From the Kitchen Table to Global Action

12/20/2024

It started at my kitchen table. I was fifteen, staring at a blank Word document, a cup of coffee cooling beside me. The title for my first op-ed wasn’t coming easily. Outside, the world seemed to be unraveling—wildfires engulfed entire regions, floods displaced families, and rising temperatures pushed ecosystems to their breaking point. My chest was tight with frustration. I wanted to scream, to demand that people see the urgency. Instead, I wrote.

As I typed, the words spilled out: “This isn’t a crisis of tomorrow. It’s a crisis of today.” That piece, eventually published in the Chicago Tribune, was more than an op-ed; it was a call to action—for myself, my community, and the world.

Since that moment, I’ve dedicated my work to tackling the climate crisis through advocacy, education, and policy. At Climate Cardinals, where I serve as Co-Director of Research, I’ve helped lead efforts to make climate education accessible in over 100 languages. I believe deeply that education is the bridge between awareness and action. "If we want a just future," I often say, "we need to empower people with the tools to fight for it."

But advocacy without action is hollow. That’s why I’ve worked at the intersection of science and policy to push for meaningful change. One of my proudest achievements was spearheading youth advocacy efforts for Illinois’ historic climate education bill, ensuring that every student in the state would learn about climate science and solutions. This legislation wasn’t just a victory for education, it was a message that young people’s voices matter, even in spaces that try to silence us.

My journey has now helped take me to the international stage. As a representative to the World Health Organization Youth Council, I now advise the Director-General and senior leadership on the intersection of climate change and global health. The connections are undeniable: extreme heat exacerbates non-communicable diseases, air pollution drives respiratory illnesses, and the anxiety of a warming planet takes a toll on mental health. Every time I present my findings, I carry the weight of these truths—and the urgency to act.

Science has always been my compass. During a NASA internship, I worked on climate visualization tools that translate complex data into actionable insights for policymakers. These tools help leaders see not just the numbers, but the lives those numbers represent. I’ve seen firsthand how data can shift conversations and catalyze change when placed in the right hands.

This fight is far from over, but it’s one I refuse to lose. When I think about the millions of young people standing up for a livable future, I’m reminded that our generation is not just inheriting the weight of the world, we’re rewriting its story.

We are the spark in a darkened room, the roar that drowns out apathy, the unshakable force against the tides of inaction. Our voices, our actions, our relentless hope are what will tip the balance.

When we act together, we aren’t just changing the world; we’re showing others what’s possible. And in that, there is a strength that no crisis can extinguish.

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