OUR CLIMATE EDUCATION FUND

IN 2023, OUR CLIMATE MOBILIZED OVER 3,300 YOUTH LEADERS ACROSS FIVE STATES--NEW YORK, MASSACHUSETTS, FLORIDA, WASHINGTON, AND OREGON--ALONG WITH OUR FEDERAL PROGRAM. WE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CLIMATE LEADERS BY PROVIDING HANDS-ON ADVOCACY TRAINING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE RESILIENCE AS RESISTANCE. OUR WORK INCLUDED HOSTING 92 COLLABORATIVE CALLS WITH PARTNERS, ORGANIZING 60 YOUTH LEADERSHIP EVENTS, AND EXPANDING OUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH ENGAGED 13 YOUTH LEADERS IN ADVOCATING FOR SCIENCE-BASED, EQUITABLE CLIMATE POLICIES.OUR CLIMATE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON POLICY ADVANCEMENT, CONTRIBUTING TO THE PASSAGE OF 13 PIECES OF CLIMATE LEGISLATION AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS. WE ORGANIZED STATEWIDE ADVOCACY EVENTS, INCLUDING A CLIMATE DAY OF ACTION IN WASHINGTON AND A YOUTH SUMMIT IN MASSACHUSETTS, BRINGING TOGETHER OVER 2,350 YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN LOBBYING, LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGNS, AND POLICY DISCUSSIONS. OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ALSO GREW OUR ONLINE PRESENCE BY 35%, LAUNCHING OUR FIRST COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND AMPLIFYING YOUTH VOICES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, BLOGS, AND PODCASTS.ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL FRONT, WE EXPANDED OUR STAFFING TO SUPPORT OUR GROWING INITIATIVES, WITH KEY PROMOTIONS AND HIRES TO STRENGTHEN OUR TEAM. WE DEVELOPED A MULTI-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUSED ON ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH AND IMPACT, WHILE DEEPENING OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, BELONGING, AND ACTION (DEIBA). OUR EFFORTS INCLUDED ENSURING THAT YOUTH LEADERS FROM FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES WERE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR WORK AND CREATING SPACE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS STAFF. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAID A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ADVANCING CLIMATE JUSTICE, EMPOWERING YOUTH LEADERS, AND BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND RESILIENT MOVEMENT.