Olivia Yokas
Engaging Watsonville Youth: Autonomy in Volunteer Service
My name is Olivia Yokas and I am a member of Americorps' California Climate Action Corps (CCAC). This is my second term serving with the City of Watsonville's Public Works and Outreach Department.
In January, I visited Watsonville High School to have students vote on their favorite climate action opportunities at the Environmental Studies and Natural Resources (ESNR) academy recruitment fair. I asked students questions like, “have you heard the term ‘climate change’ in any of the classes you’ve taken?” and, “what are your main interests outside of school?” to learn about their perspectives on the climate crisis and hear their ideas regarding what they are most passionate about when it comes to engaging their community in climate action. In Watsonville, the City government prioritizes this type of engagement with students because every local high schooler needs to participate in a certain amount of community service hours to graduate. The City provides many opportunities for students to complete these hours. We had approximately 150 freshmen vote over the two days we visited the school. By listening to students, we learned they cared deeply about projects encouraging multi-disciplinary connections to climate change, primarily through environmental art, which received the most student votes. The City Public Works and Outreach Department will now make sure to create volunteer opportunities that reflect the interests of the students who voted!
I feel proud to represent CCAC and the City of Watsonville. Connecting with community is the best way to create a culture of climate activism. I care so deeply for climate because I know that environmental justice is a direct pathway to cultivating equity. In my undergraduate program at the University of Redlands, I learned about the direct interconnections of environmental and social justice, and the importance of leading with that lens for greater inclusion and just solutions. It was with CCAC that I saw this idea take on a tangible form. Many people become scared or defensive when approached with opinions about climate change- a normal trauma response. Building relationships with community residents and sharing our climate stories create a personal pathway through which empathetic conversations can be held. When learning about youths’ beliefs and interests, it is easier to find soft segways into discussions about climate action. It is important to point out what students are doing right for the environment, build their confidence, and then make suggestions on other forms of activism they can pursue. Providing trauma-aware, solutions-based information and praise has been integral to motivating positive change. This is the approach I am dedicated to taking through my service and beyond.
You can learn more about Olivia’s work at the City of Watsonville here. Learn more about Americorps' California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) here.
This description was written by Olivia Yokas, with editing support from Change Narrative LLC.