Empowering Youth: Key Insights and Solutions Unveiled at the Climate Leadership Summit

Sidney Stadelmann is making a difference through her organization, the Community for Climate Anxiety. This group helps CSU students connect over their shared feelings about climate issues and offers creative outlets to cope with these emotions.

During a recent summit, she led a session about using creativity and community to find hope in the face of climate challenges. “It’s easy to feel alone and overwhelmed,” she told a group of teens. “But remember, we have each other. When we work together, especially in our local communities, we realize we can make a difference. That sense of agency is powerful.”

Stadelmann encourages young people to lean on friends, spend time in nature, and tap into their creativity when they feel bogged down. Her message struck a chord with the audience.

Violet McGrew, a senior at Windsor High School, shared her thoughts: “I feel more hopeful about our planet now. Before, I was just sad. It’s important to focus on our goal to save the Earth. It’s one of the most important things we can do.”

Despite knowing the path ahead is tough, McGrew and her classmate, Alex Rood, aim to become environmental scientists. Rood, who plans to attend CSU this fall, found the summit enlightening. “It gave me clarity about what to expect in environmental studies and how I can contribute,” she explained.