Despite widespread climate “doomerism,” a Chicago area youth program has energized teens to become stewards of the Earth and have fun along the way.
Teens Take on Climate members visited Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism on Nov. 6 to learn how to bring science communication techniques into their environmental advocacy projects. Teens Take On Climate is a 501(c)(3) organization that unites South and West Side Chicago high schoolers to engage with environmental issues.
“In order to make a difference, you need to influence the leaders, but sometimes you need to first influence the general public in order to influence the leaders,” Reaiah Bowen, a longtime Teens Take on Climate participant, said.
“[Our mission] is empowering young people by connecting them to opportunities, education and employment that is personalized to something important to them, and putting a climate lens on it,” said Marji Hess, director of Teens Take on Climate. Her approach is simple: get to know the students, find out what they’re interested in, and work with them to discover an environmental connection. For example, an aspiring nurse might be interested in how air pollution can worsen asthma.
Six Teens Take on Climate participants, all students at Gary Comer College Prep and members of the organization’s student leadership team, attended the session at Medill. The students shared their top-of-mind climate concerns such as the inaccessibility of organic food in low-income areas, the decreased ability to play football in summer amid rising heat levels and air pollution, and the safety of family members living in flood-prone areas. Some students shared their artwork and their interest in using art, including public murals and animation, to spread climate awareness.
Teens Take on Climate has received a grant from the STEM Next Opportunity Fund to host three “Teen Science Cafes” over the 2025-2026 school year, where students will participate in science-focused projects, conversations and presentations. The students are currently working on the project pitches to receive additional grant funding from STEM Next’s Community in Nature Prize Challenge. Many of the high schoolers in attendance at Medill have participated in Teens Take on Climate for several years, and some have traveled to Yellowstone and Acadia National Parks with the organization.
Current Medill graduate students specializing in health, environment and science writing shared journalism tips with the high schoolers, who in turn discussed the messages they want their projects to communicate.
“I want my audience to know that growing food can impact the earth in a positive way,” Janay Bussell-La’Raviere said. “But in order to do that, we need to change a few things in our living habits.” “I want us to be more mindful and ecofriendly, because we rely on all of the ecosystems,” Bowen said. “They all impact each other.”