All In! – Climate Generation

Anticipation had replaced the air. My team and I watched as the hour hand slowly made its way to 9 AM. One more hour left until the doors opened for the Youth Climate Justice Summit (YCJS), an event where student climate justice advocates can unite and discuss change in their communities. Not only that, students had the opportunity to meet with their representatives and share why climate justice mattered to them. Music played in the background accompanied by the sounds of whirring fans. We finished all the preparations. Tables. Snacks. Drinks. Flyers. Banners. Guest presenters. Nearly everything was checked off on our list. Even as I write this now, I can remember everything clearly. The main room – filled with rows of chairs. The stage in the center. To the right, the check-in table. By the closed garage door was our snack table where one of the Climate Generation staff was struggling to make lemonade. Then, through the halls were the cozy, beautifully decorated office spaces. 

Hi, my name is Ethan Vue. I’m a YEA! Leader alumni and a first-year student at the University of Minnesota. If you’re new to climate change or climate justice, I was once in your shoes. I used to be a student whose world was bound to home, school, and clubs. I had no experience in advocacy, planning an event, or being a leader. Little did I know, my world would soon change; and one by one, I would gain those exact experiences. 

In the summer of 2022, I participated in the Asian American Organizing Project’s (AAOP) Summer Youth Program. This was where I had my first experience: advocacy. COVID-19 wasn’t the only thing increasing during this time, but also Asian hate crimes. I remember feeling that my identity and community didn’t matter. But, the fact is that we do matter and so do all other marginalized communities. Where I lacked the knowledge and skills to speak up, the program filled in. Asian invisibility was one of the topics we learned. I didn’t know the term before, but it made so much sense. Asian voices are often overlooked and the same is true with youth voices. The program taught us that we had to break the silence and use our voice. The history I learned about the Asian American community empowered me. Our conversations about social justice taught me that there’s power in my voice. Time flew and to my surprise, I became an advocate. I found myself walking around neighborhoods, door-knocking on Asian American households and encouraging them to vote. 

My second experience, event planning, took place in the fall of 2022 when I joined the Walker Art Center Teen Art Council (WACTAC). It’s one thing to be an advocate, it’s another to be an event planner/host. Already, we were daunted with the task of hosting the Fall Teen Takeover (TTO). A free event for teens that includes visiting the art galleries, activities, screenings, and even live performances. My idea of planning flew out the window once I learned what needed to be considered—for instance, people with disabilities, dietary needs, food allergies, etc. The hardest thing, however, was choosing what flavor ice cream students would like. We found a place that was willing to supply us with ice cream, but the problem was that we could only choose a few flavors. We realized that it wasn’t just up to us to decide. So, we posted a story on WACTAC’s Instagram and gave students the opportunity to choose. It was at this moment I realized that representing youth also meant including youth in the planning process. 

My third experience, community leadership, started when I became a representative in the Minnesota Youth Council (MYC) in 2023. When I came into this role, it felt like the right step. I served communities locally with WACTAC, regionally with AAOP, and now state-wide with MYC. For those who don’t know, MYC is the official voice of youth to the state legislature and the Governor. During my tenure, there were four committees: Education Equity, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Juvenile Justice, and Environmental Justice. I was part of the Environmental Justice Committee (EJC). You might ask why, given my past experiences, and the answer is very simple. I’ve served communities in different capacities, but I haven’t explored other issues that impact them. Climate change was an issue I wanted to dive into.

While I was an MYC representative, I also joined the Green Ambassadors Youth Fellowship with the Center for Asians & Pacific Islanders (CAPI). This was their pilot youth program that focused on climate justice and education. We went to parks, connected with nature, and practiced self-care. In addition, we held conversations regarding climate issues and worked on possible solutions. However, the program was only four months long. When it ended, I wanted to dig deeper. Hence, I joined EJC. In our first meeting, my fellow committee members discussed a youth event they’d been planning since last year. Not only that, this event would also be in partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). They were going back and forth about where they could host it and if it would fit our budget of $500. Then, in between the noise, I suggested the Walker. I told them that I knew the Youth Program Manager there and could reach out and see if we could reserve a space to host our event. I sent the email and days later, we got the space free of charge! This moment wouldn’t be the only moment where I’d use my past connections to help my team and community. 

In 2024, halfway through my term with MYC, I joined Climate Generation as a YEA! Leader. I walked into their building and I was amazed. From the first step, I felt a sense of community and history. In the meeting with YEA Leaders, we looked for ways to spread awareness of the Climate Justice Education Bill. I waste no time explaining my role at the MYC and our upcoming event, Youth Day at the Capitol (YDAC). Schools and students can attend YDAC and learn more about MYC including policy work. Most notably, committees can hold bill hearings at the capitol. Although MYC can’t pass bills, we can give our support as we represent youth from across MN. During YDAC, my committee held a hearing for Climate Generation to present their bill. My council and I unanimously supported the bill and recommended it to the legislature and governor’s office for consideration. In the end, the bill didn’t pass yet we still choose to remain resilient. Future students will become curious and some will rise to the occasion. So long as we know who we are, the communities we belong in, and that our voice matters, our work will continue. 

I look out the window and see the first wave of students walk and check-in. The Youth Climate Justice Summit had begun. The rows were slowly filled by students and teachers. The YEA! Leaders and I walked around and got to know some of the students. Even a friend from MYC came by to cheer us on. After housekeeping and opening announcements, students scattered and went into different spaces where we had guest presenters share their work in climate justice. My favorite part of all was witnessing the student’s contributions to our collaborative mural. Maybe I’m no longer the average student I once was. I’ll keep on gaining new experiences and helping communities in different capacities. My world will keep on growing. I’ll meet new people and make new connections. If you’re a student reading this, my message to you is simple. Explore your world, stay curious, and help your community.

Ethan is a Climate Generation Window Into COP delegate for COP29. To learn more, we encourage you to meet the full delegation, support our delegates, and subscribe to the Window Into COP digest.