YEPI Work Plan
As climate activists, we believe both individual and group projects are critical to combating global warming. We can definitely lead the climate change movement from an educational and engaging perspective.
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Here are projects that we have worked on:
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(1) Video Creation
By utilizing digital art, animation, videos to raise awareness of alternative transportation, composting, and lowering greenhouse emissions, we believe that we can deliver a strong message and create a positive impact. Our target audience is teens and utilizing videos is a fun, effective, and powerful way to educate youths about environmental issues and sustainability. We believe this will help youths develop and carry green habits into adulthood.
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(2) YEPI Sustainability Summit
We engage and empower students to be advocates of fighting climate change, finding climate change solutions, developing ideas for effective climate policies, and making an influence on climate change.
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(3) YEPI Environmental Art Contest
This contest focuses on bringing the community together during COVID-19 while encouraging students to use the arts to portray greenness in their lives. This contest not only helps broaden and foster contestants' understanding of sustainability but also raise awareness on climate change action. Students submit their artwork online.
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(4) YEPI Newsletters
Our newsletters include green information such as tips on being green, renewable energy, water conservation, preventing pollution, fighting climate change, and more. Our goal for this newsletter is to spark people's interest in environmental issues, educate them about how they can join the fight against climate change, and encourage them to speak up and take action.
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Our Impact
students have participated in our hands-on environmental justice activities at our workshops/booths or attended our Racial Understanding, Social Equity, and Environmental Justice Symposiums/Environmental Justice Leadership Trainings!
20,000+
YEPI has mobilized thousands of teens across
states
20+
countries
13+
to advocate for equity, social and environmental justice, and sustainability.
$17,000+
grants have been awarded to fund our environmental justice projects.
Founder of the Youth Environmental Power Initiative
Kelly Tung
President and Executive Director
Fueled by passion, Kelly advocates for environmental justice, taking alternative transportation, creating new technology, and rethinking energy to protect our environment. She is passionate about utilizing science and technology along with empathy and human-centered approaches to tackle problems and find solutions. Kelly founded Youth Environmental Power Initiative, a youth-led nonprofit organization, to inspire youths to fight against environmental injustice and save our earth from climate change.
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Kelly has vast leadership experience, such as being the Chair of the City of Cupertino Teen Commission, the Student Executive Board Member for Walk-Bike Cupertino, President and CEO of Design Thinking For Teens (DT4T), the Founder and President of JFK Green Commuters program (received City of Cupertino Sustainability Commission Student Grant). She is also the 2023 Senior Class President at Monta Vista High School. Kelly believes that environmental education, innovation, advocacy, and legislation play important roles in saving our environment. Kelly received the City of Cupertino's 2021 CREST (Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken) Award, the 2022 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes Honoree, the Princeton Prize in Race Relations Certificate of Accomplishment, and the 2022 CPRS (California Parks and Recreation Society) Award. She also received the 2022 Clean Energy Hall of Fame Youth Game Changer Award from the California Energy Commission, which awards individuals and organizations that are making exceptional contributions to help California achieve a 100% clean energy future for all.
In addition, the City of Cupertino received the prestigious Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in 2021 for engaging youth in municipal government for its Pizza and Politics program. Kelly was honored to be the first teen moderator in the event's history and accept the award on behalf of the students that worked on the Pizza and Politics program.
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Pictured from left to right:
Cupertino Mayor Darcy Paul, Congressman Ro Khanna, Kelly Tung, Cupertino Councilmember Jon Willey, Cupertino Councilmember Kitty Moore, Cupertino Councilmember Hung Wei
Pictured from left to right:
Cupertino Mayor Darcy Paul, Kelly Tung