Zoë Temple (she/her)

How are you using education to build more sustainable and equitable communities? Tell us about your EE work and impact. 

I am passionate about promoting environmental justice through education. I have designed curriculum, taught in formal and nonformal science education settings, and led workforce development programs, all centered around the core goal of empowering participants with the skills and confidence to create change and participate in the green economy. I have directly taught, mentored, and trained hundreds of youth and community members through my programming based in Los Angeles, California, and curricula and learning materials that I have developed have reached thousands more across the globe.

My passion lies in working with frontline environmental justice communities and with people with barriers to education and employment across California. Across my various roles, I mentor youth to lead community-level change; I lead workforce development trainings in nature-based solutions and clean energy manufacturing; I build coalitions with community members and partners to engage the public in environmental stewardship; and I produce engaging, accessible learning materials that are widely available for teachers, learners, and community advocates to use. I believe that environmental education is for everyone, and my work strives to make that vision a reality.

Tell us about your journey to where you are today. What inspired you? What has your path been like? 

In college, I studied neurobiology, psychology, and Spanish. I knew I wanted to work in science communication, to make science more accessible to the public. After graduating, I became a high school environmental science teacher near downtown Los Angeles. My students made important observations about the world around them, asking about food sovereignty, shade canopy, access to green spaces, and inequitable zoning in their neighborhoods. To answer these questions, I found myself studying, teaching, and engaging in environmental justice work alongside my students. I wanted to empower them to create change in their communities and solve inequities they observed in their everyday lives. I realized that this is the most important work I could be doing: developing leadership for environmental change in young people with a vision for a better future.

Now working in the nonprofit sector, I lead workshops, classes, internships, pre-apprenticeships, and pre-employment trainings. I strive to equip people from frontline, underserved, and historically underrepresented communities with the skills, networks, knowledge, and confidence they need to pursue “good green jobs” in the green economy. It is the hope, curiosity, vision, and radical imagination of the people I work with that inspires me to continue doing this work.

How can people learn more about or support your work? 

"Learn more about and support the amazing organizations I have the honor to serve by following Youth on Root (@youthonroot) and Intersectional Environmentalist (@intersectionalenvironmentalist) on Instagram. Follow along with United Auto Workers—Center for Manufacturing a Green Economy (UAW-CMGE) by subscribing to our Substack, the Just Transmission. These accounts will bring hope and inspiration to your feed and inbox!

It is important, more now than ever, to be involved in decision-making and stewardship at the local level. Stay informed about and engaged in policies and events happening in your area; local news outlets are a great place to start. Find and follow values-aligned, grassroots organizations doing this work in your community. In Southern California, I suggest starting with TreePeople, where you can support critical wildland restoration and urban greening work.

Finally, feel free to connect with me directly via LinkedIn. I love to chat with like-minded folks and nerd out about all things environmental education!

A Little More About Me

What (or who) keeps you hopeful for the future?
The young people I work with: their courage, their curiosity, and their imagination bring me hope every day!

What book, film, or art piece has had the greatest impact on you?
My all-time favorite book is Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This book fundamentally changed my relationship to our planet—a must-read for all environmentalists!

What is one thing about you that might surprise others? 
I have two pets—a dog and a snake!