On January 15, the California Youth Climate Policy (CYCP) Leadership Program celebrated the graduation of its third cohort of youth climate leaders. Hosted virtually by Ten Strands in partnership with Sierra Club and UndauntedK12, the event marked the culmination of seven months of learning, leadership development, and civic action. Forty-five students successfully graduated, joining a growing statewide network of youth leaders advancing climate policy in California’s schools and communities.
Building on the strong foundation laid by Cohorts 1 and 2, CYCP Cohort 3 once again demonstrated what is possible when young people are trusted, supported, and equipped to lead. Through this co-curricular knowledge-to-action program, students deepened their understanding of climate policy, strengthened their leadership and communication skills, and translated passion into real-world advocacy.
CYCP is designed to demystify policy and empower students to participate meaningfully in democratic processes. Throughout the program, Cohort 3 students built policy knowledge, developed Personal Leadership Plans, led advocacy campaigns, conducted research, and presented to school boards and decision-makers across the state. Along the way, students navigated complex systems, learned how to build coalitions, and found their voices as advocates for change, learning firsthand how to participate in democracy and drive systems-level change.
For many students, the experience was transformative. As one participant reflected:
“This program has been extremely meaningful for me in learning skills to become a more effective leader and changemaker. Also just having this community and knowing that there are other very passionate climate activists who feel the same way I do about how we need to take action is so helpful and makes it impossible to feel isolated. Before this program, I felt like I was mostly figuring activism and leadership out as I went, but having this network of mentors and educational materials has been very helpful. Thank you so much to the program facilitators for their awesome energy and for making every meeting and activity such an enjoyable and valuable experience!”
Another student shared how the program reframed their understanding of policy and possibility:
“CYCP has taught me a lot about how policy works, and how it can be used to make an impact. What has been most memorable to me is the amount of people who are willing to help, and the amount of students who care about climate change. I think the climate crisis can often make you feel helpless, but being in this program has made me feel more hopeful about the future, knowing there are so many people working to address climate change!”
And as the cohort reached the finish line, one graduate captured the pride and joyful persistence that defined the year:
“I am feeling very proud of everything we have all accomplished! It makes me so happy to see how many like-minded students there are and fuels me to keep fighting for sustainable policies. I have learned how to be an effective communicator, ask for support when I need it, do in-depth research, and write a Board Policy! I will remember how much work I’ve put into this process and learning from the inspiring speakers that we’ve heard from during the monthly meetings. This program has meant hope to me and inspired me to be an environmental leader even when it’s difficult.”
A defining strength of CYCP is its mentorship model. Volunteer mentors, many of whom are returning mentors or program alumni (a quarter of the mentors were program alumni this year), provided monthly coaching, encouragement, and strategic guidance as students developed and implemented their advocacy campaigns. Mentors consistently emphasized how powerful it was to witness students grow in confidence and agency over the course of the program.
As one mentor shared:
“This year’s cohort displayed many creative approaches to incorporating and presenting climate change policy to their school districts. From biting off tinier bits of impactful action to trying to follow through on previous resolutions, this cohort really is making the kind of progress we need. Kudos to all for their joyful persistence!”
Another reflected on the visible growth they witnessed:
“It was inspiring to see how the students grew in their knowledge and confidence as the program progressed. When at first many of the tasks seemed overwhelming, to see them share examples of how they overcame their fears and presented to School Boards SUCCESSFULLY was truly amazing!”
A third mentor highlighted the deeper civic impact of the program:
“Someone said earlier that this program really teaches how to participate in democracy– that really struck home. To see the students in this program learn how to make change within all the politics and peculiarities of their school district was incredible. To understand how you can be an agent for change is no small thing! I’m so proud to be a part of this program, and shout-out to my mentees, who were so driven and thoughtful throughout the process. Thank you to the students for their effort, the mentors for their insights, and the staff for their unending organization and support.”
A Growing Legacy of Youth Climate Leadership
With forty-five graduates, Cohort 3 adds new momentum to CYCP’s growing legacy. Cohort 3 students leave the program with strengthened leadership skills, expanded networks, and a renewed sense of hope and purpose. While the cohort’s formal journey has concluded, their impact is far from over. Their continued impact is highlighted in the student case studies, which showcases how graduates are putting their learning into action as they continue their advocacy work, build on their coalitions, and carry forward the lessons they learned into future academic, civic, and career pathways.
As CYCP continues to evolve, the success of Cohort 3 reinforces a core truth: When youth are given agency, mentorship, and meaningful opportunities to lead, they rise to the challenge. Their work is a powerful reminder that young people are not just future leaders, they are leaders right now.
Ten Strands, along with its partners Sierra Club and UndauntedK12, is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of CYCP Cohort 3 and looks ahead with optimism as the next generation of youth climate leaders continues to shape a more just and sustainable future. As we look toward recruiting Cohort 4 this spring, we invite our community to help share this opportunity with students who may be interested in applying.
For those who would like to support the program in other ways, we also welcome involvement through mentorship or by contributing to Ten Strands to help sustain student resources, including stipends. Together, we can continue to uplift and invest in the next generation of youth climate leaders.
