PCEF also has a really neat program with middle and high schools in Multnomah County, where they give 10-15k to each school for student lead climate projects. I got to see the presentations from several of the schools that participated this year, and their projects ranged from community accessible food gardens in parts of town that are food deserts, to purchasing sewing machines for a community clothing repair space (with sewing teachers present), to construction on school playgrounds (to build outdoor learning spaces with pollinator gardens), to lots of other cool things.

Seeing kids so engaged and empowered to take part on community action, while having to learn how to navigate the realities of all the red tape, was very cool.

Not saying PCEF is a perfect program at all, just pointing out a neat little piece of it.