California Youth Climate Policy Fellowship Kicks Off 2nd Annual Cohort

This August, we launched the second annual cohort of the California Youth Climate Policy (CYCP) Fellowship in partnership with Ten Strands and the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter.

We welcomed 60 high school students from every region of the state who will spend the next six months learning policy, advocacy, and coalition-building, with the goal of passing climate and sustainability policies at their school districts.

To kick off Cohort 2, we hosted an opening retreat for all of the fellows. Participants engaged in a series of activities aimed at deepening their understanding of the climate crisis and enhancing their leadership skills. The retreat also featured an inspiring alumni panel, where leaders from the first cohort shared their successes, challenges, and lessons learned.

The retreat also featured community-building exercises that allowed students to explore their emotions related to climate change, fostering a sense of solidarity and mutual support. Students shared their personal stories, expressed their frustrations and hopes, and found collective optimism through their experiences.

Here what the fellows had to say about their experiences:

"The retreat really fueled my passion… I really appreciate this program helping me become more aware of the impact I can have on my community. I'm feeling a lot more confident now.”

“I really enjoyed the interaction I had with like-minded peers…Directing the emotions I have about the climate issue into solving these problems was great advice! I look forward to delving into the research aspect of the CYCP program and implementing the knowledge I gain to help the environment.”

We are inspired by the students joining our 2nd cohort of The California Youth Climate Policy Leadership Program and excited to support them as they take action to drive meaningful climate change across California and beyond.