WHAT WE DO
Youth are uniquely positioned to advocate for the environmental issues they experience and have the power to enact change today. Youth from communities on the frontlines of environmental justice often lack access to the education and resources needed to address these challenges or participate in the growing grassroots environmental justice movement. Many organizations working on environmental justice face challenges in reaching youth or providing programming tailored to youth advocacy. Without shifting resources and attention to youth advocates, the environmental justice movement risks losing critical opportunities for transformative change.
Our Approach: Youth on Root actively resources and mobilizes frontline youth to lead the environmental justice movement. We equip frontline youth with tools, resources, and a network of support to elevate their leadership as organizers, storytellers, and policy advocates in the environmental justice movement. Through youth power convenings, environmental justice curriculum, and leadership development via the Youth Advisory Board (YAB), we create spaces where youth shape the movement, not just participate in it. We prioritize intergenerational learning, ensuring youth are mentored while also teaching and leading each other. Platforms such as the statewide Seeds of Change Summit, digital media, and publication of their successes in EJ curriculum amplify youth voices and their impact in environmental justice spaces.
Key Focus Areas:
Youth Power Convenings – Events like our Seeds of Change Summit.
Environmental Justice Curriculum – Educational resources tailored for youth advocacy.
In-Person Workshops – Facilitated and led by youth leaders.
Frontline Youth Organizer Collaborative Network – Building connections for collective action.
WHY WE DO IT
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) disproportionately experience environmental harm, with low-income youth of color bearing the most severe consequences of the climate crisis. Frontline youth’s lived experiences with environmental racism equip them with unique expertise to design effective environmental justice solutions.
We believe that youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the leaders of today. By supporting and empowering youth, we ensure the environmental justice movement remains innovative, impactful, and inclusive.
WHO WE SERVE
While we welcome all youth, our primary focus is on:
Middle and High School Youth: At an age of social and emotional receptivity, they can build a foundation for advocacy by exploring environmental justice issues in their communities.
Registered College Student Groups: Supporting student organizations at California colleges.
BIPOC and Low-Income Youth: Amplifying the voices of those underrepresented in the environmental movement.
California Communities: Specifically those disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental injustices.
