From Earth Day to Climate Careers: A Lifelong Journey of Action and Hope

By: Eugenie Lewis

Hello! I am a Climate Reality Leader and co-chair of the Youth Climate Action Network (YCAN). I also work as a community health professional and youth counselor with allcove Beach Cities and Creative Life Mapping in Redondo Beach. My journey in environmental action began in 1970, when I participated in the first Earth Day. As a high school student in Saint Paul, Minnesota, I helped organize an “Environmental Teach-In” exploring the impact of pollution on human health and the natural world. That year, books like Silent Spring and The Population Bomb were shaping awareness and inspiring action. Earth Day 1970 became a turning point: over 20 million Americans—students, teachers, workers, and community

leaders—joined together. This collective energy led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and landmark laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Most importantly, it sparked a global environmental movement that continues today.

Decades later, in 2020, a family conversation jolted me into action. My children expressed fears about their future due to climate change. I realized that concern alone wasn’t enough—I wanted to help young people feel hopeful and empowered about the future.

In 2021, I trained with Al Gore through The Climate Reality Project, gaining a deeper understanding of how greenhouse gas emissions drive global warming and disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. Since then, I’ve worked with

the Climate Reality Project, Sierra Club, and Citizens’ Climate Lobby, contributing to national efforts like the Inflation Reduction Act and advancing climate literacy in Los Angeles schools. From 2022 to 2025, I returned to my Earth Day roots—organizing community events with partners such as Food Access, LA Farmers’ Markets and the League of Women Voters of the Torrance Area, focusing on environmental justice,

climate solutions, and community action.

In 2025, I launched the Blue & Green Careers Fellowship Program, providing young people with hands-on opportunities to engage in climate solutions while exploring career pathways and professional development. This year, youth fellows are helping plan Earth Day events at allcove Beach Cities, El Segundo High School, and Mira Costa High School, demonstrating leadership and inspiring hope.

We must be honest about the urgency of this moment. While progress has been made since 1970, it’s not enough. At a time when we should be moving quickly toward net zero emissions by 2050, setbacks persist. Young people are inheriting these challenges—but they are also leading the way forward. Bold, sustained action is needed to protect life on Earth and secure a future where the next generation can thrive. Collective action is everything. Alone, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed—but together, we build momentum, strengthen

community, and turn solutions into reality. Every child, every young person, every community deserves a livable, hopeful future. When youth take action through education, careers, and programs like the Blue Green Careers Fellowship, we

can transform concern into real solutions—and create a world where both people and the planet thrive.