Kate M.

2024 Roots & Shoots Youth Council
Jane Goodall Institute USA
“Over the years [the council] has become a second family to me. […] I love coming to meetings and hearing all the incredible work the NYLC members are up to, I always leave the calls more inspired and hopeful than ever to make a positive impact.”

Grade: College—first-year student

Roots & Shoots History: Seven years with Roots & Shoots; RSYC member: 2019-2023

Roots & Shoots Group: LACES Roots & Shoots

Kate is from Los Angeles, California, and she is passionate about gun reform, using art and games to talk about a difficult and often painful subject. While the COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges for everyone, the virtual council meetings gave Kate and other council members something to look forward to and be inspired by! Her favorite Roots & Shoots project was an art auction she organized to raise money for the Brady Organization. For the event, she created pieces centered around gun violence prevention, and in total they raised over $30,000 for gun violence prevention! Now, she is working on is a “Shoot Hoops, not Guns” lunchtime basketball game with her school’s Team Enough club, sharing gun safety resources along with mental health information with their student body. The nature of Kate’s work can be very stressful, so she makes time for her own mental health by journaling, drawing, and scrapbooking.

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