This February KIDS for the BAY celebrates three young, resilient Black environmental leaders!

Written by: Mikayla Martin

Alexandria Gordon addressed Eckard College’s plastic pollution problem by launching a campaign through Florida PIRG (Public Interest Research Group), a student-run nonprofit organization. Helping her campus adopt a plastic-free pledge, she spearheaded the Break Free From Plastics Campaign. Alexandria has made local and national impact and plans to continue to build student power working for the environment!

Click here to read more about Alexandria’s story
Dejah Powell founded Get Them to the Green (G2G), an organization that inspires Chicago youth to foster love for the environment. She also continued her environmental activist work when she attended Cornell University. In an effort to protect Indigenous, Black and Brown, low-income and frontline communities, Dejah is now a Sunrise organizer for the Green New Deal to combat environmental injustice. 
 
Click here to read Dejah’s interview
As a sustainability advocate, an engineer, and a Black and Green Ambassador, Olivia Sweeny is a lifelong environmentalist. Olivia grew up in Bristol, England, and had the amazing opportunity to speak on the world stage in Glasgow, Scotland at the COP26 global summit. She explained that communities of color often live in areas with less access to green space, poor connections to public transport and more air pollution. As a radio show host she continues to give members of the Black and Brown community a platform to discuss climate issues in order to lead, connect, and celebrate diverse community environmental action.

Click here to read more about Olivia’s work

More Resources to celebrate Black History Month at home and at school!

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.

Visit Marcus Books in Oakland! Marcus Books is the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore!
“It is a space that affirms and reflects back every beautiful shade of Black. At Marcus Books we understand literature as essential to building cultural competency and intellectual awareness.” 
KIDS for the BAY