What is it?
The Summer Climate Justice Leadership Academy (Summer Academy) is a six-week long program where high school-aged youth take a deep dive into local environmental justice issues, building their leadership, advocacy, and organizing skills along the way. This summer, the Rose Foundation will host 30 youth of color from frontline communities across the Bay Area. And after two years of remote learning, the Summer Climate Justice Academy is returning to outdoor, in-person learning.
Program Details
Each week of our Academy, Summer Academy participants will learn about a different climate justice theme — from air pollution, to food justice, to energy. Their learning will be brought to life through rich and engaging activities, including:
- hands-on experiments
- virtual tours
- discussions with guest speakers
- externships with partner organizations in their communities
We will also host two special in-person events – the Youth Poetry Slam and Community Summit – where our 30 youth leaders will be able to share their voices, stories, and learnings with our community. Check out the incredible collection of poems created by our 2021 Summer Academy students. And don’t miss the 2023 Community Summit presentations below:
To address potential barriers for students participating in the program, we are providing each student with an iPad and internet connectivity. This technology will allow our students to engage in online learning, group activities, digital organizing, and more. We are also partnering with local community farms to provide weekly boxes of fresh locally-grown produce and home garden kits to students and their families.
Through these experiences and more, New Voices youth from across the Bay Area will enjoy a summer of connecting, learning, acting, and leading for a climate just future!
To keep up with the Summer Academy, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Help fund our environmental justice leadership program for local youth of color.
THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
Austin and Lauren Fite Foundation
Bay Area Air Quality Management District
California Air Resources Board
California Environmental Protection Agency
Department of Pesticide Regulation
Department of Toxic Substances Control
East Bay Municipal Utilities District
Landray/MacLane Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation
