A B O U T U S

by Youth & for Youth

The Bay Area Youth Climate Summit is an entirely youth-led activism network that offers in-depth educational, environmental justice workshops and mobilizes local Bay Area high schoolers to create and implement Climate Action Plans (CAPs) in their communities and schools.

our story!

The Bay Area Youth Climate Summit (BAYCS) was born out of a need for effective virtual activism during the pandemic. Originally created by leaders of Lick-Wilmerding's Environmental Club, they gathered together applications for the inaugural BAYCS Youth Advisory Council of 22 students from 15 Bay Area schools in May of 2020. Over the summer, the Youth Advisory Council worked tirelessly to plan the first ever Bay Area Youth Climate Summit on September 12, 2020. The summit brought together over 280 youth from 88 schools and 14 states for a day of workshops, discussions, and Climate Action Planning.

In 2021, we hosted our second ever Bay Area Youth Climate Summit! This time, the summit consisted of both virtual and in-person sections, one on each day so both local and national or international students could tune in. Our in-person summit was graciously hosted at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco.

The Bay Area Youth Climate Summit strives to foster a local community of high schoolers that is empowered to both learn deeply about different facets of the climate crisis and take action. If you are an interested young person, we encourage you to join us in the fight for climate justice!

Since September of 2020, we have run monthly workshops on topics ranging from local air quality inequity to Indigenous climate activism, and an Environmental Science Career Expo. Learn more about our workshops here. BAYCS also continued to support students in achieving their Climate Action Plans. You can learn more about these student-led projects on this page. Additionally, BAYCS worked to support community mutual aid efforts in an environmentally friendly way. From December-February, we donated over $15,000 in hygiene kits that included socks, deodorant, menstrual supplies, toothbrushes, and reusable masks to local community fridges in Oakland, Marin, and San Francisco. On April 24, 2021, we hosted the Earth Day Bay Area Youth Climate Summit that focused on two key themes of policy and action, providing a way for youth to engage in tangible action on Earth Day.

Our Story

Our Impact

by the numbers!

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1k+

newsletter subscribers

3.5k+

total youth engaged

18+

successful CAPs

2.1k+

social media followers

74+

climate-related

workshops

180+

people reached

through CAPs!

Meet The Team

meet the team!

Natalie Heller

Co-Chair, Workshops/Partnerships & Grants/Sponsorships
Natalie is a senior at Lick-Wilmerding High School. She is very passionate about the environment whether it is talking sustainable shopping or diving off the shore of Maui for ocean conservation. From a young age, she has loved to have bake sales and host read-a-thons to try to protect and preserve our planet.

In addition to loving environmental activism Natalie loves to go biking, hiking, backpacking or just being outside! She is Lick-Wilmerding's first Environmental Co-Chair and is the head of the schools environmental club. She also plays for her schools Varsity field hockey and softball teams!

Emily Lao

Co-Chair, Social Media & Website
Emily is a senior at Berkeley High School. She's been interested in climate change and the environment since she was young, and loves to learn more about what she can do to help our world. She loves going outdoors, especially to beaches and lakes. Besides helping the environment, Emily also loves to bake or draw (and code!) She is so happy to be a part of the team and is always inspired by the amazing youth she's met here.

Alyssa Goldfield

Co-Chair, Newsletter & Grants/Sponsorships
Alyssa is a senior at Alameda High School. Her passion for climate change an activism started when she attended a YES (Youth for the Environment and Sustainability) in the third grade. Since then, she’s attended several other climate conferences, hosted a workshop at the 2017 YES Conference, was the youth keynote speaker at the 2018 YES Conference and spoke again later that year at the Global Climate Action Summit hosted by then Governor Jerry Brown. Alyssa took some time off with her family to travel the world and loves learning about new cultures. When not learning and advocating for the environment, she can be found reading, cooking, playing tennis, or having deep conversations with her friends about philosophical topics where answers are yet to be found.

Bruno Kai Ong

Co-Chair, Workshops/Partnerships
Bruno is a senior at Lick-Wilmerding High School. He serves as his school’s first Environmental Co-Chair, where he has led initiatives to reduce energy usage, reduce food waste, and divest. Bruno is passionate about using new technologies to green the built environment.

Finn Does

Newsletter, Grants/Sponsorships, & Workshops/Partnerships
Finn is a junior at Marin Academy High School in San Rafael. Finn joined BAYCS wanting to mobilize the Bay Area community—and youth at large for action through educating the next generation of activists on the inequities exacerbated by the climate crisis while spreading a message of hope and resilience. He felt that BAYCS’s diverse group of passionate youth made it an ideal organization to work with. In addition to Finn’s position at BAYCS, he leads teams at his high school environmental club and is co-editor of the student newspaper—amplifying youth voices. He is passionate about the intersections of climate justice, policy, gender, and queer ecology.

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Sophie Merickel

Workshops/Partnerships
Sophie is a junior at Lick. She loves connecting with nature though hikes, surfing, and camping. She has been passionate about the climate from a young age, is an active member in her school's environmental club, and is working to help start a sunrise hub at her school to take action for the Green New Deal. Sophie joined BAYCS in 2022 and is excited for the oppotunity for continual learning and growth during her time here. In her free time she loves to read, bake, make ceramics and snuggle with her puppy.

Sophie Eilersen

Newsletter & Workshops/Partnerships
Sophie is a junior at Heritage High in Brentwood. She has always loved the environment, starting young obsessed with ocean and climbing trees. When she learned of the impending environmental concerns she knew she needed to get more involved especially within her own community. She felt that the tight knit and successful group of BAYCS would be the right place start. Along with BAYCS, she is involved in her school’s climate club as well as taking courses in science so she can hopefully play a larger role in the fight for environmental growth. In her free time she plays waterpolo, swims, and dabbles in photography.

Aliyah Miller

Social Media & Workshops/Partnerships
Aliyah Miller is a senior at Jesse Bethel High School. She is very passionate about injustice and climate change since Elementary school. Her hobbies is taking photos of wildlife and volunteering to help her community. Still she continues to learn about variety of climate change issues.

Lena Huang

Workshops/Partnerships
Lena is a senior at Galileo High School in SF. She recently joined the climate movement and immediately wants to do everything to save our planet. She has started with small steps, by asking her family to use more reusable bags and water bottles. Now, she volunteers at Heron’s Head Park in the Bayview district doing habitat restoration and community outreach. In addition, she is also a water challenge ambassador at EarthEcho doing water monitoring and advocating for our oceans. I am passionate about environmental justice, ocean conservation, and many more topics. She loves being in nature. During her free time she goes hiking with family and friends often!

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Elise Priesman

Workshops/Partnerships
Elise Priesman is a junior at Saint Ignatius College Preparatory. She has been passionate about taking care of animals and the Earth from a young age, which has led to her interest in climate activism. Elise is exceptionally interested in preserving endangered wildlife and creating a sustainable lifestyle. She loves working with other young individuals who share the same passion for environmental justice! Elise is a member of her school's green team and in her free time she love to bake, swim, go to the beach, snowboard, and play guitar.

Naomie Chien

Workshops/Partnerships & Newsletter
Naomie is a junior at The Nueva School. In her pursuit for climate activism and awareness, she has discovered the importance of grassroots organizations like Climate Citizens’ Lobby and BAYCS—Naomie has been working actively in both organizations since then. Her work also lies in cleantech or cybersecurity firms, where some work consists of scoring companies on sustainability for investors. At school, Naomie is invested in application programming in relation to climate science, co-leads her school's Divestment Team, and yells at people to SUPPORT THE H.R.2307 BILL!!! If not stressing out about the impending doom lurking behind the climate catastrophe, Naomie can be found playing video games, eating, or burying her head in some sci-fi book or TV show.

Dhalia Krishnan

Social Media, Website, & Newsletter
Dhalia is a senior at Alameda High. They’ve been passionate about environmentalism since they were young and has since learned to use that passion to pursue climate activism. They’re specifically interested in climate justice and intersectionality. In addition to loving environmental activism Dhalia loves to play the saxophone, read, and spend time outdoors.

Mateus Kim

Social Media
Mateus is a junior at Lick Wilmerding High School and is a part of the social media team on BAYCS. He likes to produce music and take his dog on a walk. Mateus is passionate about helping the climate and leaving wherever he goes a better place than where he found it. He just started getting into helping the climate through an organized team. He is excited to meet new people and find ways he can help the climate.

Vivian Deng

Workshops/Partnerships
Vivian is an expected junior at George Washington High School in San Francisco. Over almost a year ago, she discovered her passion for climate justice by learning about how the earth is being immensely impacted by global warming. Ever since then, she has conducted efforts to reduce her carbon footprint by riding public transportation more often, purchasing more organically made foods (trader Joe’s fanatic!), educating and encouraging her family and friends to start utilizing eco-friendly methods and more! She hopes to continue her contribution for BAYCS with the pursuit to further knowledge on environmental facets amongst individuals of all groups and express her passion for the earth through education and beneficial action.

Cassidy Chan

Workshops/Partnerships
Cassidy is a junior at Alameda High. From an early age, she learned the importance of environmental preservation, and she has since developed a strong passion for environmental advocacy, particularly in sustainable fashion. She is a current officer in her school’s environmental club, Amplify, where she aids in the transformation process of her city to become more sustainable. In 2022, she joined BAYCS to contribute with other students like herself to address the climate issues and take the initiate in solving these existing issues in our community. She enjoys drinking matcha lattes, thrifting, listening to music while reading, watching movies and shows in her spare time.

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Ariel Fu-Chen

Newsletter & Workshops/Partnerships
Ariel is a junior at Lick Wilmerding High School. She is passionate about climate activism, particularly ocean conservation; in addition to her role on the BAYCS team, she is a member of a small student=led group called the Modern Marine Activists. She loves soccer and also enjoys surfing, making art, and watching Studio Ghibli movies.

Jasmine Ho

Social Media & Grants/Sponsorships
Jasmine is a junior attending El Camino High School, where she is currently the Junior Class President. She has always been interested in advocacy for climate change from a young age, always participating in local cleanups and up-cycling materials. Her passions also include chemistry, dance, and servant leadership.

Amelia Hayward

Workshops/Partnerships & Social Media
Amelia is a senior at the Urban School of San Francisco. She is a member of Urban’s Green Team and a member of the social media and workshops teams for BAYCS. She is particularly passionate about environmental justice and renewable energy sources. Outside of BAYCS, she loves rock climbing, spending time outdoors, and baking.

Lyla MacRae

Social Media & Workshops/Partnerships
Lyla is currently a rising junior at Tam High, and loves learning about nature by swimming, hiking, biking and being outdoors. She loves the ocean, is environmentally conscious and works to protect our ocean ecosystems. She is a member of Surfrider Club, Animal Awareness Club, and Make a Splash Foundation. She is passionate about climate change solutions, habitat restoration, and supporting a more sustainable way of living. She enjoys playing field hockey, going to the beach, and reading. She is stoked to be a part of BAYCS and create an impact in our community!

Ysabel Chu

Workshops/Partnerships
Ysabel is a sophomore at Berkeley High School. Ever since learning about the devastating effects of climate change as a child, Ysabel had been passionate about discovering how she can prevent it. In particular, she’s interested in climate change’s effect on ecosystems and animals. At school, she’s a member of Berkeley High’s Green Team as well as STEMinists, a school club dedicated to supporting girls in STEM. She is also a writer for Berkeley High’s Newspaper, The Jacket. When not at school, she can be found interning at a wildlife rehabilitation center, chatting with friends, or curled up on the couch with a good book and her dog.

Tara Manning

Workshops/Partnerships
Tara is a sophomore at Lick Wilmerding High School. She’s always loved being outside in nature and wants to make sure that it’ll be there for future generations. At the moment Tara is engaged in making solar power more accessible, but she’s excited to learn about new aspects of the climate movement as a new member of BAYCS! Tara enjoys Irish dancing, playing volleyball, and running her Etsy shop in her free time.

Cece Hammond

Newsletter & Social Media
Cece is a junior at St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco. Having become passionate about ecological justice early on, she emphasizes the need to treat the climate crisis with urgency. It is especially important to her to create a sustainable lifestyle, hold corporations accountable, and highlight that environmentalism is intersectional. She is on leadership with SI's Green Team and Arrupe Social Justice Council's Ecological Justice Sub-Committee. Cece enjoys reading and playing softball. She is passionate about social justice and psychology.

Hana Thomas

Workshops/Partnerships
Hana is a junior at Piedmont High School. Since attending a San Francisco climate strike in 2018, she has been passionate about decarbonization and the intersection of public policy and climate activism. Outside of BAYCS, she plays soccer, works at Trader Joe’s, and is an intern for Undaunted K12 where she works to create climate scorecards for school boards.

Edwin Tang

Newsletter & Website
Edwin is a junior at Piedmont High School. He has been interested in climate activism since his freshman year of high school and joined Green Club in his sophomore year. Currently, he is one of the co-presidents of his Green Club at Piedmont High School and is working on a project promoting pollinator population.

Birdie Dillon

Newsletter & Website
Birdie is a Junior at The Branson School in Ross. Beginning in 8th grade, she became extremely interested in sustainable fashion, and since then, she has been designing, creating, and reconfiguring thrifted items into more unique pieces that fit her style. Through this creative process, she has been able to explore and illustrate the importance of upcycling and sustainability in the fashion industry while also pursuing her love for sewing. She is a proud member of the Environmental Action Club at Branson and has joined BAYCS to work alongside other passionate high school students to make a positive impact within our community!

Partners

partners

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featured

RTV Slovenija Interview Natalie and Finn interviewed for Radio-Television Slovenia	United Nations Climate Action Story: Bay Area Youth Climate Summit	SF Examiner SF’s youth ready to ‘turn and burn’ for the planet’s future
Greenbelt Alliance Youth Climate Activism from Glasgow to the Bay Area	ABC-7 News 4 Bay Area teens win 2021 International Young Eco-Hero awards for strategies to fight climate change	J. Weekly 2 Bay Area teens among $36,000 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam award winners
Diller Tikkun Olam Awards The Bay Area Youth Climate Summit was one of 15 projects created by this year's 2022 awardees.	The Paper Tiger Bay Area Youth Climate Summit Cultivates Activists	Acclimate West Two Bay Area Activists Rally for Earth Day Summit
She's Up Next Podcast Episode #2: Achieving Environmental Justice Through Climate Action	The Paper Tiger BAYCS’ Earth Day Summit Highlights Climate Policy & Action	UCSF Bay Area Science Festival Bay Area Youth Climate Activism Panel
EthiCAL Apparel March Community Partnership: Bay Area Youth Climate Summit (BAYCS)	Redwood Bark Virtual climate summit assembles teen environmentalists nationwide	The Paper Tiger Youth Climate Summit Inspires Hundreds of Students

featured

alumni

last updated August 2022

Amelia Fortgang, Lick-Wilmerding High School '22

Amelia Fortgang is the founder and former chair of the Bay Area Youth Climate Summit (2020-2022). She absolutely loved her time with BAYCS, whether planning workshops, speaking at climate strikes, or meeting like-minded friends from other schools. She graduated from Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco and is heading to Yale University in the fall to pursue a bachelor's degree in environmental studies and political science.

Amelia continues to work with EarthEcho International, serving on their Youth Leadership Council and formerly working with their water challenge. She is a member of their policy and advocacy committee and will headed to DC this summer to meet with elected officials to advocate for ocean-climate solutions. Next year, Amelia plans to continue contributing to climate opinion research at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. In her free time, she loves to create climate advocacy-related prints and go on hikes around the Bay Area. She can’t wait to see where the new leadership will take BAYCS!

Dory Miller, St. Ignatius College Preparatory '22

Dory is an incoming freshman at UC Berkeley, where she plans to study Political Science (or Legal Studies) and Society in the Environment. In addition to her wonderful experience as the Social Media Co-Lead for BAYCS, she was the president of her school’s Green Team (@sigreenteam) and the Ecological Justice chair for her school’s social justice council. She is the co-founder and co-host of a podcast called “She’s Up Next” (@shesupnextpodcast) that amplifies the voices of other activists and plans to continue recording into college in the hopes of expanding their pool of listeners. Dory is ecstatic to be attending Berkeley and gaining an even wider network of activists, but she also cannot wait to continue helping out with BAYCS when she can!

last updated July 2022

Erika Tam, Lick-Wilmerding High School '22

Erika will be a first-year at UC Berkeley studying Molecular Environmental Biology, hopefully with a focus in Food Studies or Environmental Economics! She plans to continue playing tennis, going on nature walks, and discovering good food in Berkeley. Recently, she has been really interested in researching sustainable capitalism and community gardens! In the fall she will be working for Forest and Flour’s farmers market bakery, so come visit, and if you have questions about Berkeley or college at all feel free to reach out!

last updated July 2022

Oona Clark, San Domenico School '22

Oona will be starting their bachelor's degree in Climate Science at the Oregon State University Honors College starting in September of 2022. They plan on getting involved with different environmental organizations up in Oregon, and getting outdoors to enjoy the gorgeous landscape. At BAYCS, Oona was one of the original team members who worked on the logistics and workshops team to plan the very first climate summit in September 2020. They also enjoy political activism, and were the President of San Domenico's JSA club their senior year. In their free time, Oona is a classical musician and loves to read.

last updated July 2022

last updated June 2022

Christy Vong, Lowell High School '21

Christy is currently a student at UC Davis pursuing a bachelors degree in Community and Regional Development. One area of sustainability that Christy likes to work on is waste recovery and they are currently volunteering with the Food Recovery Network at UC Davis and the Davis Night Market to recover and distribute extra food to people in the community. Christy has also been engaged in a research project learning more about AAPI farmers with the Asian American studies department, and is passionate about supporting equitable food systems.

Mary Mangubat, George Washington High School '21

After graduating high school, Mary decided to study environmental science at Humboldt State University (now California Polytechnic State University, Humboldt) with a concentration in planning and policy. She also has recently declared her minor in sustainable food systems! She spent her first year at college exploring her interests and curiosities that the field of environmental science had to offer, specifically spending her time volunteering at community farms and learning about food sovereignty. As she enters her second year of college, she's looking forward to all the exciting events she will soon be hosting as an environmental educator at Humboldt’s social justice and equity center.

last updated June 2022

A B O U T U S

our story!

by the numbers!

1k+

3.5k+

18+

2.1k+

74+

180+

meet the team!

partners

featured

RTV Slovenija Interview

Natalie and Finn interviewed for Radio-Television Slovenia

United Nations

Climate Action Story: Bay Area Youth Climate Summit

SF Examiner

SF’s youth ready to ‘turn and burn’ for the planet’s future

Greenbelt Alliance

Youth Climate Activism from Glasgow to the Bay Area

ABC-7 News

4 Bay Area teens win 2021 International Young Eco-Hero awards for strategies to fight climate change

J. Weekly

2 Bay Area teens among $36,000 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam award winners

Diller Tikkun Olam Awards

The Bay Area Youth Climate Summit was one of 15 projects created by this year's 2022 awardees.

The Paper Tiger

Bay Area Youth Climate Summit Cultivates Activists

Acclimate West

Two Bay Area Activists Rally for Earth Day Summit

She's Up Next Podcast

Episode #2: Achieving Environmental Justice Through Climate Action

The Paper Tiger

BAYCS’ Earth Day Summit Highlights Climate Policy & Action

UCSF Bay Area Science Festival

Bay Area Youth Climate Activism Panel

EthiCAL Apparel

March Community Partnership: Bay Area Youth Climate Summit (BAYCS)

Redwood Bark

Virtual climate summit assembles teen environmentalists nationwide

The Paper Tiger

Youth Climate Summit Inspires Hundreds of Students

alumni