Our first newsletter segment features Eco MoCo Co-Presidents Sidharth Harishanker and Grace Chi, both juniors at Poolesville High School in the Global Ecology program and passionate environmental advocates.
Eco MoCo Co-Presidents | Sidharth Harishanker & Grace Chi
Our co-presidents have been hard at work expanding Eco MoCo’s reputation, developing new projects, and improving the efficiency of our departments. Below is a summary of some of the initiatives they have been working on this semester.
Public Transportation Survey | Partnership with the TAME Coalition
Working with the Transit Alternatives to Mid-County Extended (TAME) Coalition, Eco MoCo is dedicated to advocating for improved public transportation throughout Montgomery County. This survey aims to understand what students believe needs to change in our public transit system so our communities can effectively advocate for improvements. With a goal of collecting over 1,000 responses, we hope this project will help both organizations strengthen their advocacy efforts and create meaningful change in our community.
Real Grass for Healthy Kids Coalition | Grass vs. Plastic Turf Fields
Eco MoCo is joining the fight against proposed synthetic plastic turf fields in our schools. Through the Real Grass for Healthy Kids Coalition, our co-presidents are working to raise awareness about the potential environmental and health impacts of synthetic turf and advocate for healthier, more sustainable alternatives for our school communities. Below are a list of resources to learn more about this important issues, and to see what Eco MoCo has been working on in regard to the issue:
General
Capitol Budget Plan look at page 22 for Turf Budget Proposal.
Grass Fields
Board of Education Public Comment: 16 slots for Eco MoCo
Poolesville Petition: Petition for the Poolesville area: for grass fields. Has a lot of statistics associated with it.
County Executive Mark Elrich Media Briefing
Real Grass for Healthy Kids State Letter: Has a lot of research and was sent to the state.
MD Free State PTA's Artificial Turf Resolution
Real Grass for Health Kids Coalition Information Session
Call for Kindness | Riley’s Way
Our co-presidents are representing Eco MoCo through Riley’s Way’s Call for Kindness Fellowship. With the funding received through this program, they plan to provide transportation for our upcoming Annapolis Advocacy Day and establish another little library during the second half of the year.
Tabling and Community Representation
To expand our network of community leaders and strengthen Eco MoCo’s professional presence, our co-presidents have been attending community events, connecting with local organizations, and representing Eco MoCo at opportunities for outreach and collaboration.
Business Cards
Our co-presidents recognized that Eco MoCo frequently attends professional events where members connect with community partners, organizations, and environmental advocates. To strengthen these connections and make future communication easier, they decided to invest in business cards that represent Eco MoCo and help expand our professional network.
Edmund Burke Community Engagement Fair (10/08/26)
Eco MoCo’s co-presidents had the opportunity to table at the Edmund Burke Community Engagement Fair. They connected with community organizations and students while sharing Eco MoCo’s mission and initiatives. They also led the creation of a Burke Tree, an interactive project designed to showcase the different ways we can work together to protect our planet.
Sierra Club Fundraiser (9/09/26)
Eco MoCo’s co-presidents were invited to attend a Sierra Club fundraiser, where they had the opportunity to connect with environmental advocates and strengthen the organization’s community network. They also had the opportunity to speak with Congressman Jamie Raskin, further expanding Eco MoCo’s connections with leaders working on environmental issues.
Eco MoCo’s Little Library
Through the Youth Creating Change Grant, Eco MoCo is spearheading a little library project designed to give back to our community and strengthen our connection with the students we serve. This initiative will help make resources more accessible while encouraging community engagement and a culture of sharing.
Tree Planting
To help combat urban heat and expand our community’s tree canopy, Eco MoCo will work with the City of Gaithersburg on a tree-planting initiative. Using information and resources provided by the city, Eco MoCo hopes to support local environmental sustainability efforts and contribute to a greener community.
Thank you for reading feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any additional questions!
Member discussion: