Joshua Holts, from Houston, TX, is an upcoming junior cybersecurity major at Grambling State University.

His academic focus areas include Waste By-products, Environmental Justice, Waste Management, and Water Pollution.

William Hamilton III, an Aviation Science major at Texas Southern University, is a scholar in the Thomas F. Freeman Honors College.

Sincere Harrison is a senior at Clark Atlanta University.

Their primary interests include Environmental Justice and Community Development.

Sierra Sails is a senior biology student on a pre-med track at Savannah State University.

Her focus areas include healthcare access, equity, and social fairness.

Directed by Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley, the documentary "Landfill Harmonic" was released on August 17, 2016.

This inspiring film chronicles children from a Paraguayan slum, built on a landfill, who create "The Recycled Orchestra." Crafting instruments from discarded materials, these young musicians achieve their dream of touring the world and performing with the heavy metal band, Megadeth.

Earth Guardian youth are vocal advocates for climate justice, actively opposing fossil fuels.

They speak out to highlight the urgent need for a transition away from fossil fuels and to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities worldwide.

The latest Cultural Survival Quarterly issue celebrates Indigenous educators and youth revitalizing knowledge systems, languages, and lifeways. Indigenous education honors Elders and youth as vital knowledge carriers, fostering their leadership and creativity for thriving communities.

Join the conversation with Indigenous educators, including panelists Aviut Rojas (Nahuat), Eli Wewentxu (Mapuche), Gloria Guadalupe Dzib Kumul (Maya), and Catalina Vergara Realpe (Nasa). Byron Tenesaca Guaman (Kañari Kichwa) will moderate.

Interpretation is available for English and Spanish speakers via tinyurl.com/indiged116.

Nineteen-year-old artist Austin Picinich founded Save Our Salmon through Art (SOS) in 2021. This nonprofit uses public art to educate and empower communities to protect local salmon-spawning streams, many of which are blocked by urban culverts. Picinich was inspired after only three salmon returned to spawn in Juanita Creek near his home.

SOS hosts interactive mural painting events. Picinich designs salmon-themed murals, which volunteers and attendees complete during "SOS Community Days." These events have engaged nearly 750 painters and over 3,000 attendees, raising more than $28,000 for stream restoration and reaching almost a million people through awareness efforts.

Amelia Southern-Uribe, 21, grew up in environmentally vulnerable Southern communities, recognizing early on that environmental justice is linked to the liberation of marginalized groups. In 2019, they founded Arkansas’s first Zero Hour chapter in Fayetteville, which became a model for climate activism across the state.

Addressing Arkansas’s educational disparities, which exacerbate injustice, Southern-Uribe co-founded Roots magazine in 2022. Roots amplifies BIPOC Southern voices and environmental knowledge, providing free art supplies to artists. In its pilot year, over $7,800 was raised to distribute the magazine statewide.

Ishanvi Shetty, a 15-year-old 11th grader from GEMS Modern Academy in Dubai, presents a thought-provoking talk on combating the climate crisis through AI.

An avid public speaker, debater, and philosophy enthusiast, Ishanvi is deeply committed to youth empowerment and environmental advocacy. She actively participates in sustainability initiatives, volunteering, and entrepreneurial ventures, focusing on the intersection of climate change and AI.

This talk was presented at an independently organized TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

Earth Island's New Leaders Initiative hosted a virtual Eco-Anxiety Panel on September 12, 2024. Climate psychologist Leslie Davenport moderated the event, which featured Brower Youth Awards Alumni.

Alumni Rachel Barge, Mackenzie Feldman, and Hamid Torabzadeh shared insights into eco-anxiety, offering coping strategies and discussing ways to overcome its challenges.

"The Influence of Environmental Activism on Gen Z Voting" featured four environmental leaders discussing activism's impact on youth turnout and civic engagement. Part of UC Berkeley's Creating Citizens Speaker Series, this event aimed to inspire future voters and citizen leaders.

The series, a partnership with The Commonwealth Club and others, offers students and community members opportunities to engage with leaders in politics, media, and education. The Commonwealth Club, founded in 1903, is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum, hosting over 500 annual events.

Join our Email List! https://www.commonwealthclub.org/email
BECOME a MEMBER: https://www.commonwealthclub.org/membership

Katherine Martínez Medina, 21, grew up on Vieques, Puerto Rico, an island contaminated by decades of US Navy bomb testing. This toxic environment, coupled with high food costs and import reliance, spurred her early environmental activism.

In 2020, Medina joined La Colmena Cimarrona, a women-led agriculture initiative formed post-Hurricane Maria. It seeks food sovereignty, a solidarity economy, and fights displacement in Vieques. As a link between organizations, Medina helps shape the farm's efforts, building hope.

Drone Footage Vieques:
https://www.youtube.com/@thetravelingdrone
https://www.youtube.com/@OneManWolfPack

Additional footage:
https://www.youtube.com/@aljazeeraenglish
https://www.youtube.com/@AssociatedPress

Maanit Goel, 17, from Washington State, learned about the critically endangered Southern Resident orcas. Only 75 remain in the Salish Sea, threatened by declining Chinook salmon, their primary food source, in the Snake River-Columbia River system.

In 2021, Goel founded the Washington Youth Ocean & River Conservation Alliance (WYORCA) to mobilize youth. WYORCA advocates removing four lower Snake River dams, impeding salmon migration and harming orcas. Goel argues renewable energy shouldn't sacrifice a keystone species. With 30 volunteers, WYORCA educated over 6,000 students, held 20+ congressional meetings, and coordinated events. The group earned Congressional recognition and an EPA award; Goel also spoke at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15).

After Hurricane Irma flooded Miami in 2017, Will Charouhis founded We Are Forces of Nature, a youth-led climate group. It focuses on providing climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for coastal areas, particularly through mangrove conservation.

The group launched A Million Mangroves, an initiative that cleans, plants, and researches mangroves to improve restoration success. Charouhis, 17, also pioneers research at Miami's Seaquarium on mangrove species resilience to ocean acidification and warming.

He has shared his findings at UN climate conferences, aiming to increase global restoration efforts. His organization has educated 2,500 youth in 16 countries and is involved in collaborative mangrove restoration in Central Africa.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, 16-year-old Riya Chandra discovered a passion for hiking but noticed a lack of girls of color in outdoor spaces. Research revealed historical non-inclusivity and systemic barriers preventing families of color from accessing nature, validating her own experiences.

To address this, Chandra founded HYPE: GIRLS (Hiking Youth Program for Equity: Girls) in 2021. The program organizes hikes, nature walks, and lectures for teenage girls of color in New York's Westchester and Yonkers areas. HYPE: GIRLS fosters a safe, inclusive community, promoting nature interaction for coping and self-discovery. It aims to inspire young people to protect our environment and become role models for future generations.

The 24th annual Brower Youth Awards ceremony, a flagship event of the New Leaders Initiative presented by Earth Island Institute, was held on October 17, 2023, in Berkeley, California. The evening celebrated six outstanding youth leaders for their accomplishments in the environmental movement, featuring special videos and speeches from the awardees.

This year's theme, "Moving Forward Together," underscored the power of teamwork and diverse contributions, inspired by the proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." The awards, which have recognized environmental youth leaders since 2000, highlight how young leaders are redefining traditional leadership roles. For more information, visit broweryouthawards.org.

Angelina Xu delivered a compelling speech at the annual Brower Youth Awards ceremony. This prestigious event celebrates young environmental leaders and their impactful contributions.

The ceremony took place on October 17, 2023, at the Freight & Salvage, a renowned venue located in Berkeley, California.

Muskan Walia delivered a notable speech at the Brower Youth Awards ceremony. This prestigious event recognizes young environmental leaders.

The ceremony took place on October 17, 2023, at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, California.

Katherine Martínez Medina delivered a notable speech at the Brower Youth Awards ceremony.

The event took place on October 17, 2023, at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, California.