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Data is power. The next generation of climate leaders are learning how to use it.
Every young person has the power to change the world, and these Changemakers are proof.
The California Youth Environmental Data (CYED) Leadership Program empowers high school students across the state to become environmental leaders in their own communities. Through hands-on data science training, school site research, our youth don't just learn about climate action. They lead it.
The Changemakers you'll meet on this page are CYED alumni who took what they learned in the program and ran with it. They're launching community campaigns, analyzing environmental data to hold decision-makers accountable, and supporting the next generation of climate leaders. Their stories show what happens when young people are given the tools, the training, and the trust to make real change.
Feeling inspired? We hope so. Applications for our next cohort open soon, and we're looking for passionate students ready to turn their ideas into action. Your community needs your voice, and we're here to help you use it.
September 2026 CYED Changemaker
Katelyn Tan didn't just want to talk about climate change. She wanted to prove what needed to happen and make it real. As a senior at Westmoor High School in Daly City and co-founder of FeedForward, a climate literacy organization for elementary students, Katelyn joined the pilot cohort of the CYED Leadership Program to sharpen her advocacy with data. Her story is a powerful example of what happens when passion meets evidence and a young leader decides that good intentions deserve good data behind them. Listen to Katelyn share her journey in her own words in her interview.
Read Katelyn's Changemaker Story...
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