Youth voices, lasting change
Meet young leaders turning questions into action. Explore their experiences in Ten Strands’ youth programs and the campaigns they are building with their communities.
Meet the alumni11 profiles
Existing cohort labels are shown where available.
Aahaan’s work grew from concerns about air pollution and the environmental burdens some communities face. He founded ConServe, a youth-led nonprofit focused on air pollution, and turned to school district policy as a path…
Read Aahaan’s storyJerry’s environmental justice advocacy began after the Aliso Canyon gas leak displaced him and his family. Through CYCP Cohort 2, he shaped a school recycling initiative with his environmental leadership club, using stakeholder mapping…
Read Jerry’s storyAva’s climate advocacy centers on ensuring that school climate commitments reach students and staff. After joining CYCP Cohort 2, Ava focused on implementation gaps in an existing district climate policy and worked toward a…
Read Ava’s storyGavin’s profile traces his environmental advocacy to wildfire and coastal pollution concerns. As a CYCP Cohort 2 member, he proposed a youth-led climate action and resilience committee for his school district, gathered student survey…
Read Gavin’s storyKasch’s CYCP profile focuses on waste management policy in Sacramento City Unified. The article identifies him as part of the 2023 cohort and describes how he found implementation gaps in district waste policies before…
Read Kasch’s storyLiliana’s 2023 CYCP campaign centered on a Climate Restoration Resolution that paired climate restoration with climate literacy. A student survey helped her build a seven-student coalition representing Napa County high schools. The group hosted…
Read Liliana’s storyMahi’s CYCP Cohort 3 campaign moved from a solar energy focus to zero waste after she adapted the program materials to her private school setting. The profile describes partnerships across her school and three…
Read Mahi’s storyNupur’s 2023 CYCP campaign addressed a gap she identified in environmental and sustainability education across K–12. She drafted a resolution and proposed Poway Unified School District Board Policy 6142.5, then presented the proposal to…
Read Nupur’s storyRaymond’s CYCP Cohort 3 project explored renewable energy use in San Ramon Valley schools. He researched district charging infrastructure and developed a proposal to install electric vehicle charging stations across district schools. Mentors helped…
Read Raymond’s storySami’s Cohort 2 campaign grew from her interest in community service and environmental awareness. With teammates at Oak Ridge High School, she installed recycling bins in classrooms and organized recurring collection through the Interact…
Read Sami’s storySathvika’s 2023 CYCP campaign focused on environmental education after she identified gaps in her school’s curriculum. Because facility changes were difficult in the school’s rented space, she developed a proposed board policy that could…
Read Sathvika’s storyLearn how Ten Strands’ youth programs support students as they turn their ideas into action.
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