Roots to Resilience
Organization: Syatt
Syatt supports youth and adults through culturally relevant programs in natural and built environments, creating opportunities for relief, reflection and transformation that lead to lasting personal and community change.
Location: Cleveland, Warrensville Heights and Appalachian Ohio
Communities benefiting directly from the project: Youth and families from historically underserved urban and rural communities in Northeast and Appalachian Ohio.
Country: United States
Other Organizations Involved: Syatt is proud to lead this project in close collaboration with Rural Action and Warrensville Heights City Schools. Together, we deliver cross-regional programming that bridges Cleveland’s urban core with Appalachian communities. Rural Action contributes technical expertise in land restoration and rural community engagement, while Warrensville Heights City Schools supports student recruitment, classroom integration and administrative coordination. Our joint effort ensures a well-rounded, community-led approach to environmental justice education and climate adaptation.
@ Syatt
Background
Northeast Ohio’s communities face intensifying climate impacts—from severe flooding and heat in Cleveland to water contamination and agricultural disruption in Appalachian counties. These conditions are layered atop long-standing environmental injustices, including legacy mining pollution, industrial runoff and lack of access to green space and clean water. Underserved urban and rural communities remain excluded from environmental decision-making and are often disconnected from climate adaptation knowledge. Roots to Resilience was created to address these intersecting challenges through intergenerational, place-based education. By connecting youth from Cleveland and Appalachian Ohio, the project fosters shared learning across landscapes, builds leadership skills and equips communities to respond to climate change through traditional and modern approaches. This work is urgent, intentional and rooted in justice.
Goals
Roots to Resilience equips youth in Northeast Ohio with the tools to understand and respond to environmental challenges through hands-on learning, regional collaboration and the integration of local knowledge.
Main activities
High school students from Cleveland and Appalachian Ohio will participate in immersive learning experiences. These include:
- Environmental monitoring and climate data collection.
- Storytelling and oral history sessions with community Elders.
- Technical training, career exposure and youth-led workshops.
- A final capstone presentation to share insights and community-based solutions.
Syatt leads the program in collaboration with Rural Action, Warrensville Heights City Schools and various environmental and education partners.
Expected outcomes
Students will deepen their understanding of climate impacts, strengthen problem-solving and communication skills and develop a sense of place-based responsibility. Project deliverables include climate data maps, digital portfolios and a public youth symposium. Communities benefit from increased environmental awareness, stronger intergenerational ties and a growing pipeline of emerging leaders prepared to support adaptation and restoration efforts. This model connects diverse geographies and perspectives, building lasting regional capacity.