Why We’re Hopeful that Youth are Building the World We Imagine.
Hope is something we all hold onto, even when it feels fragile. With doomscrolling and endless tragedies filling our feeds, it can be hard to keep it going. As an environmental justice organization, we’ve felt this shift too, with grants falling through, youth and their communities struggling, and the weight of a political climate that spreads fear and hate.
When we decided in 2024 to host our Seeds of Change Summit in Los Angeles, we couldn’t have imagined the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that would happen at the start of 2025. Our vision for this event shifted again and again, but one thing remained constant: youth needed this space, and nothing was going to stop us from creating it.
We were honored to collaborate with the Sunrise Movement, whose radical and hopeful perspectives energized the room. You could see the crowd engaged and on the edge of their seats, listening and asking questions. Our Youth Advisory Board stepped up, as they always do, leading some of the most impactful workshops of the summit.
For example, Kevin Briseño facilitated Rooting Your Health: Social Determinants of Health and Mental Health, a workshop that was about how community health is not only based on healthcare systems in place; it is impacted by systemic issues. Another Youth Advisory Board member, Melanie Robles, led Crafting Public Narrative: Embracing Our Stories, a powerful reminder that when the world feels uncertain, our stories become our strength. They remind us who we are and what we can accomplish together.
This summit was truly for youth, by youth. Adults were present, but it was the young people who ran the show, speaking, facilitating, and connecting. Everything about this event was designed to center their leadership, their voices, and their visions.
As a result, we had a room full of energy, community, and hope. In a time when the future can feel frightening, the atmosphere at Seeds of Change reminded us that we are a few steps closer to building the world we imagine. The connections made and the community built will carry us forward until the next time youth take the stage.
