What I Learned About Resilience as a Youth Leader

Dear EcoRise community,

I believe leaders are made, not born. Over the last three years as a Youth Climate Council member, and through the support of EcoRise and their community partners, I’ve seen myself grow into a leader in my community. My journey is one example of how EcoRise helps young people become rooted in resilience and grounded in care, connection, and the courage to act. My name is Annika, and I am a senior at Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin, Texas.

Since childhood, I’ve thought about and practiced sustainability, inspired by my grandmother, who taught me to garden and involved me in the grassroots solar energy campaigns she was a part of. However, the first time I felt like a fully fledged activist and environmentalist was sophomore year of high school. It was my second year serving on the Youth Council and my first time working with community organizers at PODER. My team helped educate East Austin residents about the HOME Initiative through community outreach, social media posts, and event support. Experiences that showed me what grassroots leadership and civic engagement look like in real time. A few months later, I had the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Council at the Student Innovation Showcase at Austin City Hall. It was empowering to not only elevate the work my peers and I had created but to be at the forefront, representing a movement of local environmentalists.

Over the last three years, the Council has helped me find my voice and advocate for myself and others in ways I never imagined. In addition to working with PODER, I uncovered my strengths as an organizer during my Green Careers Academy internship with Into the Sea, where I began a reusable container initiative and conducted trash audits. I also interned at the Hornsby Bend Lab, participated in the Columbia Climate School’s Green Mountains Program, and hosted a climate festival at my school.

EcoRise has also helped shape the direction of my future and solidified my passion for environmental work. I’m excited to have two more climate festivals on the way, and I’m now applying to colleges to double major in biochemistry and environmental science. I hope to pursue my bachelor’s, then a master’s and Ph.D., and ultimately work in natural carbon sequestration.

My work is about giving back to the networks that have nourished me. I want to build a future rooted in love, care and community resilience. As a youth organizer with EcoRise, I redefined my passion for helping people to focus on supporting community resilience and inspiring environmental change. My leadership and the ways I give back are all inspired by the activists that came before me and the people I’ve met through EcoRise programs.

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to supporting the work that shapes stronger, more resilient communities. If my story resonates with you, I hope you’ll consider making a gift to EcoRise. Your support helps students like me gain the tools, mentorship, and confidence we need to lead our communities toward a more sustainable future. And donations are being doubled up to $50,000.