Indigenous Youth Leadership Council

The youth council is part of a larger effort to address the most urgent climate risks in the Monterey Bay region. The direction will come from the youth themselves. Discussions may touch on ocean health, flooding, fire, land use, or community resilience.

Youth will decide how to engage with these challenges. They may use story, art, media, or other forms of expression rooted in their own perspectives.

SGR supports this process by helping remove barriers and staying behind the youth’s leadership—not in front of it.

Participation is designed to spark curiosity and provide exposure to environmental and community leadership. Students ages 14–18 explore how local climate work happens and who is involved.

Benefits include:

• Real experience in climate and community projects.
   
• Confidence in communication and teamwork.
   
• Connections to local organizations and professionals.
   
• Exposure to different roles in land, water, and resilience work.
   

Service Hours, College Applications, and Internships

• Participation can count toward community service hours for high school graduation, senior projects, and college applications.
   
• It may also qualify as an unpaid internship for students seeking experiential learning credit.
   
• SGR provides attendance logs and verification letters for schools and programs.
   

Transparency About Compensation
This opportunity is unpaid at this stage. Our goal is to provide paid youth leadership roles as SGR grows and funding expands.

Experience That Supports Future Paths
This council builds awareness, confidence, and early exposure. Youth leave with:

• A better understanding of local climate and environmental work.
   
• Insight into how their voice and perspective fit in regional efforts.
   
• Experiences they can share in school, on college applications, in future internships, or used for inspiration for future entreprenuership.