Join us at the next Summit on Saturday, November 16, 2024!

Registration deadline is extended to November 8th.

The Environmental Youth Leadership Summit brings together sixth- to twelfth-grade student leaders across San Mateo County who are eager to make an environmental sustainability impact in their community. It educates and empowers students to take action and be part of creating a sustainable future. The summits also provide opportunities to collaborate, problem-solve, and network with like-minded students across the county. 

Environmental Youth Summit Overview

  • Join other sixth-through-twelfth-grade students eager to make a positive impact on their community and the environment 
  • Learn from your peers, industry leaders, and school sustainability champions 
  • Participate in youth-led discussions, panel presentations, and networking
  • Summit is FREE, breakfast and lunch are provided, as well as luxury electric bus transportation from the North County! 

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Khalid Osman

Dr. Khalid K. Osman is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University and a Center Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. Dr. Osman is also affiliated with the King Center for Global Development and the Center for the Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. He earned his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, aiming to eliminate disparities in the built environment. His research focuses on equity and justice in infrastructure services and providing communities with the data and analysis they need to successfully advocate for themselves. Currently, he is concentrated on water infrastructure and solutions to sanitation justice challenges in rural communities. Born in a refugee camp in Mombasa, Kenya, Dr. Osman has a passion for impact-driven collaborations with local community-based organizations. Additionally, he works to diversify academia by reviewing college and scholarship applications, and by holding workshops and seminars aimed at African American youth.

Aanya Dhruv

Aanya Dhruv, a senior at The Nueva School in San Mateo, founded EJ Grassroots, a nationwide initiative with six team members working to create equitable and sustainable communities through education, conservation solutions, and community partnerships. Aanya’s passion for environmental justice was ignited during a climate change class, where a discussion about environmental justice sparked her interest. This interest was further fueled by a visit to Dahanu, a rural town near Mumbai, where she witnessed firsthand environmental injustices the community faced. Their environmental justice curriculum, now an official resource, serves over 350K students across 600 schools in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. The team has also developed an affordable flood mitigation solution through their Permeable Surfaces Handbook for homeowners and has established partnerships with more than 20 organizations.

Resources from Past Summits

2024

  • November 16, 2024 Speaker Bios and Agenda

2023

  • October 14, 2023  and

 2022

 2019-20 School Year

Julie Hilborn

Coordinator, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability

Email: jhilborn@smcoe.org

Phone: (650) 802-5406