Isabella Wallmow delivered a speech at the 2020 Brower Youth Awards, which took place virtually on October 15.

Further details about the awards are available on the Brower Youth Awards website.

Chander Payne delivered a speech at the 2020 Brower Youth Awards.

The event was held virtually on October 15. For more details, visit the Brower Youth Awards website: www.broweryouthawards.org

While volunteering at a juvenile detention center, Isabella Wallmow, 20, realized incarcerated youth needed healing, not just punishment. Inspired by permaculture agriculture, she conceived a gardening program in 2018.

With support from the Resiliency Institute and enthusiastic detention center staff, Isabella launched the Seeds for Change Garden Program in 2019. This initiative creates a safe, healing space, empowering youth with marketable skills.

Seeds for Change prioritizes youth voices, allowing them to manage all aspects of the garden, from planting to harvesting. The program addresses food insecurity and provides valuable health education. Learn more at Brower Youth Awards.

Ojibwe youth Danielle Boyer, 19, founded The STEAM Connection to combat disparities in quality STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education. Her early experiences highlighted how unequal access disadvantages low-income students and impacts our planet's future.

The STEAM Connection prioritizes Indigenous and other communities of color, offering free classes and events on recycling, innovation, and sustainable design. Danielle helps children realize their potential as environmental innovators and fosters interest in STEAM careers.

Through initiatives like robotics kits made from recycled materials and mentoring 35 youth teams, Danielle has reached tens of thousands of students globally.

www.broweryouthawards.org

Haana Edenshaw, 16, a Haida Nation member and seasoned activist, is one of 15 Canadian youth suing the federal government for its role in the climate crisis. Her deep commitment to environmental and Indigenous rights, rooted in ancestral knowledge of land stewardship, has seen her organize climate strikes, speak with Greta Thunberg, and address the UN.

The lawsuit argues that Canada's continued support of fossil fuels violates the youth's rights to life, liberty, security, equality, and public trust. This action is part of a global youth movement, supported by Our Children’s Trust, holding governments accountable for climate change. Learn more: Brower Youth Awards

At 16, Alexandra Collins discovered Sterigenics had emitted levels of ethylene oxide (EtO), a known carcinogen, near her Hinsdale, Illinois, community for decades. Her neighborhood's high cancer rate (nine times the national average) spurred Alexandra to cofound Students Against Ethylene Oxide (SAEtO) to ban EtO emissions near schools and homes.

SAEtO educates the public, advocates for safer sterilization, and organizes campaigns. Alexandra's advocacy, with allied groups, led to the 2019 closure of the Sterigenics facility near her home. She also launched EtO-Free, a project whose all-girl team created a website reviewing EtO-free beauty products, empowering women to demand manufacturing transparency.

Learn more at broweryouthawards.org.

Eighteen-year-old Diego Arreola Fernández founded Green Speaking after learning about plastic pollution at the 2019 Ocean Heroes Bootcamp. His campaign uses in-school engagement, social media, and motivational videos to encourage Mexican children, schools, and businesses to combat plastic pollution through habit and policy changes. He also delivers talks to diverse audiences, from young children to business leaders, and postponed a 2020 conference to 2021 due to Covid-19.

Despite Mexico's challenges with violence, poverty, and inequality, environmental awareness is crucial. Diego aims to transform Green Speaking into an environmental organization. Its mission will be to cultivate more leaders, empowering them to advocate for the planet and inspire a sustainable future.

http://www.broweryouthawards.org/

In 2016, 18-year-old Chander Payne addressed his school's fresh produce shortage by connecting its food pantry with a local farm, delivering 20 pounds weekly. Inspired by regenerative agriculture, he founded Urban Beet farm in his high school courtyard. He invited youth from the Washington DC–based Homeless Children’s Playtime Project to grow vegetables, and his team partnered with True Food Kitchen to provide 20 children with farm-fresh meals.

Urban Beet has since provided 2,500 pounds of produce to underserved families and people experiencing homelessness, replicating its model nationwide. During the pandemic, they also donated 200 Free Little Farms—windowsill planters complete with soil, seeds, and support notes. Learn more at Brower Youth Awards.

Diego Arreola Fernández delivered a speech at the 2020 Brower Youth Awards. This prestigious event celebrates young environmental leaders.

The awards ceremony was held virtually on October 15. For additional information about the Brower Youth Awards, please visit their official website: www.broweryouthawards.org.

The latest episode, dropping October 23rd, features Andrew Stuhl, an environmental studies professor. He discusses his "Agnes Flood Project," which gathers memories from Susquehanna River Valley residents about the devastating 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood. Stuhl emphasizes how historical events, like the flood's pungent mud smell, trigger powerful memories and offer vital lessons in resilience. These insights are crucial for navigating today's challenges, including the Coronavirus Pandemic and climate change. Share your Hurricane Agnes stories or photos by emailing agnesrevisited@gmail.com.

Also featured is Lynn Neuman, director of Artichoke Dance Company. Her work uses art to inspire action on climate change, moving beyond entertainment to train communities in legislative change. Neuman's company has adapted to the pandemic with "Covid Creations," reflecting feelings of isolation and connection.

An 18-year-old student, scientist, and inventor presents an innovative method for recycling plastics. This process allows for their reuse as components in agricultural machinery, addressing both waste reduction and manufacturing needs.

This talk was delivered at a TEDx event, an independently organized local community event following the TED conference format. To learn more, visit ted.com/tedx.

A 16-year-old Ukrainian student and member of the Junior Academy of Sciences has developed an innovative, energy-efficient method for recycling waste typically considered non-recyclable. This groundbreaking approach is designed to be environmentally friendly, causing no pollution.

This young inventor and scientist presented their work at a TEDx event. TEDx talks follow the TED conference format but are independently organized by local communities. Learn more about TEDx here.

An entrepreneur and activist explores the hidden implications of "free" plastic bags in supermarkets. This talk delves into the critical importance of responsible consumption and effective recycling practices.

Presented at an independently organized TEDx event, which follows the TED conference format, this discussion aims to provoke thought on our daily choices.

Discover more about TEDx events and their mission by visiting ted.com/tedx.

Marta, a 14-year-old student from Kharkiv, Ukraine, addresses the critical issue of food waste. This topic profoundly impacts both our health and the environment.

Her talk was delivered at a TEDx event, an independently organized local community event that follows the TED conference format.

Learn more about TEDx at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

This talk underscores the critical need for collective action against climate change, emphasizing everyone's role in driving systemic change. The speaker is a climate activist and Regional Organiser for 350.org in Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia, also serving as a facilitator, trainer, and psychotherapist.

Presented at an independently organized TEDx event, this discussion follows the TED conference format. To learn more, visit https://www.ted.com/tedx.

A school student from Lviv, Ukraine, passionate about economics, politics, and current issues, explores personal actions to mitigate climate change. Drawing from their own experience, they seek solutions and inspire action.

This talk was delivered at an independently organized TEDx event, following the TED conference format. Learn more about TEDx at ted.com/tedx.

Mariia, a 16-year-old student researcher, explores the main causes of air pollution in big cities. She also shares her personal insights and practical solutions for improving urban air quality.

This presentation was delivered at an independently organized TEDx event, following the TED conference format. Learn more about TEDx at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Marc Schaus, author of *Our Livable World: Creating the Clean Earth of Tomorrow*, discusses global scientific and technological advancements in clean energy and carbon capture.

A professional research specialist, Schaus advises on research ventures, product manuals, and policy. He also authored *Post Secular: Science, Humanism and the Future of Faith* and has contributed to publications like *Areo Magazine*, *The Huffington Post*, and *Antennae*. He resides in Ontario, Canada.

This talk was given at an independently organized TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

On August 17, 2020, the Trump administration opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's 1.5 million-acre Coastal Plain to oil and gas lease sales, possibly by December. This decision, amidst an oil glut and climate change concerns, targets the last 5% of America's previously protected Arctic Coastal Plain. It threatens to transform these wild lands into an industrial complex, jeopardizing the Gwich'in Nation's food security, spiritual, and cultural heritage—they call it "the sacred place where life begins." This move also endangers polar bears, the Porcupine Caribou herd, and migratory birds, marking a critical environmental and social justice conflict.

A video features Gwich'in community members from the 2016 Gwich'in Gathering, testifying against this development.

This episode highlights seven leading examples of circular economy innovation, spanning food systems, electronics design, and product packaging. You can catch up on previous episodes here.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a UK charity dedicated to accelerating the transition to a circular economy through business, learning, insights, and communications. Thank you for watching.

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