EcoRise Youth Climate Councils & Green Careers Programs

Co-led the Austin Youth Climate Equity Council and the City of San Antonio’s Mayor Youth Engagement Climate Council Initiative, youth leadership initiatives supporting high school students in advancing local climate action through an equity-centered, youth participatory action research (YPAR) framework. The program equipped students with tools to understand climate equity, resilience, environmental health, and policy advocacy while directly supporting implementation of their city’s climate action plans and local resilience planning efforts.

In parallel, managed EcoRise’s Green Careers and Youth Internship Program, connecting students to environmental justice organizations, design firms, conservation groups, and community-based partners. This work emphasized youth leadership, workforce development, and pathways into climate, planning, and sustainability careers.

What I did:

• Youth Climate Leadership & Curriculum Design

  • Co-designed and facilitated the Austin Youth Climate Equity Council and the Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives, developing curriculum focused on climate equity, resilience, environmental health, and policy advocacy.

  • Created workshops and learning materials aligned with the Austin & San Antonio climate planning efforts.

  • Integrated lived experience, local knowledge, and environmental justice history into all programming.

• Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) & Student-Led Projects

  • Applied YPAR principles to guide students in identifying local climate challenges and developing action projects at their schools and in their communities.

  • Supported youth in developing projects and policy recommendations addressing food access, green spaces, community health, biodiversity, and urban planning.

  • Facilitated student presentations to city staff and community stakeholders, including policy briefings and public forums.

• Green Careers & Workforce Development

  • Co-managed EcoRise’s Green Careers and Youth Internship Program, connecting students to paid internships with environmental justice organizations, design firms, conservation groups, and sustainability-focused partners.

  • Mentored students exploring careers in climate, planning, environmental health, design, and community organizing.

  • Designed field experiences exposing students to a wide range of sustainability careers and professional pathways.

• Partnerships, Engagement & Program Coordination

  • Coordinated partnerships across city agencies, school districts, universities, community organizations, and professional networks.

  • Organized regional convenings, youth workshops, and cross-city exchanges between Austin and San Antonio.

  • Supported communications and storytelling through social media, conference presentations, and public-facing materials.

Role
Senior Manager, Youth Programs - EcoRise

Year
2021 – November 2023

Clients
City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability
Department of Resilience & Sustainability
UT School of Architecture

Location
Austin & San Antonio, Texas

Partners
Austin & San Antonio local school districts; local EJ organizations and sustainability professionals.

Impact & Outcomes
Built youth leadership pipelines aligned with city climate equity goals; supported student-led climate action projects addressing all major strategies of the Austin Climate Equity Plan & San Antonio's Climate Action & Adaptation Plan; strengthened youth participation in local policy and planning processes through YPAR-driven research, storytelling, and advocacy; expanded access to green careers through paid internships, mentorship, and place-based learning; elevated youth voices through policy recommendations presented to the City of Austin and community partners.