As Roots and Shoots begins their second year in partnership with iMatter, senior Owen Geier feels excited to work with a group that gets the club involved and helps them represent the work they have completed.

“We have been staying with iMatter because their executive, Larry Kraft lives in this area so he is always in contact with us whenever there is something cool. He wants us to come help represent (iMatter) because we are perfect examples of how iMatter can work because it worked with us,” Geier said.

Last year Roots and Shoots became involved with iMatter, an organization that focuses on youth involvement in climate issues.

“iMatter is basically this organization that provides a plan for students to get together and present to their local City Hall or their local government, and petition and try to get them to enact climate issue plans,” Geier said.

Roots and Shoots began working closely with iMatter and their leader Larry Kraft. According to Kraft, the club was one of the first groups nationwide to use the iMatter Now campaign, which provides students with tools to have an active voice in their city.

According to Kraft, Roots and Shoots worked with iMatter to develop an environmental evaluation for St. Louis Park and receive signatures from students on petitions to the city. These petitions asked the City Council to pass a climate inheritance resolution, which required the city to come up with a climate action plan that involved youth and designed a way to reduce the city’s part in the climate crisis.

This summer Roots and Shoots was given the opportunity to present with iMatter in the Eco Building at the Minnesota State Fair.

“We were with them talking about what iMatter is, what iMatter does and what Roots and Shoots does,” Geier said.

According to Kraft, the time at the fair was impactful for both iMatter and Roots and Shoots.

“It actually was fantastic because I have already been contacted by another group, Oak River, (who) is interested based on what they heard from the St. Louis Park group, and is interested in doing a campaign,” Kraft said.

According to Geier, Roots and Shoots is working closely with iMatter during the upcoming school year. They will continue to pioneer the iMatter programs, and impact St. Louis Park’s environmental sustainability.