Press Release: Twelve Young Environmental Educators from Eight Countries Recognized for Their Innovative Work to Fight Climate Change

Contact: Stacie Pierpoint | stacie@naaee.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Twelve Young Environmental Educators from Eight Countries Recognized for Their Innovative Work to Fight Climate Change

[Washington, D.C., United States, March 31, 2021] The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is pleased to announce its second class of EE 30 Under 30 Changemakers. Twelve leaders from eight countries will receive small grants, professional development, and a community of support to boost their impact. 
These young environmental education (EE) professionals will implement environmental education projects that build low-carbon economies, create resilient communities, and protect and restore ecosystems. They will address a wide range of sustainability issues, including reconnecting indigenous communities to traditional land-based practices, empowering youth to inform national climate policies, creating inclusive and culturally relevant E-STEM education kits for at-home learning, and much more.

The Changemakers Grants program, implemented over 10 months, aims to build the capacity of EE 30 Under 30 as EE leaders through the program’s many learning and networking opportunities, including implementing and adapting their individual projects and sharing experience and knowledge by forming a collaborative learning community. Grantees will also have the opportunity to present their work at NAAEE’s 50th international conference in October 2021.

Since 2016, NAAEE's EE 30 Under 30 program has recognized 150 individuals from around the world who are making a difference through environmental education. This program is made possible by NAAEE’s Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), the U.S. Forest Service, and Wells Fargo. To learn more, visit naaee.org/ee30under30.

Luisa Martinez Zarate, Social Entrepreneur at Impulsum Lab in Mexico, is a 2020 Changemaker Grantee and EE 30 Under 30 alum. She says, “The Changemaker grant allows me to reinforce my skills, leadership, and commitment to work with projects that amplify local voices, tackle inequalities, and create lasting change in vulnerable communities.” 

Says Judy Braus, Executive Director of NAAEE, “We are thrilled to support our second cohort of EE 30 Under 30 Changemakers who are using education to create lasting change in their communities and institutions, and help elevate the voices and impact of young leaders across the globe through this program. These leaders are an inspiration to all of us working to create a more equitable and sustainable future.”

The 2021 EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker grantees include:

• Sara Alamo, Córdoba, Argentina
• Damilola Aminat Adeyemi, Ogun, Nigeria
• Symone Barkley, Maryland, United States
• Kehkashan Basu, Toronto, Canada
• Connel Bradwell, British Columbia, Canada
• Erinn Drage, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Ciarra Greene, Nimiipuu Homelands (ID, MT, OR, WA), United States
• Ajay Mittal, West Bengal, India
• Quek Yew Aun, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Adam Ratner, California, United States
• Elise Trelegan, Maryland, United States
• Isabella Villanueva-García, Santiago, Chile

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About NAAEE

For five decades, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has served as the professional association, champion, and backbone organization for the field of environmental education (EE), working with EE professionals across United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as globally, to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement to create a more equitable and sustainable future. For more information on NAAEE, visit https://naaee.org.