SVYCA Leadership Workshops
SVYCA has a rich history of hosting specialized training events designed for teenagers and young adults, on topics around climate action, advocacy, civic engagement, professional development, and useful skills. Scroll through our collection of past workshops, and stay tuned for upcoming opportunities!
2024 Summer Workshops
7 weekly internal workshops filled with guest speakers, student leadership, and lots of resources for everything under the sun about climate!
Presenting about SVYCA, 7/8
How to Communicate Climate Change, 7/15
Social Media for Climate Action, 7/22
Advocacy + Public Comments, 7/29
Effective Climate Actions from Cities, 8/5
Networking with the World, 8/12
College Applications, 8/12
2022 Summer Workshops
"Teams that ROCK! Virtual Team Leadership for Achieving "Impossible" Results" with Kimberly Wiefling - July 18th, 4-6 PM
Kimberly Wiefling, certified in program and project management and renowned for her engaging workshops, and acknowledged for helping organizations achieve what is deemed impossible, will cover leadership, communication, and how to build effective teams virtually.
"Climate Advocacy for Youth: Influencing Policymakers" - July 25th, 4-6 PM
Dashiell Leeds, the Conservation Assistant of a local Sierra Club Chapter, will train attendees in techniques to influence policymakers in enacting legislation to address climate change.
“Change Hearts and Minds with TikToks and Tweets: Social Media for Social Impact” with Misha D. Clive - July 26th, 1-3 PM
Misha D. Clive (they/them), Digital Director at Vote Solar, will share their expertise in digital organizing for climate and intersectional justice issues, and support you to grow as an online changemaker. This session will focus on your audience questions, with extra Q&A time at the end.
“Effective Climate Education Techniques” with Climate Reality Project - August 1st, 4-6 PM
Experienced representatives from a local chapter of the Climate Reality Project will coach attendees on public speaking skills and provide resources and techniques for effective climate education.
Dashiell Leeds is the Conservation Assistant for the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter. With a focus on stopping fracked “natural" gas pipelines, Dashiell has fought for environmental laws in many Bay Area Cities. Along with many other dedicated activists, he supported San Jose’s "natural" gas ban and the all-electric reach codes in Mountain View, Cupertino, and San Mateo County. He is also a volunteer Environmental Advocate with the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, where he works on proposals to protect riparian corridors and prevent light pollution.
Misha D. Clive (they/them) fights for solar for all as Vote Solar’s Digital Director. They lead digital strategy in states across the U.S. to advance clean energy and climate justice, in partnership with frontline and environmental justice communities. Misha helped lead the successful grassroots campaign to win 100% clean energy by 2045 for California. Working with a broad coalition, they launched a website, coordinated statewide activism that drove over 70,000 actions and generated impactful social buzz, and helped build a lobby day that brought over 100 advocates to Sacramento, including youth leaders.
Misha got their start in activism as the co-founder of their high school’s first GSA, and has been active on LGBTQ, racial equity, and other intersectional issues throughout the years. They recently co-chaired the Public Education & Community Engagement Workgroup for Montgomery County, MD’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. They launched their career in communications while living in SoCal, marketing Japanese rock bands to international fans, so California will always feel like a second home. Misha lives in the DC area with their life partner (who they met on Discord), and likes to draw comics about mental health and magical queer heroes. An upper Millennial, they are a huge fan of youth leadership and constantly inspired by student activism. :)
Erin Zimmerman received her PhD in Political Science from the University of Adelaide, Australia, in 2013. She has been an environmental advocate for the past decade and is currently a Climate Reality Leader with the Climate Reality Project, an NGO founded by former Vice President Al Gore to push for systemic change to fight the climate crisis. Erin is a member of the Santa Clara County Chapter and Co-director of their education-focused Speakers’ Bureau. She is also an Associate at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (based in Hamburg, Germany) where she continues to publish academic papers on non-traditional security and emerging forms of governance.
Born and raised in San Francisco, bay area native all my life. 28 year career in accounting and finance related fields, at CFO level last 10 years. 25 year career in teaching at San Jose State University, and was named outstanding lecturer at the University in 2009. Served on many non-profit Boards of Directors, including 11 years at the Foundation for Global Community and 7 years on Silicon Valley Federal Credit Union, 3 years as Chairman of the Board. I’ve always had a strong interest in ethics and the environment, conducting research and presenting on topics such as: Sustainable business practices, business ethics, integrating values and business smarts, your money or your life, and inserting environmental topics into the business curriculum. Now that I am retired (for the 3rd time), I am interested in pursuing what I consider the most vital issue of our time, the impact of climate change on our planet. I have recently joined the Elders Climate Action leadership team, and Elders Action Network Board of Directors. I have attended the Climate Reality Project (CRP) training with Al Gore last August, joined the Santa Clara County Chapter of CRP, and am actively participating in their speaker’s bureau, presenting the Climate Crisis and solutions. Married 52 years, living in San Jose, 2 children and 3 grandchildren. They are who I am devoting my climate related activities to.
2021 Fall Workshops
Healthy Lifestyle - Tim Oey and Kaushik Tota
Saturday, September 4th, 6-8 pm: Choosing an environmentally friendly, sustainable, active, and healthful eating lifestyle.
Advocacy - Videos of Dashiell Leeds and Peri Plantenberg
Saturday, September 18th, 6-8:30 pm: How to get involved in policy and make a difference as a citizen through public comments and advocacy.
*7:30-8 pm Santa Clara County Office of Sustainability CAP listening session
Panel on Strategic Opportunities in High School - Monica Mallon, Hoi Poon, Tara Sreekrishnan, and Layla Ouk
Saturday, September 25th, 3-5 pm: Gain skills useful to thrive in high school, such as skills in research, networking, and college applications.
Volunteering - Michael Ding and Kelly Tung
Saturday, September 25th, 6-9 pm: Learning how to create volunteering opportunities.
*8-9 pm for Santa Clara County Office of Sustainability CAP listening session
Path to Success Workshop With Guinness World Record Champion David Rush
On September 19th, an SVYCA workshop featured David Rush, an individual who has broken over 150 Guinness World Records, and who promotes STEAM education and inspires youth to think outside of the box. In this Path to Success Workshop, attendees will acquire the mindset and skills to set and achieve challenging goals and attain success in both school and life.
2021 speaker series
Saturday, Sept 4th, 2021
Eugene Cordero (4 PM), Professor of Climate Science at SJSU, Founder of Green Ninja science curriculum
Maria Yap (5 PM), Executive Director at Food Runners (transfers restaurant leftovers to individuals)
Sunday, Sept 5th, 2021
Vignesh Swaminathan (4 PM), TikTok famous, CEO of Crossroad Lob, Chair of Cupertino Sustainability Commission
Haseena Charania (5 PM), Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Communications Manager ot UPS
Saturday, Sept 11th, 2021
Ricardo Magallon (4 PM), Green Operations Specialist for SFO International Airport
Sarah Sullivant (5 PM), Children's Environmental Health Coordinator at Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Sunday, Sept 12th, 2021
Dan Mitchell (4 PM), City and Community Engagement at Nuro (eco-friendly, autonomous deliveries)
Shana McCraken (5 PM), Green MBA, Zero Waste Manager at Recology South Valley
2020 Speaker Series
Saturday, May 30th, 4:00-6:00 PM (PT)
Girish Balachandran, Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Valley Clean Energy (4 pm)
Clean Energy, the Green Grid of the Future, and Careers in Climate.
Richard Lowenthal, Co-Founder of ChargePoint and Former Mayor of Cupertino (5 pm)
Insight as a green technology pioneer, the technology behind Chargepoint, and advice for young people interested in approaching sustainability through business.
Sunday, May 31st, 4:00-6:00 PM (PT)
Dan Jacobson, California State Director, Environment California (4 pm)
The good, the bad and the ugly of California climate policy; What we're doing right, what we're doing wrong, and how you can help.
Rod Diridon, Sr., Emeritus Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute (5 pm)
Climate Change and Local Public Transportation: Urgency, Facts, Solutions.
Saturday, June 6th, 4:00-6:00 PM (PT)
Patrick Cage, Master of Science Candidate, Coastal Science and Policy program, UC Santa Cruz (4 pm)
Ana F. Gonzalez Guerrero, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Youth Climate Lab (Canada) (4 pm)
Alex Gamboa, International Environmental Law and Public Policy Specialist (Philippines) (4 pm)
Three young professional climate leaders will share their journal on innovative and impactful climate careers involved with policy, advocacy and law at the international level, as well as tips on how to have fun while saving the planet!
Peggy Brannigan, Sr. Program Manager, Global Sustainability at Linkedin (5 pm)
LinkedIn's Sustainability Initiatives, Corporate Responsibility, and Growth in Climate Careers.
Sunday, June 7th, 4:00-6:00 PM (PT)
Jasneet Sharma, Director, Office of Sustainability, County of Santa Clara (4 pm)
The Climate crisis, sustainability initiatives in Santa Clara County and youth leadership to help build a stronger, resilient community.
Ro Khanna, Congressman for California’s 17th Congressional District (5 pm)
Winning the 21st century with New Opportunities in the Climate Sphere: Congressman Ro Khanna’s vision for climate policy at the federal level, current progress on environmentally-progressive policies, and opportunities for youth to become involved in the passage of these policies and pursue careers in climate.
