Helping Young People Turn Climate Ideas Into Action

CHEN works with youth climate groups to strengthen the practical skills behind community projects: fundraising, reaching legislators, connecting with local businesses, and building partnerships.

What We Help With

Fundraising

Planning fundraisers and finding the funding that keeps a student project going.

Legislator Outreach

Finding the right representatives and writing to them clearly about a project and what it needs.

Local Business Connections

Approaching local businesses for sponsorship, space, supplies or a place to share the work.

Partnership Building

Building relationships with organizations that can help a youth-led project reach more people.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Youth Climate Advocacy Committee (YCAC)

CHEN mentored high school and college students developing environmental projects, offering practical guidance on raising funds, contacting legislators, and approaching local businesses. Discussions focused on helping students build the connections and support needed to move their own projects forward.

Project themes: water conservation, sustainable businesses, pollinators, artificial intelligence, sustainable art and fashion, composting, and an environmental policy game.

Video call with Phipps Youth Climate Advocacy Committee students discussing their environmental projects

A Phipps YCAC student presenting during a video call

Phipps YCAC students joining a video call from a classroom

A Phipps YCAC student speaking about an environmental project during a video call

Conversations with YCAC students about their environmental projects, outreach and community partnerships.

Natural History Museum of Utah

Critical Action Lab

CHEN provided mentoring and advice to the Critical Action Lab team on strengthening networking sessions, connecting with other organizations, and developing a climate course. Conversations centered on practical ways to build relationships and make youth-led climate programming more useful to participants.

The team’s programming

The Critical Action Lab team hosted a climate anxiety workshop, a climate action fair, and a game night attended by more than 90 people. CHEN’s role was to support the team through mentoring and advice.