student Sustainability Summit on November 1-2. More than 100 college and high school students are expected to attend workshops on leadership, climate change, lobbying techniques, environmental justice and more. The event is sponsored by UNC Asheville's Active Students for a Healthy Environment and the Student Environmental Center.

"The North Carolina Youth Energy and Sustainability Summit demonstrates that students are not satisfied with merely casting a vote this political season but feel the need to do more and take leadership on problems that face our planet," said Ellie Johnston, UNC Asheville senior and event coordinator. "By empowering students through workshops and speakers, we are setting up the next generation to lead this nation in a sustainable manner."

Speakers include representatives from a number of North Carolina organizations, including Appalachian Voices, Asheville Green Opportunities, Asheville Rising Tide, North Carolina State Solar Resource Center, Permaculture School, Power Vote, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Southern Energy Network.

Workshops will be held 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, and 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at UNC Asheville's Highsmith University Union. Cost is $10. To register, click on www.unca.edu/ecology/summit.

For more information, contact Johnston at 336/202-8907 or ebjohnst@unca.edu.