Addison Barrett

Gorilla Heroes

Addison began her work as a first grader after reading a book at school about mountain gorillas. That night, she created a “Save the Gorillas!” poster and began brainstorming ways to excite other kids about gorilla conservation. She has led her school’s Green Team in creating a hands-on gorilla conservation station at schoolwide STEM events. Her annual Gorilla Gala features gorilla-themed interactive games, an information booth, and a virtual reality gorilla experience. It also includes a raffle, with prizes such as tickets to King Kong Alive on Broadway and a painting created by a gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo. Addison’s latest social media campaign, the Gorilla High-Five Challenge, asks gorilla lovers around the world to post selfies giving an air high five. She has received photos from people in nearly twenty countries and has compiled them into short videos. “I’ve learned there are people everywhere who are determined and kind and willing to help gorillas,” says Addison. “My hope is that at least one person who I have touched might also take action to help gorillas.”

Adom Appiah

Ball for Good

Adom began Ball4Good in 2016, inspired by a teacher who allocated class time each day for students to work on creating service projects. He decided to put his passion for sports toward a good cause – and to actually turn his school project into a non-profit. With the help of his mentor family and community, Adom began building Ball4Good as he studied for the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee. His story of those intense months became a book titled Kids Can Change the World, with 50% of royalties donated to non-profits that serve children. He has since written two additional books. Returning to the National Spelling Bee in 2018, Adom was chosen to represent the Bee’s core values in an address at the opening ceremony. “The most memorable part of Ball4Good is the opportunity to play with and talk to other kids about the importance of working hard,” says Adom. “I encourage them to tap into their passion and talents and use them for good.”

Anna Du

Deep Plastics Initiative

Anna began her work after continually picking up plastic bags and bottles along local beaches. She knew that microplastics pose an even bigger problem, since the tiny, toxic particles become almost indistinguishable from minute organisms like phytoplankton. This makes them easily absorbed into the food chain, as well as extremely difficult to identify and clean up. A lover of both oceans and engineering, Anna set out to help, testing prototypes in her backyard and persevering through countless setbacks. Her invention’s detection system uses an infrared camera and AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology to illuminate microplastics on the ocean floor. Her work has earned her accolades at top national science fairs and recently caught the attention of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s microplastics team. “When I first started doing science fairs, I had no idea that a young girl without lots of money and just a little advanced engineering knowledge could make a difference in the world,” says Anna. “I’ve learned that I truly love working on a problem that’s so much larger than me.”

Charlie Abrams and Jeremy Clark Leaf indicates winners who were honored for projects that benefit the environment.

Affected Generation

Charlie and Jeremy recently mobilized their peers in support of other climate policy — Resolution #5727, which would incorporate climate change curriculum into the Portland Public Schools. After no action on a similar resolution the boys passed years ago, they organized the first ever Portland School Strike for Climate. Inspired by the Fridays for Future movement (started by 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg), the boys led 3,000 students as they walked out of class and marched for nearly two miles to the school district office. Since first joining forces in fourth grade, Charlie and Jeremy have built partnerships with Renew Oregon, Oregon Environmental Council, and Schools for Climate Action, among dozens of others. These groups are supporting the boys in producing a documentary film called “One State” that will highlight inspiring climate change work being done around the world. “Passing a bill or successfully organizing an event leaves an impact on us,” say Charlie and Jeremy. “But it’s people telling us how we’ve changed them that motivates us in the fight for our future.”

Emma Angeletti Leaf indicates winners who were honored for projects that benefit the environment.

back2earth

Emma’s team regularly collects food waste from several drop-off locations, which were established with the support of city government. Her group also provides a back2earth bucket to any interested resident. Every Saturday, the team collects filled buckets from over 100 homes, replacing each with a clean bucket. Emma does her pick-ups by bike, pulling a cart with her two dogs close behind. She also serves as Head of Research for back2earth and is experimenting to create the most effective compost. As leader of the group’s KIDS program, she frequently teaches children and adults about composting and how it helps the environment. “I’ve learned that humans are defined by the actions they take when given the tools to make a difference,” says Emma. “And I’ve learned that what matters isn’t the number of people my message reaches, but how deeply it becomes etched in their minds, hearts, and ideologies.”

Garyk Brixi

Developed Life-Saving Relief Food

Garyk reasoned that local manufacturers could compete with international suppliers to deliver lower cost relief food to more children — while supporting agricultural development in their communities. Determined to test his idea, he dove into rigorous self-study, drawing on research in public health, international development, and computer science. He persevered as he hit dead ends and learned to ignore naysayers. When he finally created models for locally produced treatments that cut in half the ingredient cost of what’s currently used, he put his work to the test. With support from leading treatment developers at Valid Nutrition, two batches of his relief food were produced in Kenya that met United Nations’ standards. Garyk is continuing to volunteer with Valid Nutrition, a non-governmental organization, to launch production of novel treatments in Malawi. “My work does not end here,” says Garyk. “I’ll continue striving to make nutritious food more readily available to starving children around the world.”

Grace Callwood

The We Cancerve Movement

Six months later, Grace founded We Cancerve. She created Books & Buddies to donate a new book and stuffed animal to children in pediatric hospitals. Her La Magnifique Boutique provides free clothing for teen girls at a foster care group home. Much of her work supports children living at Anna’s House, a homeless shelter for families, where she has arranged mentors, holiday gifts, and field trips to professional football games. Since 2015, she has run Camp Happy at the shelter, a free, four-week summer camp that engages more than 100 children in art, nature, and STEM activities. Each camper is paired with one of 50 junior camp counselors who provide individual support and attention. “I’ve realized I can dream big and accomplish a lot at a young age,” says Grace. “I’ve learned that I just have to go for it and believe in my vision and team. There’s no age limit on service.”

Jamie Margolin Leaf indicates winners who were honored for projects that benefit the environment.

Zero Hour

Jamie’s inspiration began with the first Women’s March soon after President Trump’s inauguration. It deepened that summer during a month-long course at Princeton University, where she was surrounded by politically-engaged high schoolers. Returning to Seattle, she found the city covered in thick smog from extreme wildfires raging in Canada, exacerbated by climate change. She decided it was time to act. She rallied friends on both coasts to join her in starting a youth climate justice movement that the media and national leaders couldn’t ignore. Jamie has done just that. Her work has garnered coverage by The New York Times, CNN, and Rolling Stone magazine, among other media outlets. She has also earned the respect of partners such as the Sierra Club and Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is that real change doesn’t necessarily happen with what is flashy,” says Jamie. “I’m most proud of our behind-the-scenes work and of building a movement that is run by young women of color.”

Joseph Goldstein Leaf indicates winners who were honored for projects that benefit the environment.

Kids for the Boundary Waters

Joseph first fell in love with the Boundary Waters as a six-year-old on a weeklong canoe trip. His family has returned every summer – and some winters – for the past 12 years. At age 13, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Facing three years of chemotherapy and confinement, he decided to take what he was learning about fighting cancer and use it to fight for the Boundary Waters. He wrote blogs and countless letters, made phone calls, and when treatment allowed, traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers. Soon after taking his last chemotherapy pill in 2018, Joseph officially launched Kids for the Boundary Waters. His non-profit teaches young people how to advocate – how to write letters, make phone calls, and follow-up with decision makers. He recently organized the group’s second Fly-In, when 80 kids traveled to the nation’s capital for several days of trainings, meetings, and lobbying. “I’ve learned that this work is all about the small steps forward,” says Joseph. “Change happens when you suit up and show up, over and over and over. It may not be enormous, instantaneous change, but many small steps over a long period of time add up.”

Katherine McPhie and Milan Narula

Open Sesame Coding for Kids

The two friends first joined forces in 2017 while volunteering at a homeless shelter. Convinced that kids living there could use coding skills to move past poverty, they piloted A Month of Code for children at a domestic violence shelter. Unsure of how it would go, they were thrilled to find students completely engaged. Building on that first success, they organized classes at several other shelters. Open Sesame volunteers are now leading Friday night and Saturday morning coding sessions at nine shelters across six cities. Beyond teaching computer and STEM skills, volunteers serve as role models for the children and form meaningful relationships with them. “I love that Open Sesame has created an opportunity for so many of my peers to use their skills to make the world a better place,” says Katherine. “I’ve learned that people want to be needed and to use their skills for good,” adds Milan.

Katherine and Milan’s story is featured on our sister site, Inspiring Young Heroes.

Maanasa Mendu Leaf indicates winners who were honored for projects that benefit the environment.

HARVEST Device

Maanasa’s device has its roots in rural India, where on a trip to visit family, she encountered daily electrical blackouts. She was also reminded that many families there rely on dangerous kerosene lamps. She set out to change that. A lover of all things STEM, she worked for three years to create her current iteration, designing a dozen different prototypes and conducting 1,200 trials. Named America’s Top Young Scientist in 2016 as winner of the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, she gained a platform for promoting renewable energy and empowering students in STEM. She has spoken to nearly 7,000 people around the world. Additionally, she has used a portion of her science competition earnings to help start the Maruthi Foundation in India, which provides scholarships and other educational opportunities. She is currently working to enhance HARVEST’s patent-pending design with the goal of making it available worldwide as a Do-It-Yourself kit. “I’ve learned that the path to instituting change is paved with failures and unexpected successes,” says Maanasa. “I’ve also learned that you’re never too young or too old or too inexperienced to see a problem in the world and try to solve it.”

Neil Deshmukh Leaf indicates winners who were honored for projects that benefit the environment.

PlantumAI

Neil was inspired during a 2016 trip to India where he visited the farm where his grandfather was working. He learned that farmers are struggling due to erratic weather brought on by rapid changes in the climate. He also realized that farmers were spraying their crops with a multitude of pesticides in an effort to eliminate any chance of disease. The pesticides were ending up everywhere, including in the river – the water supply for many people. Convinced that technology could help, Neil spent the next year developing his app. He returned to India for field testing and secured a partnership with plant pathologists at Akola Agriculture University, who agreed to help farmers use the app. So far, they have analyzed more than 1,000 crop disease instances. Neil continues to finetune his app, which is currently helping farmers across 12 villages address problems using fewer pesticides. “My dream is to change the world using technology – to make it better for people everywhere, in every class of life,” says Neil. “I want to make a difference.”

Pearl Daskam and Addy Battel

Meating the Need for Our Village

Pearl and Addy began their work as 12-year-olds when their rural hometown’s only grocery store closed, creating a food desert for 15 miles. The girls learned that many residents would have a hard time obtaining nutrient-dense food – and that the local food pantry struggled to provide protein. Though they didn’t have driver’s licenses or jobs, they did know how to raise meat, and they decided to help. The girls wrote and received a grant through their FFA chapter (Future Farmers of America) and enlisted their friends to raise livestock and poultry for the food pantry. Pearl and Addy recently brought together 50 community members – from food pantry customers to their state senator – to talk about sustainability. They now have action plans for bringing a grocery store to their town, developing a community garden, and becoming a non-profit. “We’ve learned how to stretch ourselves beyond what we could have imagined,” say Pearl and Addy. “We’ve also learned that in a time of turmoil and polarity, we can be united to solve the world’s greatest problems. All it takes is passion.”

Ruby Kate Chitsey

Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents

She decided one day to ask residents what they wished they had and to write their answers in a notebook. Half expecting wishes for money or cars, instead she recorded requests for a chocolate bar, better toothpaste, an electric razor, watermelon. That night, she and her mom bought nearly everything on the list. Ruby Kate began organizing local fundraisers in order to grant more wishes and then created a GoFundMe campaign for her cause. It has generated more than $250,000 from 6,000 people all over the world. With that support, she is working to expand her project across the country. She is also starting to advocate for increasing the monthly Medicaid allowance. “I feel valued for doing what matters to me — being kind — and am so glad the world took my voice seriously,” says Ruby Kate. “Mostly, I’m grateful that I’ve changed the world for the elderly I know.”

Will and Matthew Gladstone Leaf indicates winners who were honored for projects that benefit the environment.

The Blue Feet Foundation

Will’s inspiration began in fifth-grade science class, when he first learned of the blue-footed booby’s decline in the Galapagos — and of the lack of funds earmarked to find out why. He decided to raise money by selling bright blue socks and convinced his younger brother to join him. They found a sock manufacturer, set up a website, held a logo design contest, and excitedly awaited their first order — for three months! They resisted the urge to scrap their idea and instead, kept trying new tactics. They eventually connected with the Galapagos Conservancy, which agreed to partner with them, and the tide changed. Today, the boys have received sock orders from all 50 states and 46 countries. “I hear about the world being so divided but when I look at all the places we’ve received orders from, the world feels a lot more friendly,” says Will. “If people in all these countries can care about a seabird with blue feet that they’ll likely never see on an island they’ll likely never visit, then people are a lot more similar than we’re led to believe.”