FOR the Youth ... BY the Youth

What makes the Environmental Youth Conference different from other conferences you've attended? Well, how about the fact that the conference speakers are mostly teens like you? Yes, there won't be much adults at the mic. That's right! This conference is FOR the Youth and BY the Youth.

This year's conference panelists will discuss projects related to eco-consumption, urban forestry and water. Check out who they are:

Genesis Godoy
Genesis is 16 years old and attends Environmental Charter High School. She organized fashion shows highlighting 20 clothing outfits made from recycled materials which were created by 15 of her youth colleagues. Her goal is to exhibit the fashion show at 15 community events to over 700 people. www.greenambassadors.net

Kelley Butler
Kelly is a tenth grader at Harvard Westlake, and is from South Los Angeles. She and her volleyball team started the Clean Canteen program that promotes reusable containers for liquids. She is also a member of Jack and Jill, an African American organization, which uses its recycling program to raise funds for charities.

Tosh Sivertsen

Tosh and his mother co-authored a book called Generation Green which is an eco-guide for teens to “green” their lives through several ways, including green careers. www.generationgreenthebook.com

Jesus Navarro

As a youth, Jesus worked on a recycling project with the Bureau of Sanitation’s summer program and is now working for the City department.

Daniela Esparza
Daniela works with Pacoima Beautiful Youth group and partnered with a local elementary school to build and maintain a community garden and to plant trees. They also work to promote sustainability and environmental justice in communities. www.pacoimabeautiful.org

Alex Castro
Alex works with Pacoima Beautiful Youth group and partnered with a local elementary school to build and maintain a community garden and plant trees. They also work to promote sustainability and environmental justice in communities. www.pacoimabeautiful.org

Adam Gerard
Adam is 13 years old and is President of Board for Tree Musketeers, a youth organization focused on trees. From 2003-2008, the group has planted over 500 trees along the stretch of Imperial Highway that borders LAX. www.treemusketeers.org

Evelina Weary
Evelina is a student at Santa Monica High School, and works with a student group called Team Marine that competes in science competitions in Southern California. She and her peers have worked on numerous eco-projects including cleaner oceans and water pollution. www.teammarine.org

Daniel Farahdel
Daniel is a student at Santa Monica High School, and works with a student group called Team Marine that competes in science competitions in Southern California. He worked on a YouTube video to promote the problems associated with plastic bags called “Danny Going Green.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsDdFOaSd3c

Blanca Perez
Blanca is 16 years old and a student at Animo Film and Theater Arts Charter School. She is Co-President of her school’s Guerrilla Gardening Group that promotes eco-activism including water conservation.