Youth Leadership
Projects and initiatives by and for Oregon youth
Rise as Leaders
For generations, systemic racism has put communities of color in the path of pollution. Today, the climate crisis is exacerbating impacts for these frontline communities, through extreme weather, sea level rise, heat-related illness, and much more.
At Rise as Leaders, we create a space for young people to learn, connect, and organize around the fight for environmental justice. With this engaging and interactive workshop, we hope to learn from each other and build community.
Rise as Leaders is a workshop series for high school- and college-aged youth that explores local environmental and climate justice issues. Together we’ll learn the principles of Environmental Justice and use this understanding to inform our work in the community. Youth will have opportunities to connect with various organizations dedicated to protecting the environment, with the hope that they will gain a clearer imagining of their role in the movement and the power of collective action.
2026 Spring Rise as Leaders Registration Is Now Open!
Rise as Leaders is back this spring! In this 10-week program, students will have the opportunity to meet with various organizations and community members working together towards our shared environmental justice goals.
2025 Fall Cohort
Fall 2025 Rise as Leaders Cohort
Class session at the Beyond Toxics office
Student outing along the Willamette River
2024 Cohort
Mural co-creation workshop
Environmental stewardship day at Golden Gardens Park
Student environmental leadership workshops
Youth Resources
Oregon Climate Education Hub
Oregon Climate Education Hub is an online website that provides Oregon educators comprehensive resources to integrate climate change across all grade levels and subjects. This was created in collaboration with Oregon Educators for Climate Education and SubjectToClimate, an online connector for K-12 educators of all subjects to find credible and engaging materials on climate change at no cost.
Past Programs
Data Graffiti, January 2024
In January 2024, a group of high school students at Kalapuya High School were asked to imagine potential pathways forward for their community after nearly a century of industrial pollution, when years of community organizing led to the 2022 closure of J.H. Baxter wood treatment plant.
These students created art inspired by data sets and experiences that resonated with each student. It is their hope that these art pieces inspire you to learn more about the heavy burden of pollution in West Eugene and how community action can make real change.
