Youth Voices, Greener Futures: Youth-Friendly Lessons, Impact and What's Ahead with Apathy is Boring

Date: October 14, 1-2 PM ET
Cost: Free (Zoom Webinar)

*Please note, all registrants will be provided with a link to the recording and presentation slides following the sessions. The recording will be available for 60 days.

Over the past three years, Apathy is Boring's work with the Sustainability Network and numerous environmental non-profit organizations has shown that the sector is not only ready, but eager, to meaningfully include more young people in its spaces, programs, and opportunities.

Along the way, we have seen organizations take important steps to improve youth-friendly practices, from rethinking recruitment and retention strategies to creating more accessible, welcoming, and impactful pathways for youth participation. Furthermore, this work has reinforced that young people are eager to contribute to environmental action, but meaningful engagement requires intentional structures that value their leadership, avoid tokenism, and create real opportunities for influence.

At the same time, these three years have highlighted the realities facing environmental organizations, particularly limited resources and capacity. In response, creativity, collaboration, and shared learning have become essential tools for strengthening youth engagement. One key lesson has been the importance of building networks among organizations, where peers can exchange ideas, problem-solve together, and sustain momentum toward more youth-friendly environmental movements. Looking ahead, the opportunity is clear: by continuing to invest in meaningful youth participation and collective action, environmental organizations can help build greener, more inclusive futures shaped by young people's voices and leadership.

Join us for a 60-minute session exploring lessons, impact, and what's ahead in working with young people on environment and sustainability.

Facilitated by Erika De Torres and Sydney Penner, this session will release a report summarizing learnings from the last 3 years with the Sustainability Network, along with an update to the Youth Friendly principles.

Our Presenters

Erika De Torres is the Director of Impact and Development at Apathy is Boring, where she has managed the RAD department for the past four years. Her interest in youth engagement and civic participation began when she was young, and she saw the importance of youth in these spaces for increased innovation and resiliency. In her spare time, she likes to play board games and walk her cat, Kimchi.

Sydney Penner is the Research and Evaluations Lead at Apathy is Boring. Following her psychology degree from Simon Fraser University, she has worked in clinical mental health and addictions and non-profit social sciences research. At AisB, her job is to evaluate our programs and research new trends in youth-related democracy. She helps make sure we're doing what we set out to do—supporting you(th)!