R&S California: Youth Leadership
Members of the California Youth Leadership Council (CAYLC) at the Roots & Shoots California Youth Leadership Summit, with L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and KTLA Reporter Lu Parker
About the California Youth Leadership Council
Roots & Shoots California Youth Leadership Council (CAYLC) provides highly motivated and dedicated Roots & Shoots members with the training, tools and opportunities to develop into community leaders who create positive change in their own backyards and around the world. Here are some highlights from the Roots & Shoots California Youth Leadership Council members in 2008-2009:
- Organized an entirely youth-led summit for 100 Roots & Shoots California members. For information about attending the 2009 Youth Summit, click here
- Helped organize and work at the annual Roots & Shoots Day of Peace Celebration at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, CA
- Logged over 1,662 volunteer hours for Roots & Shoots California valued at $36,514 by the Independent Sector
Click here for more information about the role of Youth Leadership Councils in Roots & Shoots.
Support CAYLC! Check out their current fundraising initiative: http://www.motherearthfundraising.com
Meet the California Youth Leadership Council!
Check out some of our youth leaders in the new Roots & Shoots What's your Superpower? video!
Anthony H.
Age 17
Ontario, CA
Anthony is the president of the Roots & Shoots group at Colony High School. He has been dedicated to making a positive impact ever since he became aware of the many environmental challenges the world faces. He discovered most of these issues while taking the Advanced Placement Environmental Science course at his school. In addition to Roots & Shoots, Anthony is involved in his school’s Associated Student Body (ASB) and the National Honors Society (NHS). He also volunteers at Casa Colina and Bon View Elementary with Think Together. He is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the council and looks forward to meeting new people and learning new things!
Ariel Y.
Age 17
Santa Monica, CA
Ariel is a member of Team Marine, a very active and environmentally-focused group in her community of Santa Monica. Ariel and her group work closely with Heal the Bay and the Surfrider Foundation. Her interest in advocating for the environment was sparked when she became aware of the real harm that was being inflicted on the planet. In the beginning, the issues that were brought to her attention had to do with marine advocacy and water quality. Since then, she has discovered how many more environmental causes there are to support. She hopes that being on the Roots & Shoots California Youth Leadership Council will allow her to address many different environmental concerns and to reach as many people as possible. She looks forward to serving the council with other young and ambitious leaders.
Emily R.
Age 14
El Cajon, CA
Emily has been an active member of Rancho San Diego Roots & Shoots for five years. A major highlight of her time with the club was hosting Dr. Jane Goodall at a local church. Like Dr. Jane, Emily wants to inspire everyone in her community to take action. She has started a new R&S group with a fellow CAYLC member, Laurel W., at Jamacha Elementary School. She wants to reach out to kids and help them realize that even though they’re young, they can still make a difference in their community.
Hanna G.
Age 15
West Hills, CA
Hanna began working with the Zumers, a Roots & Shoots group that operates in the Malibu area, at a Roots & Shoots Day of Peace Celebration. She grew interested in the program after seeing how many causes were supported, and was fascinated by the youth involvement. Wanting to become a pediatrician, she enjoys the idea of helping the local and global community through Roots & Shoots and now believes that she has the power to make a change in the world. She has worked on the Rebirth the Earth: Trees for Tomorrow Campaign, the Giant Peace Dove Campaign, the Reusable Bag Campaign, and has also raised awareness for the endangered animals of California . She hopes to continue working with people from all communities of the world who share at least one common interest with her: to create a better world.
Jackie G.
Age 14
West Hills, CA
Like Hanna G., Jackie is also a dedicated member of the Zumers, one of Southern California ’s most active Roots & Shoots groups, and has been volunteering with Roots & Shoots for about a year. She was naturally drawn to the organization, seeing it as an opportunity for children across the globe to make a difference within their local communities and also substantially impact the world. Working with Roots & Shoots, Jackie has developed a true passion for the political affairs, global issues, environmental crises and cultural coexistence issues that exist throughout the world. Writing music and expressing her creativity through art are some of her favorite pastimes and Roots & Shoots has supplied her with the opportunity to express her passions through the campaigns she works on. She looks forward to the wonderful times she’ll have as she continues working with Roots & Shoots.
Juan D.
Age 18
Los Angeles, CA
Juan decided to get involved with Roots & Shoots after hearing about it through a teacher at his school and participating in a recycling project with his Advanced Placement Environmental Science class. Soon after hearing his teacher explain what Roots & Shoots was all about, Juan realized that the program greatly interested him. Since joining in 2008, Juan has been working hard on the issues his community faces. Currently, Juan and his group are working to raise money for their local animal shelter. They are also motivating students to donate blankets to protect the animals from the harsh cold during the night. Juan is dedicated to better-educating himself about the issues that are affecting the world and our local communities. He wants to lend a helping hand and try to create positive change, which is the main reason he joined Roots & Shoots. Juan hopes to continue doing what he loves through his involvement with Roots & Shoots.
Kai N.
Age 15
McKinleyville, CA
Kai's interest in the natural world has been flourishing for many years. The local zoo helped expose him to animals from far and wide. He helped found the Sequoia Park Zoo Roots & Shoots in August 2007. The chapter is now making a very positive impact in the local community. Kai has volunteered with many political campaigns and local organizations, such as the California Native Plant Society and the local land trust. He is honored to be part of the California Youth Leadership Council and Roots & Shoots.
Laurel W.
Age 15
Spring Valley, CA
Laurel was in fourth grade when she first heard about the Rancho San Diego Roots & Shoots group. In the five years since then, Laurel has been become a very important part of the Rancho San Diego Roots & Shoots team. Laurel has always loved animals. When she learned to walk, she would follow her pets around and would always try to help animals in need. Growing up surrounded by wildlife gave her a deep respect for nature. Laurel and council member Emily R., lead a Roots & Shoots group at Jamacha Elementary School.
Lisa N.
Age 14
Los Angeles, CA
Lisa is a member of the Roots & Shoots group Urban Empowerment. She felt incredibly inspired when she saw what her peers were doing to take action in their community, especially around the issue of global warming. Lisa decided to take initiative and start giving her time and energy to help her community, understanding that the time to act is now. She made the best of the opportunities around her to get involved, and with many helping hands, started working to create positive change. Lisa began to educate her friends and classmates about all that she was learning. Gradually, Lisa began to work with younger kids, as well, knowing that she could lead them to see some of the issues that she learned to see not so long ago. She strives to motivate them to act, just as she has been motivated through her involvement with Roots & Shoots. Lisa learned about the program through Joana L. and is very grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of it!
Miranda M.
Age 16
Ontario, CA
Miranda is a sophomore member of Colony High School Roots & Shoots. She is also a dedicated member of her school's Associated Student Body (ASB), helping to plan and undertake rallies and other school-wide activities. She helped to establish a Roots & Shoots group at her school. As vice president, Miranda is working to expand the group, help others, and beautify the school.
Robyn R.
Age 14
Perris, CA
Robyn is president of the Roots & Shoots group at her school, Nuview Bridge Early College High School. She has been dedicated to making a positive impact ever since she realized how many environmental, social and economic challenges the community of Nuevo , California faces. Having an up-close and personal view of these obstacles has led Robyn to ponder many issues and work toward addressing them. She felt extremely motivated after attending the annual Roots & Shoots California Youth Summit last November and seeing how much other Roots & Shoots groups have accomplished in their communities. She is excited to be on the council and looks forward to all of the wonderful things she can learn and do all over the world.
We would like to introduce our two newest council members, bios coming soon:
Carina C. and Jamison D.!
