Young people, when they understand problems, are empowered to take action... They are changing the world and making it better for people, for animals, and for the environment because everything is interconnected.

As a member of the Roots & Shoots Youth Council, I work alongside youth leaders from around the world, bringing mentorship, resources, and new ideas back into Trash Turtles' work protecting our oceans. Beyond the projects, it's peer mentorship and collaboration at the core: young people learning from each other and pushing each other's work further.

Each year, the Council comes together at an annual summit, this year's was in Chicago for collaborative Roots & Shoots projects across the council and shared learning. I presented Trash Turtles' origin story, our move across the country, and how we rebuilt our community from scratch.