As a high school student in drought-stricken Reno, Nevada, Celeste Tinajero initiated significant environmental changes at Reed High School.

In 2011, she secured a $12,000 grant from GREENevada to replace leaky bathroom fixtures with water-saving technology. Following this success, she spearheaded efforts to install a hydration station, raising funds through reusable water bottle sales to cover asbestos removal.

Tinajero graduated in 2013, leaving a lasting impact. Today, she continues her advocacy by designing sustainable living curricula for local schools and researching for Reno's "Bag the Ban" campaign against plastic bags.

Jackson Koeppel built community resilience through solar-powered infrastructure.

Learn more about his work at Soulardarity.

Sean was honored with a prestigious Brower Youth Award.

He received this recognition for his impactful work in launching an educational campaign dedicated to raising awareness about marine debris.

Lynnea was honored with a Brower Youth Award.

This recognition highlights her significant work in fostering childhood curiosity, transforming it into a lasting commitment to environmental stewardship.

Troubled by the lack of youth voices in Virginia climate policy, Dyanna Jaye co-founded the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition (VSEC) after the 2013 Power Shift convergence. VSEC's mission is to cultivate and elevate student voices in state-level decision-making, addressing specific challenges like coastline erosion and mountaintop removal mining.

As VSEC's first chair, Jaye established its structure and partnerships. Early actions included critiquing the Governor’s Energy Plan and hosting the 2015 Student Power Lobby Day to advocate for the Virginia Coastal Protection Act. Now active on 11 Virginia college campuses, VSEC continues to ensure students are heard on environmental policy.

Tiffany was honored with a prestigious Brower Youth Award. This accolade recognizes her significant contributions to environmental engagement.

She earned the award for her innovative approach to involving young people in solutions-based, citizen-science projects, fostering a new generation of environmental problem-solvers.

Tsechu won a Brower Youth Award.

This recognition was for creating a model for sustainable food security in Upper Mustang, Nepal.

Doorae received a Brower Youth Award.

This honor recognizes her instrumental work in Hawai'i, where she successfully led the initiative to ban Styrofoam use.

Doorae Shin fell in love with Hawai‘i's majestic landscapes as a freshman on O‘ahu, but was dismayed by Styrofoam litter and its devastating impact on marine ecosystems. In fall 2012, she partnered with the Surfrider Foundation to lead a student petition, gathering 1,000 signatures. This effort successfully prompted the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa to ban single-use foam packaging from all campus dining locations.

Following this campus victory, Shin spent two years advocating for a statewide Styrofoam ban. When that initiative failed, she joined efforts for a county-wide ban on O‘ahu. Shin will soon begin her role as the University of Hawai‘i system's first student sustainability coordinator.

Lynnea Shuck launched the Junior Refuge Ranger Program at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Inspired by her volunteer experience, she created the program to educate youth about the vital role wildlife refuges play in protecting threatened and endangered species.

Through labs, hikes, and birding expeditions, the program teaches children aged 8-11 about conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental awareness. Participants gain an appreciation for nature and their role in its protection. Shuck aims to expand this successful initiative to all 555 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, providing a "How-To Guide" for easy implementation.

Mercedes Thompson and Claire Wayner were honored at the 2017 Brower Youth Awards for their dedicated environmental work in Baltimore. Beginning as young students, they focused on the critical issue of trash, advocating for the understanding that there is "no 'away'" for waste.

Their impactful efforts specifically targeted Styrofoam, a toxic pollutant. Through their initiatives, they successfully influenced their schools, the city, and the state, raising awareness and promoting solutions.

Dineen O'Rourke's 2017 Brower Youth Awards speech highlighted her community work.

She focused on local gardening initiatives and emphasized the importance of education.

The 2017 Brower Youth Awards celebrated six young environmental leaders for their impactful contributions. These prestigious awards honor individuals who demonstrate significant innovation and dedication in environmental advocacy and community engagement.

Among the distinguished honorees was Dejah Powell, who delivered a compelling speech. Her address highlighted critical environmental issues and inspired attendees with her vision for a more sustainable and equitable future, underscoring the vital role of youth leadership.

Charlie Jiang delivered a compelling speech at the 2017 Brower Youth Awards. His address centered on the vital theme of "doing good for the world."

Jiang urged his audience to look beyond their personal "bubble" and hometown of Chicago. He emphasized the importance of engaging with the wider world to create positive change.

In 2017, Anthony Torres delivered a compelling speech at the prestigious Brower Youth Awards. This event celebrates young environmental leaders making significant impacts.

Torres's address highlighted critical environmental challenges and inspired attendees with his vision for a sustainable future. His words underscored the vital role youth play in driving positive change.

His powerful message resonated, reinforcing the importance of youth activism in shaping a more sustainable world.

This document presents the 2017 Brower Youth Awards speech delivered by Anne Lee. The Brower Youth Awards celebrate young environmental leaders who are making significant impacts in their communities and beyond.

Anne Lee's address likely highlighted themes of youth activism, environmental stewardship, and the importance of inspiring future generations to protect our planet. Her words aimed to motivate and acknowledge the vital work of young change-makers.

Tipi Tales offers adventures in story and song, following cousins Elizabeth, Junior, Russell, and Sam. They explore the forest around their great-grandparents' home, navigating daily challenges and learning about themselves and the world.

Through enchanting forest animals, who embody the seven ancient aboriginal laws, the children discover essential life lessons.

Dineen O'Rourke leads youth climate action, heading a 14-member U.S. delegation to COP23 in Bonn, Germany. She works with SustainUs, a youth-led organization with 20 years of experience empowering young people at UN conferences. Her focus includes storytelling, direct actions, and international partnerships, building on her prior role at COP22 in Marrakech.

Domestically, O'Rourke actively resists fossil fuels. She mobilized against fracking projects and pipelines in New England, and co-founded the Sugar Shack Alliance. This nonviolent direct action group has trained hundreds in western Massachusetts to disrupt the fossil fuel industry.

In 2016, Claire Wayner and Mercedes Thompson co-founded Baltimore Beyond Plastic (BBP), a youth-led organization dedicated to reducing plastic pollution in Baltimore. Inspired by the public health impacts of plastic waste, including toxic incinerator emissions and carcinogens leaching from school lunch styrofoam, they sought to address local environmental inequities.

BBP actively combats pollution through school visits, educational workshops, rallies, and legislative advocacy. Having successfully campaigned for a statewide styrofoam ban last year, Wayner and Thompson are now pushing for bans on both styrofoam and plastic bags in Baltimore. They are sharing an award this year for their impactful work.

Last year, Dejah Powell founded Get Them to the Green (G2G) to foster environmental passion among Chicago youth, especially youth of color. G2G's first initiative was a summer camp, engaging 14 young people in environmental justice, sustainability, and food agriculture.

G2G has since partnered with Gardenneers to build a school garden at Powell’s elementary school, providing hands-on outdoor education. The organization also conducts environmental education workshops throughout the city.

Now a Cornell senior, Powell believes understanding environmental problems is key to solving them. She hopes urban environmental education will improve eco-literacy and help under-resourced communities access vital local and global conversations.