Embedded Files
Youth for Environmental Action was founded in December 2019 and has since been a place for students to gain leadership skills and come together in the community to fight for environmental action in schools.
Read the Alumni spotlights below to learn more about past student experiences and where they ended up after high school!
Last Updated: January 2025
Cali Davis (She/Her)
Class of 2020
Scarborough Gardens
My favorite memory from my time at YEA is the feeling I had after meeting with the group. I remember feeling so filled with hope, excitement, and importance. I remember feeling like I had found a space that I really fit into in such a positive way.
Phoenix Rumbaugh (He/Him)
Class of 2020
Archeology at UCSC
Joining YEA gave me a chance to do something and help with climate activism before leaving high school.
Seamus McMillan (He/him)
Class of 2020
Anthropology Student at UC Santa Barbara
YEA gave me a platform to express my views and be around like-minded people. Having an outlet for political and community engagement was really nice, and I appreciated it.
Azucena Nieto (She/They)
Class of 2021
Design Student at San Jose State University
I understood the impacts of climate change first hand growing up in a farming community... It was empowering to realize I was a voice for my community and could make a difference locally.
Leilani Renda (She/Her)
Class of 2021
Agroecology Student at UC Berkley
When I had no idea how activism happened it was easy to feel hopeless, but YEA showed me how powerful we can be to create change and influence people when we work together.
Marlize Velasco (She/Her)
Class of 2021
Politics and Education Student at USC
I wanted to find a way to gain leadership skills, and YEA was an accessible, exciting opportunity. It also helped me meet more students from across the county.
Nathan Lapp (He/Him)
Class of 2021
Conservation and Resource Studies Student at UC Berkley
YEA solidified that climate change requires a collective effort, not just individual actions, as corporations say. Individual changes can have a communal impact on your networks or the industries.
Rowyn Cook (She/They)
Class of 2021
Nursing Student at Regis University
It was a good opportunity to meet other people and work together for change. I learned a lot from other members in the group and became more aware of environmental issues while in the group.
Vincente Martinez (He/Him)
Class of 2021
The Bird School
Environmental Studies Student at California State University, Monterey Bay
YEA changed the way I viewed environmental activism. Seeing so many people my age who cared about climate change and action inspired me to pursue a career in science.
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Shea Egan (They/Them)
Class of 2022
Geology Student at Whatcom Community College
I joined YEA because I lacked an outlet for environmental activism at my high school, and I wanted to make an impact in my community. It gave me greater awareness of how to be environmentally and socially active in ways that helped connect with others around a shared cause.
Avonlea Harwood (She/Her)
Class of 2023
Marine Biology Student at UC Santa Cruz
YEA taught me that despite our age, we can still make an impact on our community. My favorite memories are the day of and the day after our annual summit. I felt like we made such an impact and that all our work paid off.
Carolyn Randolph (She/Her)
Class of 2023
Biomedical Engineering Student at UW Madison
I enjoyed that YEA is student-led, community-based, and non-hierarchical. I enjoyed meeting Tribal Chairman Lopez and seeing firsthand the resilience of land after wildfires.
Zahir Sabbah (He/Him)
Class of 2024
Student at Cabrillo College
I had always been passionate about advocacy for the environment, and when I heard about YEA I felt it was the best way to make a difference locally.
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