Climate leadership is not just about knowledge—it is about understanding and engaging with the world.
As part of LA Climate Week—a citywide platform that brings together communities, institutions, and innovators to advance climate action—this interactive workshop invites youth and families to explore sustainability through multiple lenses:
- Policy and governance
- Global sustainability challenges
- Field-based conservation experiences
- Community and city-level action
Hosted at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum—a site closely tied to the origins of modern environmental policy, including the establishment of the United States Environmental Protection Agency—the event connects historical perspective with present-day challenges and next-generation leadership.
Co-hosted with Habitat Watcher Foundation (HWF), a Southern California–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in the United States and Kenya, the workshop brings in field-based conservation perspectives, highlighting the connections between biodiversity, climate change, and local communities.
Through a combination of keynote insights, panel dialogue, and interactive workshop experiences, participants will engage with the systems shaping our world and explore how young people can take part in meaningful, real-world change.
Agenda:
- Opening Insight, 15 min
Shawn Sweeney, Executive Director of LACW
Shaping Climate Solutions by Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
- Panel Discussion, 45 min
From Policy to Planet: Climate Leadership in Action
A cross-sector dialogue bridging policy, conservation, education, and community leadership.
Featuring voices from:
- Dr. Jane Zhang, Director of Tourism and Culture, Richard Nixon Museum and Library
- Simba Zhuo, Wildlife Conservationist, CEO, Habitat Watcher Foundation
- Dr. Sherry Chen, Environmental Scientist, Educator, Founder of Global Sustainability Leadership Program
- Steven Yu, Founder & Managing Director, NLY Group (community representative)
Moderated by Cylin Wang, a student from UCLA, youth volunteer representative of HWF
- Interactive Workshop, 40 min
Family Climate Lab: From Ideas to Impact
Moderated by Dr. Sherry Chen
Each participant will receive:
- One EPA policy card
- One UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) card
In groups, participants will explore:
How can one policy help address multiple global challenges?
Teams will propose solutions and share their ideas.
- Q&A and Closing, 10 min
An open dialogue exploring:
How individuals and families can take action in global sustainability challenges
Participants will also discover:
- Global and local field experiences
- Youth leadership programs
- Opportunities to stay engaged beyond the event
