Environmental Justice Is a Youth Issue
Environmental justice is often discussed in policy rooms, classrooms, and conference halls, but for many young people, especially Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color, it is lived every day.
Environmental justice asks a simple question: Who bears the burden of environmental harm, and who gets protected?
Too often, the answer is youth living in communities impacted by flooding, pollution, unsafe housing, food deserts, and climate instability without having a seat at the table where decisions are made.
For BIPOC youth, environmental injustice is not abstract. It shows up as:
Mold in homes after repeated flooding
Neighborhoods without safe green space
Rising heat with nowhere to cool down
Polluted water and limited access to healthy food
Schools and housing built near environmental hazards
These conditions are not accidental. They are the result of decades of policy decisions that placed environmental risk on the same communities already navigating economic and housing instability.
Why Youth Voices Matter
Young people are not just affected by environmental injustice. They are uniquely positioned to lead us toward solutions.
Youth bring:
Lived experience, adults often overlook
Long-term vision for the future they will inherit
Creativity rooted in survival, culture, and community
A deep understanding of how environment, health, and opportunity intersect
When youth are excluded from environmental conversations, we miss critical truths. When they are centered, we move closer to justice.
The Next Ground Project
The Next Ground Project exists to build environmental literacy, workforce pathways, and leadership among youth, especially those historically excluded from environmental spaces.
Through learning, dialogue, and hands-on engagement, youth are reclaiming knowledge about land, water, and stewardship and connecting environmental justice to economic opportunity and community care.
This blog series will amplify the voices of young people, center the Chesapeake region, and explore the cultural roots of environmental justice through their eyes, as they are already shaping the future.
Environmental justice is not a future issue.
It is a youth issue.
And youth are leading the way.
Learn more about the Next Ground Project
Meet Leah, Fenix Intern & Youth Advocate
At Fenix Youth Project, we believe young people deserve support from adults who truly care — people who lead with empathy, creativity, and intention. Today, we’re excited to introduce someone who embodies all of that and more: Leah Letterman, our Nonprofit Management Intern and Youth Resource Navigator.
Leah joined the Fenix team with a passion for community and a heart for service. She’s someone who steps into spaces with purpose, listens deeply, and shows up for young people in real, meaningful ways.
Why Leah Chose Fenix
“I’ve always had a passion for wanting to help people and be part of a mission that serves those in the community,” Leah shared. “The youth are our future — and if we can support them now, we’re investing in a brighter tomorrow for everyone.”
Leah believes in community care, and she brings a grounded, gentle energy to her work with youth. She understands that showing up consistently can change someone’s life.
If She Had a Superpower…
Leah says that if she could choose a superpower, she’d pick teleportation — a way to see the world, meet people across cultures, and stay connected to the communities she cares about.
This dream aligns beautifully with her reality: Leah will be studying abroad starting in January, expanding her worldview, exploring new cultures, and continuing to grow as a leader and advocate.
But before she heads out on her next chapter, she’s dedicating December to supporting local youth through resource navigation, housing connections, and goal-setting sessions.
Her superpower reflects exactly who she is — someone who wants to show up everywhere she’s needed, connect deeply, and carry what she learns back to her community.
Her Favorite Art Form: Poetry
Poetry is Leah’s current art love — the way words hold power, truth, healing, and connection.
“Poetry allows us to express the deepest parts of ourselves while offering healing, connection, and motivation.”
Her love for poetry fits right into Fenix’s mission — using art as a tool for transformation, expression, and reclaiming voice.
What Leah Brings to Fenix
As a Youth Advocate, Leah supports young people with:
housing navigation
mental health resource connections
school and job support
benefits and documents help
creative and personal goal-setting
She approaches every young person with compassion, patience, and a belief that they deserve safe, judgment-free support.
A Message From Leah
“I’m so excited to be a part of this amazing organization and to support youth wherever they are in their journey — especially before I begin studying abroad. I’m here to help however I can.”
And we’re just as excited to have her.
Your Story Matters – Want to Be Featured?
At Fenix Youth Project Inc., we’re creating space for youth to speak their truth.
We know there’s power in your story — even if you’re still in the middle of it.
We’re looking to highlight voices from the Lower Eastern Shore — youth who’ve overcome challenges, found creative outlets, or are just figuring things out day by day.
🎤 Want to be featured in a future blog, zine, or video?
We’ll work with you to share your story how you want — with your words, your art, or your voice.
📧 Reach out at info@fenixyouthproject.org or DM us on social.
We’ll support you every step of the way.
You don’t have to be “finished” or “perfect.” You just have to be real.
#FenixYouth #YouthVoices #LowerEasternShoreStrong