Hear from Green Team Youth for Change
At Groundwork Denver we partner with youth and community to build a healthy, equitable, and sustainable environment. This month, as we close out summer Green Team youth programming, we’re sharing perspectives from four Youth Supervisors who led dozens of their peers in environmental justice work these last few months. Keep reading to hear from Daquan, Greg, Isabella, and Jovani, all of whom have been part of their local Green Teams for several years.
“Hi, my name is Daquan Brown, and I am a Groundwork Denver Green Team supervisor. I’ve loved my time with Groundwork, from being a youth experiencing different things to a supervisor giving those different experiences. I hope we continue to create opportunities for young people to become leaders in their communities.”
“Hi! My name is Greg Rodriguez-Medina. I’m on the Green Team at Groundwork Denver, and I work to make my community better by giving youth an opportunity to help their neighborhood change for the better. What I love most about being part of the Green Team is the knowledge as well as the skills I was taught to make a positive impact within my own community. This program means a lot to me because I can physically see and feel the change in my community and other communities just like mine.”
“Hi, my name is Isabella Klein. I am on the Green Team at Groundwork Denver, and I work to make my community better by doing trash pick-ups and helping grow crops that go to local schools in the Sheridan community. What I love most about being part of the Green Team is all the amazing opportunities that have opened up for me and all the good work we do for others. This program means a lot to me because it helps me get outside my comfort zone and to try new things and take new chances.”
“Hi! My name is Jovani; my pronouns are he/him and his. I’m on the Sheridan Blue Team at Groundwork Denver as a Supervisor. I work to make my community better by having youth engage in outdoor work in their communities. Such tasks include cleaning up trash, gardening, doing trail cleanups, helping in community events, learning about social justice, and discovering how to be young leaders in today’s green work jobs.
What I love most about being part of the Groundwork Denver team is that I started working when I was 14 years old, and since then, it has provided me with the skills I need today to advocate for myself. It has shown me that what I care about matters and has provided me with leadership skills that I’m continuing to grow. All the amazing partners such as Generation Wild and Groundwork’s Water Program also support the work we do by helping to engage the youth and teach them Groundwork Denver’s mission and message. I get to work alongside others who care about the same climate problems or just want to try to make their community a better place. Trying to make a positive change in my community means a lot to me because it’s a positive outlook in our communities; to have them look nice and clean and feel safe and secure to hang out outside. I feel like all the work we do is important and provides great skills for the younger generation interested in land work, climate, or just this type of work.”