When I was younger, I hardly knew what to do with myself. My time management skills were non-existent when I graduated high school, and in early college years I used to proudly label myself as “reckless and relentless.” Fast forward a decade or so, past many painful lessons and joyful successes. Nowadays, I am in a happy place where I can fondly laugh at past naivete and feel deep gratitude for the personal growth opportunities that I have been blessed with along the way.
As my 30th birthday loomed on the horizon, I became aware of Great Salt Lake’s peril. Never before had I dared to take a stand or boldly express my views in the political sphere. But my love for the lake and desire to protect this valley ignited a flame deep within me, compelling me to act. As I have gained knowledge and experience in recent years, through volunteering, legislative advocacy, conferences and collaborations, it has been my privilege to interact with some of the coolest people on the planet. There are so many shining stars in this movement to save our home, and they have filled me with hope that our collective efforts will be successful.
To formally introduce myself, my name is Ren Griffeth. After starting as the chapter lead at Salt Lake Community College, I now manage Student Chapters for Grow the Flow. During my time in this movement, I have found a sense of unwavering community and belonging that was missing from my life before. I have found many new friends, and a deeper sense of purpose and direction in my actions. My perspectives have grown, and I now see saving Great Salt Lake as a keystone challenge in the global struggle to prevent widespread ecological collapse. We must transform human water consumption to be more sustainable, or face a dark future. Failure is not an option for the millions of human and nonhuman life forms dependent on our triumph.
Some of the brightest stars I’ve seen can be found within the incredible youth movement to save Great Salt Lake. With a blinding array of talents and intense dedication, the young people of Utah impress me time and time again. They have been accomplishing so much in such a short time; sharing brilliant ideas, pushing for better policy, organizing events, opening new doors, softening hearts, and bringing a massive wave of energy to help rescue us all from disaster. At an age when I was sad about boys and only concerned with myself, these teens and young adults are willingly sacrificing their time, expending their energy, and building connections to fearlessly tackle this complex issue.
As a new organization, we owe so much to the groundwork that has been laid by the amazing groups who have already established themselves. Founded in 2017, Utah Youth Environmental Solutions (UYES) has recently turned their attention to focus on the Great Salt Lake, as lake decline threatens our environmental health and exacerbates the impacts of climate change. In 2022, another group, the Youth Coalition for Great Salt Lake, came on to the scene and began focusing their efforts on this issue as well. Both of these teams have brought so much to the table with their respectives skills and passions. We are immensely grateful for all of their efforts and successes, and feel blessed to work with them. Since Grow the Flow launched in October of 2023, we have been setting up chapters and connecting students from across the watershed to bring more youth into the ranks of lake advocates.
At Grow the Flow, we recognize that coming generations are the biggest stakeholders in this race to save the lake. Within short order, the youth of today will inherit the Earth and be left with the consequences of our actions and inactions. Therefore, we seek to empower the younger generations to take control of their future. We are actively establishing Student Chapters at high schools, colleges, and universities to accomplish this goal. Students in Grow the Flow chapters are provided with structure, resources, connections, and mentorship to help them develop important skills and bring their visions to life. Participants in our chapters learn how to organize events, lobby for legislation, collaborate with other groups, and develop solution-oriented approaches. We also aim to have as much fun as possible!
This fall, students will be organizing and hosting events on different campuses across Utah. We have established chapters at Skyline High School and Rowland Hall, Salt Lake Community College, Utah Valley University, and Brigham Young University. By the end of the school year, we intend to be at many more! If you are interested in joining or starting a Student Chapter at your school, please do not hesitate to contact us- we will connect you with others at your school and provide everything you need to be successful in your endeavors.
Whether you are interested in holding a leadership position, attending a few events, or just want to be in the loop, we will support whatever form your personal advocacy takes. If you have a skill or talent that you want to gain or develop, we will help you access a vast network of experts in diverse arenas from agriculture, to legislation, to advocacy through the arts, and many more. We believe that people learn by doing, and will provide you with the opportunities you need to reach your personal development goals.
To compliment the Student Chapters, we will also be hosting the Great Salt Lake Leadership Academy. This weekend series will bring students from across the watershed to unique regions of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, where they will learn from experts working for the lake’s restoration. It will take place on one to three Saturdays per month throughout the Fall semester, from September 14th to November 16th. Interested students do not have to be active members of a Student Chapter to participate. During this free series, we will visit places such as the Bear River Canal Company and Great Salt Lake Artemia to hear from experienced professionals.
Additionally, we have collaborated with other organizations to amplify some of their events. On September 7th, the Great Salt Lake Environmental Coalition will be hosting the 3rd Annual People’s Great Salt Lake Summit, which you can register for here: https://www.greatsaltlakesummit.org/.
I am also excited to announce that we will be transporting a group to help plant trees and reforest Wuda Ogwa (the Bear River Massacre Site) on November 2nd. Find these and other events to register for here: https://forms.gle/CfeCdbUKCLgdNjw88.
If you, like me, are looking for ways to locally and globally have a positive impact on the world, this is the place for you. We welcome you to join us on this journey to save our home, and have fun doing it! You can easily sign up by following the link on this page: https://growtheflowutah.org/student/. Thank you for your dedication to this important mission; I look forward to working with you!