Happy Earth Day climate warriors! Visit us at the Earth Day festivals we are tabling at this month. In this newsletter, we share reflections from our youth about their recent Sacramento Trip to Make Polluters Pay and the Youth4Climate Summit. We also introduce our new Energy Affordability Team Co-Leads.

Join us this Sunday, April 26th for our Stand Up for Democracy Meeting to decide on or priorities and next steps to advance democracy. REGISTER

Scroll to the bottom of this email to see our upcoming events.

Youth v. Oil members traveled to the state capitol to Make Polluters Pay.

“Under an administration that has tried all it can to silence youth voices, this trip has made me feel empowered that I can make a change. ” – 12th grader

“Advocating in Sacramento has given me the opportunity to put in motion real change that will have lasting effects on Californians.” – Diego S, 12th grader

“I learned so much about how the California legislative system worked.” – Taarika S, 10th grader

“Being a part of this once-in-lifetime opportunity has given me the courage to continue to fight for the marginalized people who are most heavily impacted by climate injustice.” – Carlos L, 11th grader

“This trip gave me the hope that I needed to keep fighting for what I care for, especially under this administration that has harmed our motivations and dreams.” – Frida V, 12th grader

Youth4Climate’s 2026 Summit, brought together over 130 attendees, making it our largest Youth4Climate Summit yet.

The summit was an amazing opportunity to network with other passionate youth and local San Diego environmental organizations.

Personally, as a high school senior interested in pursuing a climate-related career, but not really knowing what that might look like, it was really helpful to meet with the adult panel who shared their experience in a climate field. The workshop helped me form a clearer image of what my future career could look like and how I can get there. 

The summit allowed us [youth] to find a sense of community and belonging out of our shared passion for the environment, giving us the encouragement and support system to be the change we want to see in the world. 

By Kaylee Tichenor (she/her) Youth4Climate member

What drives your activism?
I am passionate about avoiding consequences from humanity’s ongoing self-inflicted actions, and I believe that we can act in a way that is in harmony with both supporting the planet’s ecosystems as well as thriving as a species. I believe it is my duty to be a champion for such an approach. - Beth Tennyson

I am 66 and have been an activist since my youth in Berkeley, CA, when I participated in protests against the Vietnam War. My activism was inspired then by Martin Luther King, Jr., my lifelong hero. I like to think that my activism is driven by ‘love’, by which I mean a deep sense that we are our best selves when we strive to share, support, and uplift others and the world around us. - Brad Barham

Looking for a way to support the work we do at SanDiego350? Visit our donations page to help drive climate-focused policy in San Diego County.