Environmental racism typically isn’t taught in high school science classes, and often the socio-political aspects of the climate crisis are left out of environmental science education altogether. One effort to fill this gap is Youth on Root, which supplements existing STEM education with a curriculum kit on environmental justice, a youth-directed conference program that brings California kids together, and an animated explanatory video series. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/youth-climate-justice-with-candice-youngblood/
For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/youth-climate-justice-with-candice-youngblood/
Ms. Youngblood: One of Youth on Root’s big goals is not to ever push our vision of change on our youth participants, but to empower them to make their own visions of change come to life.
Ethan: That’s Candice Youngblood, founder of Youth on Root, a state-wide youth leadership program dedicated to helping young people bring environmental and climate justice to their communities and address local environmental impacts. Candice’s vision for empowering impacted youth and eradicating environmental racism is personal, stemming from her own educational experiences coming from a low-income community near Los Angeles.
Ms. Youngblood: I didn't learn about the connection between diesel pollution and asthma rates until I got to Berkeley, which I think is one of the issues that I've become sort of passionate about combating is just this sort of gatekeeping of this information in elite institutions.
Ethan: This revelation inspired Candice to ]pursue a career in environmental justice lawyering. Now she’s translating that knowledge into Youth on Root. It has two programs, a curriculum kit to supplement existing STEM education and a youth-led conference where students from across California can learn best practices and from each other.
Ms. Youngblood: We also want our program to always be for youth, by youth.
Ethan: For information on how to get involved in Youth on Root and for more climate solutions, go to climatebreak.org or wherever you get your podcasts. I’m Ethan Elkind, and this was Climate Break.