Philippe Cousteau's EarthEcho International and Toyota U.S.A. Foundation Partner on Environmental Education Initiative for Hispanic Youth

--Miami-Dade County Public Schools to host Pilot Program for Educators--

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Philippe Cousteau's nonprofit EarthEcho International (www.earthecho.org) and Toyota U.S.A. Foundation (www.toyota.com/foundation) today announced their partnership on a three-year initiative to engage and empower thousands of youth across the country to address environmental challenges in their own communities.  The program begins with educator workshops in the Miami-Dade County Public School District on August 12-13 and again in November 2013.

"Through this partnership, EarthEcho is furthering its commitment to fulfill the fundamental needs of young people of all backgrounds and cultures to live in a world where a healthy environment supports healthy communities," said EarthEcho International President and Co-founder, Philippe Cousteau, Jr.

"At Toyota, our commitment to protecting our planet goes beyond our fuel-efficient vehicles, we also believe in fostering environmental stewardship and helping diversify the next generation of conservation leaders," said Latondra Newton, Toyota group vice president of national philanthropy chief diversity officer. "That's why we are so excited to partner with EarthEcho to help educators and their students address environmental challenges in their own backyards."

Beginning with six schools from the Miami-Dade County Public School District, which is the fourth largest in the nation and has a predominantly Hispanic population, the pilot program will provide an opportunity for participating educators and their students to create and implement environmental projects that involve and benefit their communities.

During the educator workshops that mark the launch of this pilot program, participants will receive professional development training to support their students in service learning initiatives that will empower them to take action on critical environmental issues affecting their communities.

Workshop participants will also receive training to integrate an array of online assets into existing classroom curriculums, including EarthEcho's Water Planet Challenge Action Guides, which are developed in partnership with international service learning consultant Cathryn Berger Kaye. 

Punto Verde, an organization that facilitates outreach efforts to engage underprivileged communities in sustainability practices, is providing customization and content development support for the pilot program.

The program will include resources inspired by the upcoming EarthEcho Expeditions, a new initiative that leverages the rich Cousteau legacy of exploration and discovery to bring science education alive for today's 21^st century learners.

To learn more about the EarthEcho International-Toyota U.S.A. Foundation pilot program, please visit www.earthecho.org.

For additional information about the Toyota U.S.A. Foundation, visit www.toyota.com/foundation.

For more information about EarthEcho International, visit www.earthecho.org.

SOURCE EarthEcho International