Spring Forward now has a team of over 20 motivated, creative, and hard working middle and high school students. We are always looking to grow our team and get others involved in fighting for climate justice through education. If you know someone who might be interested in joining our team or you, yourself are interested, click here to find more information and to join.
Simone Colburn
she/her/hers
Grade 10, Cambridge MA
Curriculum Coordinator
Why did you join Spring Forward?
I helped found Spring Forward because I think it is important for children to learn about climate change from a young age so they will be more fit to take action.
Although I am very passionate about the environmental and climate justice, it has been difficult to get my friends to see the climate crisis is not a joke. I believe students will be more equipped to fight climate change head on if they learn more about helping the environment than only picking up one piece of trash, using less water, or planting one tree (although these are all important, they do not show how significant the crisis really is). Everyone needs to do whatever they can to help create climate justice and I think Spring Forward is a great place to start.
Why is climate justice important to you?
Climate justice is important to me because it is crucial that we address climate change in a way where we are thinking about how to help who is effected most and make sure while we are making changes to stop climate change we create a just transition. Climate justice shows how climate change is tied into racial justice, women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, and the wealth gap.
What is your favorite TV show?
Greys Anatomy!
Amelia Kane
she/her/hers
Grade 10, Newton MA
Outreach Coordinator
Why did you join Spring Forward?
I helped to co-found Spring Forward because I think that climate education is important and I wish more people learned about the social justice-based mindset we teach at SF. I also believe that our youth to youth approach to this complicated subject is so crucial to achieving our mission because it allows the kids we are teaching to see that they too can create change. As outreach coordinator, I love that I get to be the part of spreading the word and growing our organization!
Why is climate education important to you?
Climate education is important to me because I believe that an incredibly important part of fixing the climate crisis is educating others about it, because after all if people don't know about the climate crisis, they probably won't be inclined to help solve it. I think that Spring Forward's hands-on, interactive, empowering, and positive approach to educating young kids about the issue is important because it really helps to ensure kids understand the climate crisis and feel that they truly can be part of the solution.
Who is your biggest role model and why?
(1) my mom, because she does so much for me and my siblings every day and is so selfless and strong and (2) Jane Goodall because she is such an inspiring female scientist, and has dedicated so much of her life to educating everyone (including kids) about climate and wildlife issues, and inspires me to do some of the work I do with SF.
Prionti Talukdar
she/her/hers
Grade 10, Cambridge MA
Media Team
Why did you join Spring Forward?
I joined Spring Forward to provide impactful learning on topics which I deeply care about. I wanted to further expand my knowledge in climate education as well and create meaningful connections.
Why is climate education important to you?
Climate education is important to me since it isn’t a topic which is widely talked about but has a wide variety of topics to learn from such as environmental justice, climate change, marine life education, etc. The possibilities are endless!
What Is Your Favorite Snack?
My favorite snack is a fruit bowl!
Frida Gerhardt
she/her/hers
Grade 6, California
Ambassador
Why did you join Spring Forward?
I wanted to help educate people about Climate Change and I thought that Spring Forward was amazing.
Why is climate education important to you?
I know a lot of people who don't believe in Climate Change and I feel that it is because they don't really know what it is.
What is your favorite drink?
Lemonade!
Zoe Vittori-Koch
she/her/hers
Grade 9, Boston MA
Curriculum Team
Why did you join Spring Forward?
I joined Spring Forward because it provides an opportunity to help make sure that kids are learning about the urgent issues of climate change and climate justice. I also loved that it was a youth led organization.
Why is climate education important to you?
Education about climate change/justice is important to me because these issues are going to effect young people more than anybody else. To understand not only how our world is changing, but also our history of injustices is so valuable right now, especially because youth have a spotlight in social/climate action.
What is your favorite genre of music?
I’ve been really loving 70s/80s rock and indie music lately! Bands like The Talking Heads, and The Velvet Underground are some of my favorites:)
Julia D'Amato
she/her/hers
Grade 10, Cambridge MA
Curriculum Team
Why did you join Spring Forward?
I joined Spring Forward because I'm super passionate about spreading awareness about climate change! It's important for the younger generations to know the situation we're in and ways to help.
Why is climate action important to you?
Climate action is important to me because actions that stall global warming's impact could literally save the world.
Which Disney character do you share a clothing style with?
My clothing style is most like Belle's! This is because I love layering, wearing blue, and wearing fun hair accessories :)
Eva Sharma
she/her/hers
Grade 12, Shrewsbury, Ma
Curriculum Team
Why did you join Spring Forward?
I joined Spring Forward because I believe that climate change is an existential threat to the prosperity of future generations, and educating young people about this crisis is the best way to get them involved in the fight against corporations and politicians who fail to act on the threats that climate change poses.
Why is climate justice important to you?
Intersectional climate justice is important to me because environmentalism is often seen as an elitist concern, when it actually harms the most vulnerable communities in our society the most. I believe that Spring Forward shows this intersectional mentality in all the work that they do, which is why I’m so happy to be working as a climate education curriculum creator with them!
Who is an environmental activist you look up to?
I look up to Autumn Peltier, a Canadian indigenous activist, who advocates for clean drinking water in First Nations communities.
Hailee Duarte
she/her/hers
Outreach Team
Grade 12, New Bedford. MA
Why did you join Spring Forward?
I joined Spring Forward because not many people are aware of how serious of a threat climate change and the different components surrounding it actually is, so I wanted to be apart of a platform that educates our youth on climate justice, as they are the ones who have the power to turn things around in the future!!
Why is climate education important to you?
Climate education is important to me mainly because people can’t put a stop to climate change unless they actually know what’s happening and how badly it’s affecting our planet, educating and informing is the first step to making change.
What do you like to do in your free time?
SPORTS!! I play field hockey, lacrosse, and cheer during basketball season for my school and love every second of it!!
Clara Bhagwati
she/her/hers
Grade 10, Belmont, MA
Media Team
Why did you join Spring Forward?
I joined Spring Forward because I knew I had to do something about the climate crisis and that I couldn't just sit back and watch any longer. As someone who has worked at camp before, an educational approach seemed to be what was right for me. Also, I love that Spring Forward was started by students and still student run!
Why is climate education important to you?
Climate education is so important to me because you cannot expect people to do anything about the climate crisis if they don't know about it and the extent of it. Since unfortunately schools aren't teaching enough to students, we must take it upon ourselves to learn and pass along the message so we can act before it is too late!
What are some of your hobbies?
I love swimming, hiking, and cooking!
Want to help stop climate change? Join Our Team!
If you know someone who might be interested in joining our team or you, yourself are interested, click here to find more information and to join.
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