DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – Students at Harbor City International School raised awareness on environmental issues Thursday with sidewalk chalk.

Students came outside for their science class at 4th Ave. West and Michigan Street. They had chalk and sketched messages of environmental awareness on the sidewalks.

For Francesca Tanberg, a senior at HCIS, she wrote “climate change is real.”

“It’s very easy to get caught up in the idea that nothing is happening, because maybe some people aren’t affected by it themselves,” said Tanberg.

For Tanberg and her peers, the goal of the chalk art was to remind the community of the environmental issues happening in downtown Duluth. Things like water pollution, littering and clogged storm drains.

The students say this isn’t something they’re only going to think about now.

“With whatever I do I know that I want to incorporate sustainability and making sure that everything I do with my future career is sustainable with the planet,” said Tanberg.

Administration at HCIS said it’s why they do this event each year, so students can make their voices heard now and in the future.

They’re going to be the people out in our community doing all of the things that make our city and our state run, and we want them to start feeling like they’re valued members of the community,” said Executive Director of HCIS, Aryn Bergsven.

Harbor City International School does other community engaged events during the school year, including a street sweep in the spring.

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