Matthew Nguyen co-founds Young Leaders in Climate Action to educate middle schoolers

The San Francisco City Commission meeting held on July 28, 2025, featured a significant presentation by Matthew Nguyen, a rising senior from Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, who co-founded the organization Young Leaders in Climate Action. Nguyen's initiative aims to provide environmental education to underserved middle school students through outreach, educational workshops, and empowerment strategies.

Nguyen began by sharing his passion for engineering and urban agriculture, emphasizing the importance of educating youth about climate change and environmental issues. He highlighted the successful launch of their summer workshops, which were developed in partnership with the education team and held at the main library. The workshops received positive feedback, and Nguyen expressed hopes for expansion in the upcoming school year.

In addition to his work with Young Leaders in Climate Action, Nguyen is also involved with the 1011 People's Garden, where he aims to increase youth participation through partnerships with local schools for field trips and outdoor education. He acknowledged the support and mentorship provided by the education team, which has been instrumental in his initiatives.

During the discussion, commissioners expressed appreciation for Nguyen's enthusiasm and commitment. They inquired about the topics resonating with youth, to which Nguyen responded that they cover basic environmental education, including plant biology and compost chemistry, while also addressing policy and justice aspects through collaboration with his co-founder.

Nguyen proposed a district-wide blackout day for the Climate Action Youth Summit, encouraging all San Francisco Unified School District schools to participate, as he believes it would inspire more youth to engage in climate action.

The meeting also included public comments from other youth leaders, such as Chloe Kerstein and Kate Ozaida, who shared their experiences and initiatives in environmental education and sustainability. Kerstein reflected on her transformative experience with the environmental education team, while Ozaida introduced her project, Sway, aimed at improving waste management at her school.

Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of youth involvement in environmental initiatives and the need for collaboration between city officials and young leaders to foster meaningful change in the community. The commissioners expressed their commitment to supporting these initiatives and engaging with youth in future discussions.