Environmental activists across generations are speaking out against the construction of a new coal export terminal proposed at the West Oakland port, which they say threatens to cause harm and continue a long history of environmental disparities for West Oakland residents. This is a community documentary produced by Liam Wady for Youth Beat and the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. Also made possible with generous support from California Humanities!

California teachers' money must not be used to violate Indigenous rights, support environmental racism, and destroy their students' future. This is a climate emergency, and CalSTRS needs to make a moral choice now to divest from Enbridge and stop funding destruction. Bit.ly/DivestCalSTRS "Investors like CalSTRS have real affects on my people here. CalSTRS giving money to them (Enbridge) and thinking they can get them to be green is the absolute opposite of what we want." - Sasha Beaulieu, frontline leader. Send the solidarity letter at bit.ly/DivestCalSTRS Credits: Tremendous gratitude to Sasha Beaulieu of The Red Lake Treaty Camp and all Water Protectors, Pinecone Pictures for editing, and Chris Vibberts of Rabbit Hole Recordings for for the use of the song The Critics."

On April 18th 2023, many of our YvA youth including Urban Promise Academy's UPA Warriors for Justice club, and our own Hannah Estrada, came to the Senate Judiciary Committee to share testimony and support for SB252. This bill would support the divestment of public pension funds in California, including teacher's retirement funds, away from fossil fuels. This bill is a major component of our Divest CalSTRS campaign, and work being done throughout California to #divest

Just a few memories we were able to document from the past 2 years, hope you enjoy :))

Young Voice, Powerful Impact Meet Aniya Butler, a 16-year-old poet and climate activist from East Oakland, California. Aniya is a key figure in Youth vs. Apocalypse, where she leads various initiatives to engage and educate youth on climate justice. Blending Art with Advocacy Discover how Aniya uses her passion for poetry and hip-hop to drive the Hip-Hop and Climate Justice Initiative Program. This innovative program recruits and teaches youth hip-hop skills, providing a creative outlet for discussing and addressing climate issues. Creating a Community of Change Learn about the writing workshops Aniya organizes, which serve as a space for youth to express their concerns about climate change through art. These workshops culminate in collaborative pieces that are shared on social media and performed at events, amplifying their voices for advocacy and healing. 🕒 Navigate Through the Video: [00:00] Introduction to Aniya Butler [00:30] Leading Youth Engagement in Climate Justice [01:00] Hip-Hop and Climate Justice Initiative Join the Movement 👍 Like this video to support young climate activists 💬 Share your thoughts on blending art with advocacy 🔗 Subscribe for more inspiring stories of change 🌐 Visit https://www.youthvsapocalypse.org/ for more on Youth vs. Apocalypse

On Jan. 13, members of Youth vs. Apocalypse and concerned Bay Area residents gathered in front of the California Teachers Association's (CTA) headquarters to call for support for the California State Teachers' Retirement System's (CalSTRS) divestment of the $6 billion they currently have invested in the fossil fuel industry. Youth vs. Apocalypse: https://www.youthvsapocalypse.org/ CTA: https://www.cta.org/ CalSTRS: https://www.calstrs.com/ Fossil Free CA's divestment campaign for CalSTRS: https://fossilfreeca.org/calstrs/ @alana_wacker on Twitter and Instagram

COME TO THE CALSTRS CAMPAIGN!! every other TUESDAY a 6, starting 9/28. sign up at bit.ly/JOINYVA