# 21. Seeds of Change: Empowering the Next Wave of Climate Leaders

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/in-our-backyard-podcast-1010189/21-seeds-of-change-empowering-the-next-wave-of-climate-leaders
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/in-our-backyard-podcast-1010189/21-seeds-of-change-empowering-the-next-wave-of-climate-leaders.md
Podcast: [In Our Backyard Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/in-our-backyard-podcast-1010189)
Published: 2025-11-07T15:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bredl/episodes/21--Seeds-of-Change-Empowering-the-Next-Wave-of-Climate-Leaders-e3afq33
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/130aa114/podcast/play/110667299/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-10-4%2F410565307-44100-2-4d4c47ac7573c.m4a
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Duration seconds: 1035

## Resource

Today, we’re joined by Mona Shomali, Director of the New Leaders Initiative at the Earth Island Institute, the organization behind the annual Brower Youth Awards, which recognize some of the most inspiring young environmental leaders in North America. Earth Island Institute is a hub for grassroots environmental projects around the world, and the New Leaders Initiative focuses specifically on elevating youth leadership in the fight for climate justice. In this episode, Mona walks us through the legacy of Earth Island founder David Brower, why young people between 13 and 22 are at the forefront of transformational change, and how the environmental movement has evolved and must continue to evolve to support their leadership. We also talk about the behind-the-scenes support systems that sustain these youth leaders year-round, how the Brower Youth Awards have changed since their founding in 2000, and how Mona’s own journey including her work in the Amazon has informed her work in climate storytelling. New Leaders Initiative https://www.broweryouthawards.org/about/ Water Mamas book: https://www.amazon.com/Water-Mamas-Climate-Spirituality-Indigenous/dp/B0FR3LRTFV

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## Transcript

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