New Voices are Rising
Are you a young person from the Bay Area with big dreams to help your community and the environment? Channel your energy into action with New Voices!
About the Program
New Voices Are Rising empowers young BIPOC leaders from diverse Bay Area communities, increasing awareness on local and global environmental injustices through civic engagement and skills building. Youth make a real difference, tackling important environmental issues that directly impact their communities. Join us in creating a future where your voice and actions count!
There are two pathways to explore:
If you are new to the program, check out our entry level Summer Climate Justice Academy. Graduates of this academy are welcome to apply for our Advanced School-Year Environmental Justice Fellowship Program.
Entry Level: The Summer Climate Justice Leadership Academy
June-July, 6 weeks
The Summer Climate Justice Leadership Academy takes 20-25 enthusiastic Bay Area high-school youth ages 14 - 18 on an intensive, 6-week journey to learn about environmental justice issues facing their communities, from air pollution and food injustice to housing and water quality. Students will gain real-world work experience along the way.
2025 Summer Academy Details
The 2025 Summer Academy is a hybrid program, with both in-person and virtual activities. It provides students with the technology necessary to participate remotely, and exciting opportunities to learn more about environmental justice through virtual and in-person field trips, creative activities, community building, guest speakers, engaging presentations and more!
Have questions? Contact Andrea Pineda, apineda@rosefdn.org
What You'll Gain
Students will gain valuable knowledge, leadership skills, and a deep understanding of environmental issues. Our program offers a platform to make a positive impact, fostering a sense of empowerment and engagement in the pursuit of environmental justice.
Environmental Justice Education
Participants explore a variety of environmental justice issues that directly impact their communities.
Leadership Skills
By strengthening skills in communication, advocacy and teamwork, participants exit the program as informed advocates for the environment and their community.
Community Connection
Weekly field trips exploring the Bay Area’s natural and cultural resources strengthen participants’ connections to community.
Work Experience
Youth participate in externships with local community groups who guide them in niche environmental justice projects.
Advanced Level: School-Year Fellowship Program
After school, September-May
Out of the 25 youth leaders in our Summer Climate Justice Academy, 9 dedicated students will be selected to bring their work to the next level as a New Voices Are Rising Fellow. The Fellowship program is an opportunity for students to apply the skills and knowledge they developed over the summer, to hands-on climate resiliency, public health, and community outreach projects during the academic year. The program focuses on pragmatic career-building experience, giving students the chance to work with nonprofit and government agencies to build power from the ground up.
2024 Fellowship Details
The Fellowship Program takes place weekly between September 2024 and May 2025.
Have questions? Contact Andrea Pineda, apineda@rosefdn.org.
What You’ll Gain
You'll gain advanced skills and knowledge in environmental advocacy and leadership. Participants can expect opportunities to spearhead their own projects, collaborate with experienced mentors, and further develop their abilities as change-makers in the realm of environmental justice.
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Environmental Justice Education
Participants will take a deep dive into an environmental justice topic of their choosing and create a project that centers on their chosen theme. Past participant projects have focused on the following themes: Water Justice, Food Justice, Social Media and Comms, Climate Resiliency, Clean Energy, East Oakland Air Quality, Contra Costa Air Quality, and Community Health.
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Leadership Skills
Participants will oversee a workshop or project from start to finish, honing their leadership skills in a more independent setting than the Summer Academy.
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Community Connection
Through projects that directly address environmental (in)justice in their neighborhoods, fellows strengthen their connection to community.
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Work Experience - emphasize
Youth participants with a local community group partner. Fellows guide a community capacity building or outreach project of their own choosing and work in collaboration with their community group partner.
FAQ For Parents
No, all New Voices programs are free and include stipends or paid work opportunities.
Yes! For in-person trips and events, participants have the option of meeting us at the location directly or meeting staff at one of our meet-up spots. Meet-up spots will be Richmond BART station and West Oakland BART station. To acknowledge the time and energy spent on transportation to our in-person events, participants will receive a transportation stipend.
Stipends are considered income, and therefore taxable under the payroll code. Students will get their annual 1099-NEC form to use for tax purposes.
Youth from neighboring cities can apply- for example, we can take youth from Pinole as well as Hercules, Crockett, and Rodeo. Other examples of neighboring cities are Pittsburg/Antioch and Richmond/San Pablo.
Hear Youth Voices
Here, you'll find stories and insights from participants in our environmental justice youth program. These accounts provide a glimpse into the impact our program has on young individuals passionate about environmental change.
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Mykela Patton
New Voices Are Rising alumnus and current Program Director | Oakland
“I joined New Voices in 2016 as a summer academy participant. That was my intro to environmental justice and when I feel I found my calling to environmentalism. A lot of the conversation at that time was around greenhouse gasses, global warming, and climate change. As a summer academy student, New Voices took that information and showed me what environmental justice was, which as a low-income black woman from Oakland was much more relevant to my lived experiences and my community.”
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Andrea Pineda
Youth Coordinator and Alumnus | Oakland
“New Voices taught me that I was given a voice for a reason, and I am able to use that voice to speak up and act on any type of injustice. Now as the NVR Youth Coordinator, I get to teach other youth about the power of their voice.”
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Qin
Youth Co-Coordinator| Oakland
“Being in a leadership role as a Summer Academy POD Leader confirmed that I had the strength to lead others. I hope my students will use their newfound knowledge to work with and teach their communities about the issues impacting them and find solutions.”
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Natalia
School Year Fellow | Oakland
“I helped conduct air quality focus groups with East Oakland’s Lions Creek Crossing community. Residents shared that they were brought solutions in the past that did not meet the needs of the community. Through these focus groups, we addressed community needs based on what actual residents had to say.”
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Giovanni
New Voices Are Rising Summer Academy Participant | Antioch
“I externed with mayor Monica Wilson of Antioch. I helped the local government and my community to find the best ways to reach Antioch residents most affected by air pollution. If not for NVR, I wouldn’t have made the connections I have now and have my voice heard in City Council.”
The Community Summit
To celebrate the hard work of our New Voices Youth, we host a Community Summit in mid-summer. The Summit is an opportunity for participants to present a personal project related to what they learned during the program. Topics range from air quality justice and redlining, to resilience hubs and food apartheid.
Stay Connected
Change is happening! Receive updates on grantee successes, upcoming grants, and opportunities to make a difference. Join our community and be a vital part of the environmental justice movement.