2023 Youth Engagement Week
A celebration of talent, innovation, and passion!
From 14 to 16 November 2023, nine youth from Canada, Mexico, and the United States took part in the first Youth Engagement Week in Montreal. They demonstrated resilience, creativity, and a commitment to youth engagement. The CEC is grateful for the energy and the recommendations they brought to the table! Their dedication to positive change is the driving force behind a brighter future.
Check out the highlights of the discussions that took place during the 2023 Youth Engagement Week!
Meet the nine selected North American youth leaders from 2023:
Kwikws Elizabeth Peters
Kwikws Elizabeth Peters
Kalhwa7acw enta skwiwks skwatsits
Hello, my traditional name is small.
I am named after my great grandma Elizabeth Alexander and that was her name too.
I respond to Eliza and Elizabeth as well & I’m Ucwalmicw Tmicw aka from Mt. Currie, BC; Whistler BC is on our shared territory. I am currently a Climate Justice Coordinator with VIDEA, a knowledge keeper in training through UBC and a mother of three. I support My Nation in various ways and love creating safe spaces for community champions to emerge, that includes food sovereignty, climate action, indigenous clean energy, and increasing gender equality through empowerment.
Graeme Hopkins
Graeme Hopkins
Graeme Hopkins is a 19-year-old environmental leader and advocate based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He has been engaged in conservation and environmental work from a young age, volunteering at both the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Ontario and the Museum of Natural Sciences in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, as well as participating in the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s youth conservation service group WILD Outside for over three years. Graeme attended the 2018 Ontario Nature Youth Summit for Biodiversity and Environmental Leadership, inspiring him to independently organize and facilitate the 2023 Saskatchewan Youth Summit for Conservation and Environmental Leadership with an Ocean Action Grant from Ocean Wise. He is currently part of the fall cohort of Ocean Bridge, an environmental leadership program for young adults by Ocean Wise. Graeme firmly believes in the value of youth engagement and the power of experiential learning for fostering environmental appreciation and stewardship in young people.
Iman Berry
Iman Berry
Iman Berry is a senior studying Business Administration and Political Science at Western University and the Ivey School of Business. In January 2020, Iman co-founded Green Ummah (GU), a federally registered non-profit focused on providing education related to environmental justice to young people all over Canada. GU works with educators, nature guides, Indigenous communities, and scientists to develop school curriculums pertaining to environmental justice in Canada. Each classroom the curriculum is taught in is set up to go out to local nature areas so students can build relationships with the land. In addition to GU, Iman has also worked to provide education about the relationship between climate and politics through lobbying, organizing political debates and education campaigns.
Carlos Daniel Valdovinos Pérez
Carlos Daniel Valdovinos Pérez
I am a queer activist dedicated to human rights and climate justice. My commitment to climate justice led me to co-found LEGAIA, where I have coordinated adaptation projects and led the LCOY Mexico since 2020. Likewise, I have been a delegate to various multilateral forums, to improve the diverse representation of young people in the climate decision-making processes by promoting life-centered systemic solutions. Thanks to this work, I have been the first Technical Secretary of the Escazú Agreement implementation project in Mexico. With my work I hope to promote the transition to societies in harmony with nature based on the knowledge and ways of life of Indigenous peoples, queer and young people.
Shurabe Mercado
Shurabe Mercado
Shurabe Mercado is a fourth-year Mexican biotechnology engineering student at Tecnológico de Monterrey, a passionate certified and trained social and climate activist on various issues related to STEM education and innovation, the SDGs and others, specifically ecofeminism, education, mental health, cultural diversity, leadership and youth. For the past 6 years she has been actively participating in student groups, being a speaker and a fundamental part of steering committees of different projects and organizations, helping in the planning and organization of social and environmental events for youth, the local and global community. Founder of the digital educational social project “SEHALUZ” and former president of the Student Society of the School of Engineering and Sciences at her university. Former director of the STEAM program for UNESCO Center for Peace. Executive Director of the International Youth Conference and current member of the UN DGC Civil Society Youth Representatives Steering Committee. Successfully completed her Global Research Internship at University of Calgary working in the project of bioremediation of oil sand tailings.
Ximena Ramírez Muciño
Ximena Ramírez Muciño
Ximena Ramírez Muciño, who is passionate about science and social change, combines her love of science with a commitment to progressive politics. Ximena is a graduate of NASA’s analog astronaut program, which is further proof of her devotion to science and space exploration. In addition to lecturing at COLMEX on public policy, gender and the environment, Ximena is a national leader of the US Embassy’s STEM initiative to promote women’s representation in science and technology. Likewise, as a delegate of the Canadian Embassy’s CAN-MEX Youth Lab, she provides valuable input to strengthen ties between Mexico and Canada. As a Young Parliamentarian, she promotes political participation of young women. Founder of the Kids’ Astronomy and Astrophysics Club, she coordinates science outreach projects and leads initiatives to design accessible prostheses for children. The goal of her efforts is to forge a more inclusive and accessible future for future generations.
Agustín Ángel Bernabé
Agustín Ángel Bernabé
Agustín is one of the co-founders of Leaders4EARTH and works as the Community Engagement & Outreach Manager for San Francisco Latino Task Force. He was born in Guerrero, Mexico, and he is a first-generation graduate from San Francisco State University with a B.S in Health Education and double minor in Holistic Health and Community Health. He has experience working in the public health sector, community health, environmental health/justice, youth leadership and community engagement.
Agustín is a dedicated community organizer and youth educator whose primary work began with Salinas Valley (Monterey County), and Bayview Hunters Point (San Francisco) youth and residents, whom he continues to work alongside. He’s served as a mentor for rising environmental and social justice leaders from these regions, where he’s cultivated relationships with rising advocates and partners from nonprofit organizations, government officials, local activists, global activists, community residents, and health professionals. He seeks new opportunities to be of service to his local, state, and global community as an agent of positive societal change and as an environmental health activist.
Santiago Ramírez Ávila
Santiago Ramírez Ávila
Hello, my name is Santiago Ramírez Ávila. I’m an ardent environmental activist, an advocate of international cooperation, and an entrepreneur and swimmer. Thanks to sports, I was able to study in Puerto Rico on a scholarship. That experience of cultural exchange between Puerto Rico, the United States and Colombia, along with my life experience and values, gave me a unique perspective on discipline and the importance of global cooperation. Also, I’ve witnessed the impacts of climate change in my community, as wrought by hurricanes Irma, María and Fiona. Those experiences, followed by a series of earthquakes, led me to work toward a community that is more caring, aware, sustainable and resilient. I’m very grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the CEC’S 2023 Youth Engagement Week. It’s an honor for me to join this initiative and I look forward to working together to make a difference!
Teresa Doley
Teresa Doley
Teresa Doley is a 21-year-old passionate advocate for environmental justice and renewable energy. Her journey began when she played a pivotal role in the transformation of the first gas station in the United States into an electric charging station. Teresa’s commitment to these causes extends to her professional experiences, including internships at the Department of Energy, where she focused on the transportation and building sectors. In addition to her practical work, Teresa has engaged in advanced renewable energy research. She participated in the NASA Undergraduate Research Design Challenge, contributing to a thermoelectric generator project. This research has further fueled her drive for clean energy technologies. Currently pursuing a degree in mathematics and data science, Teresa seeks to leverage data and analytical insights to influence policies that promote positive change and a more sustainable future. Her journey is a testament to her unwavering dedication to environmental causes.
Take a moment to explore the memorable moments during the CEC’s first Youth Engagement Week
Contact
Julie Amina Jacquemin
Lead, Outreach, Partnerships and Youth Engagement
(514) 350-