Throughout the entirety of this past school year, interns from San Leandro and Lincoln High have dedicated themselves to completing several projects, one of which centered on air pollution prevention as funded by the James Cary Smith (JCS) Grant from the Bay Area Air District (BAAD). With all their hardwork and time spent after school working on this project, Earth Team would like to congratulate this cohort for their well earned accomplishments and community engagement with peers and members of the community.
Local Air Pollution Impacts
Below are several posters created by our interns as part of their Youth for Clean Air Campaign on campus. Throughout the first semester, students explored the causes and impacts of air pollution—learning how it’s largely driven by human activity. With this foundation, they participated in hands-on learning labs that trained them to use CalEnviroScreen 4.0 to identify areas with high pollution levels, including communities classified as disadvantaged under SB 535. Through weekly after-school meetings and community events, interns fully committed their time and energy, allowing them to grow into youth leaders and experts on air quality issues in their neighborhoods.
Youth For Clean Air Campaign
In the second semester, planning for the Air Quality Awareness Campaign kicked off—and many of the events and activities began to take shape! Building on everything they learned in the fall, interns shifted from research to action, ready to share their knowledge with peers and the broader community. They organized lunchtime tabling events on campus, hosted a Saturday outreach booth at the Bay Fair Farmers Market, and led air pollution workshops and presentations for fellow students—all designed to raise awareness and spark conversations about local air quality. In addition, handing out transportation surveys to aim to reduce green house gas emissions for students commuting to and from campus.
By leading these workshops, interns had the opportunity to engage their peers and put their knowledge of local air pollution into action. Organized by San Leandro Earth Team, the sessions encouraged students to consider alternative ways of getting to school—like biking, walking, skateboarding, or taking public transit—instead of driving. Beyond transportation, the workshops also aimed to deepen understanding of the sources and impacts of air pollution, highlighting how it affects our health and daily lives. With this knowledge in hand, we hope to spark change and build momentum toward a cleaner, healthier future for our community.
As one student shared, “I didn’t realize how much our everyday choices—like how we get to school—can add up and impact the air we breathe. After learning about this project, I feel like I can actually do something to help.”
San Leandro City Council and Unified School District
To help wrap up their team’s JCS project, three interns stepped into civic leadership by speaking at both a San Leandro City Council meeting and a San Leandro Unified School District board meeting. Instead of just sharing their work in the classroom, they brought their concerns about air pollution and climate change straight to local decision-makers. During the public comment period, each intern took the mic to advocate for cleaner air and push for more sustainable transportation options in their community.
Their words were met with encouragement and support from several council members and school board officials, who commended the students for their initiative and commitment. These moments not only gave interns a platform to raise their voices, but also showed the power of youth leadership in shaping a healthier, more sustainable San Leandro.
Lastly, we had another workshop presentation in front of the San Leandro Youth Advisory Commission. The San Leandro Youth Advisory Commission (YAC) acts as a bridge between the city’s youth and the City Council, providing input and recommendations on issues affecting young people in San Leandro. They also learn about local government and participate in creating and recommending projects and events for the youth community.
Conclusion
This year, our interns from San Leandro and Lincoln High proved just how powerful student-led environmental action can be. They paired solid data analysis with creative outreach and stepped up to speak directly to local leaders—showing a real commitment to tackling our community’s air-quality challenges. Their JCS-funded project didn’t just inform their classmates and catch the attention of city and school officials; it laid the groundwork for future climate work grounded in science and environmental justice. As we celebrate this cohort’s success, we’re inspired by how much they’ve grown as change-makers and excited to see the impact they’ll keep making as the next wave of environmental leaders.
