San Francisco Teen Leaders’ Bake Sales Raise Funds for Wildfire Relief & Water Conservation

The Climate Leaders Fellowship guides high school students in researching climate change effects within their own communities and finding solutions they can implement locally. Students partner with local organizations to launch their projects and collaborate with other students around the world to achieve their goals.

The fellowship is offered as a collaboration between the Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab and the Rustic Pathways Foundation.

Read about Kate’s experience below!

Kate Richardson
San Francisco, California
Convent High School

Hi! My name is Kate Richardson and I go to Convent High School in San Francisco. My lifelong obsession with the ocean, and efforts to protect our waters, ignited my concerns about pollution and climate change. From the litter circling every storm drain to nightmares about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the state of our environment has been of great personal concern.

I have also noticed significant changes to the environment during my lifetime. From statewide droughts to unexpected heatwaves. Most notably, areas of Northern California are prone to wildfires. I have witnessed the increase in poor air quality, to the point where it has reached hazardous levels causing school to be canceled. During high school I was introduced to the complex connections between public policy and climate science, sparking a lifelong passion for trying to influence both.

During this fellowship I collaborated with another fellow that attends my school, Calista Peta, to support specific climate problems in our community. We implemented our Climate Leaders Project through the Eco Club, which I am President of, to gain school-wide awareness and support for the cause.

Additionally, another group of fellows at our school also implemented their project through the Eco Club making our collective presence even more powerful.

We held two bake sales on back to back days to collect monetary donations for the United Way of Northern California and the San Francisco Baykeeper. We made a direct donation of $200 to support wildfire relief and aid, and we donated $300 to the San Francisco Baykeeper to support our waters.

Participating in an international cohort, and implementing an environmental project in my own school community taught me both collaboration and leadership skills. I feel proud of the contribution we were able to make to help our earth, and I feel both excited and encouraged to continue to participate in The Climate Leaders Fellowship and to contribute to combating climate change one step at a time!

My commitment to the environment is a testament to my experience growing up in such awe of my surroundings, and the ways that engaging formally with environmental conservation has compelled me to action. If you’re inclined to make a difference in your environment, please join us!