Youth Climate Action Grants Announced
We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the Youth Climate Action grants, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering young leaders in our community to tackle climate change with innovative and impactful projects.
These grants are awarded to exceptional youth-led initiatives that demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, community engagement, and creative solutions to the climate crisis. The grant program is designed to support and amplify the voices of young activists, providing them with the resources they need to make a significant difference in their communities and beyond.
“We are incredibly proud to support these young leaders who are at the forefront of climate action in the Hudson Valley,” said Matt Stinchcomb, CoFounder of Partners for Climate Action. “Their passion, creativity, and dedication to environmental stewardship are truly inspiring, and we believe these grants will help them turn their visions into reality.”
This work was made possible through the support of the Youth Climate Action Fund, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation (BCPI) at Johns Hopkins University.
The 2024 Youth Climate Action grant awardees include:
Arlington High School
Student Climate Action Projects
Award Amount: $5,000
Project Description: Within the Climate & Energy Science Research course, the grant will cover development of a Sustainable Willow Garden, Building Energy Audits, Renewable Energy Lesson and a Carbon Footprint assessment led by students.
Project Location: LaGrangeville, Dutchess County
Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County
Native New Yorker: A Native Flora and Fauna Education Program
Award Amount: $2,100
Project Description: Student education program about native and non-native species and their impact on climate change.
Project Location: Middletown, Orange County
For the Many Education Fund
On-To-Off Campus Climate Organizing
Award Amount: $5,000
Project Description: Youth-led climate organizing on college and high school campuses, activated by official student chapters (including New Paltz For the Many, Bard for the Many, Vassar For the Many, Marist For the Many, and more) that educate their peers about climate issues, and help them get involved in local and state governance around the implementation of climate action. These actions include implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and Build Public Renewables Act; education about potential policy including the NY HEAT Act and Climate Change Superfund Act; and non-partisan voter registration and mobilization of other young people and off-campus environmental voters.
Project Location: Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County
Friends of Hudson Youth
Oakdale Forest Revitalization
Award Amount: $5,000
Project Description: To plan and implement a youth-led four-day forest regeneration project at Oakdale Park, a public recreation area and urban forest within the Hudson city limits. Oakdale Park is Hudson's largest park and a precious natural resource in the heart of Hudson, a NYS-designated Disadvantaged Community (NYSERDA)
Project Location: Hudson, Columbia County
Kite's Nest
ReGen Community Composting Initiative
Award Amount: $5,000
Project Description: Expansion of the organization’s sitewide soil remediation and composting program to equip teen leaders with experience in designing and implementing a public education campaign, while maximizing the accessibility of the compositing initiative and promoting climate justice knowledge in their community.
Project Location: Hudson, Columbia County
Hawthorne Valley Association
Ecology Club & Biodiversity Trail
Award Amount: $5,000
Project Description: To develop the Biodiversity Trail; a trail the Ecology Club students have enthusiastically taken the lead in designing and planning during the 2023/2024 school year. This project provides an opportunity to empower students to deepen their own ecological knowledge and connection to place, while creating a platform from which they can share key learnings and climate change advocacy with the wider community.
Project Location: Ghent, Columbia County
Radix Ecological Sustainability Center
Ecojustice Associate Community Nursery
Award Amount: $2,900
Project Description: To begin a youth-run community tree nursery for the purpose of growing future street trees to be planted in Albany’s South End and other disadvantaged communities as part of the “Ecojustice Associate” afterschool youth employment program.
Project Location: Albany, Albany County
StoryCraft
In Their Own Voice, Youths Report on Mitigating the Climate Risks on the Hudson River Estuary
Award Amount: $5,000
Project Description: To produce and publish Gen Z stories about climate change to be promoted in The518.com—a newly established newsletter and website covering local news, events, politics and environmental issues in Albany, the greater Capital Region and the Hudson Valley.
Project Location: Albany, Albany County
The Spark of Hudson
Rain Reclaim
Award Amount: $5,000
Project Description: The "Rain Reclaim" project aims to address Hudson's inefficient sewer systems and fixed price water billing that does not encourage conservation. By implementing a simple yet effective rainwater collection system on the roof of The Spark of Hudson building, youth plan to not only mitigate urban water runoff but also promote water conservation.
Project Location: Hudson, Columbia County