August 2025
Over the summer, the Future Climate Collective team has been on the move – meeting with and learning from teens, climate professionals, and community groups – while reflecting on how to carry the lessons from our spring pilot program into the next school year. What has stood out most in every conversation and gathering was the power of community: the way shared ideas, mutual support and collective energy can create spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered.
And now, as summer winds down and schools reopen, we are looking forward to new opportunities to help develop a sense of a community for young people rooted in a shared passion for addressing climate challenges. Classrooms, clubs, and halls offer spaces where teens can find support and inspiration around climate education and leadership. It’s a reminder of why what we do matters: fostering the networks and relationships that help young people turn curiosity and concern into courage and action.
We’re also thrilled to share that we are very close to announcing our 2025–26 programs, and we can’t wait to share the ways you can support them. Your involvement helps strengthen this intergenerational community and ensures that teens have opportunities they need to step into climate leadership.
In this issue, you’ll find:
A recap of Voices for the Future, our teen-led climate event
News about our next event, SUNDAY, in Portland this September
A team spotlight on our Director of Innovation, Steven Weiner
And ways YOU can get involved in building a climate-ready generation.
Recap of Teen Voices
On July 19, 2025, Future Climate Collective hosted Voices for the Future in Lake Oswego as part of PNW Climate Week. The gathering reflected the model we are working to build: an intergenerational community centered around climate. Teens, parents, educators, citizens, and climate professionals came together not only to share ideas but to listen, learn, and support one another in shaping a collective vision for the future.
The event opened with a Teen Climate Panel, where four youth leaders—Alexa Shum, Jorge Bautista, Jamie Hartmann, and Mason Klein—spoke candidly about their personal fears, hopes, and visions for the future. Moderated by Dr. Robin Henderson, CEO of Behavioral Health at Providence, their sincere reflections on climate anxiety and resilience reminded us why we continue to focus on elevating youth voices.
Adults in the community also took the stage. Lisa Hefler of the Lake Oswego Sustainability Advisory Board highlighted the many ways teens are already shaping Lake Oswego’s climate action, while a panel of climate professionals—including Andrew Schwartz, Pallavi Pande, Keith Crossland, Nasser Mohsin, Willow Hill, and Joshua Basofin—provided practical pathways for turning concern into meaningful action. And we also heard from community partners supporting teens including Sarah Kirby, Oregon Educators for Climate Education, Breck Foster, Subject to Climate, and Stephanie Wagner, Lake Oswego Sustainability Network.
The evening closed with a community hour, where conversations moved from the stage into circles of connection. Teens and adults met face-to-face, trading ideas, advice, and encouragement. The energy was hopeful, reminding us of what we are most passionate about at FCC.
FCC Team Spotlight - Steven Weiner, Director of Innovation
As FCC’s Director of Innovation, Steven Weiner describes his role as being less about new technologies and more about social innovation—finding creative ways to engage students and build community. He brings to this work 15 years of diverse professional experiences - from teaching high school physics to researching education systems change – which taught him just how hard it is to get new programs adopted in traditional schools, especially at the high school level.
That’s why FCC’s programs are designed to connect educators with partners outside the school system, from college-age climate leaders to seasoned sustainability professionals, who will help lead much of our programming in the coming year. This approach not only eases the burden on overworked teachers, it taps into the passion and expertise of people committed to making positive change in the face of a changing climate.
Steven is especially excited about the launch of our Impact program, which invites students to identify pressing local climate challenges, collaborate with FCC’s network of experts, and develop solutions that can make a tangible difference in their schools, neighborhoods, and towns.
For Steven, the heart of climate action lies in building broad and diverse communities dedicated to finding unexpected solutions to tough problems. He likens the process to atomic fusion: it takes tremendous effort to spark, but once ignited, it can generate ten or even a hundred times the energy you put in. He’s passionate about creating the conditions for that kind of powerful reaction—one that fuels lasting climate solutions and empowers the next generation of changemakers.
Coming Up Next
We’re thrilled to announce that Future Climate Collective will be a sponsor for SUNDAY on September 21, 2025 in Portland. SUNDAY is a global celebration of renewable energy, shining a light on solar power, wind, and batteries as the most cost-effective form of energy. They lower costs, create jobs, and empower communities.
We’re proud to join the organizers of SUNDAY, Third Act, to expand the local movement for clean energy and climate action. To learn more, visit https://www.sunday.earth
SUNDAY - September 21, 2025
Take Action
Get Involved
Are you a climate professional? A teacher? A parent? Here are a few ways to support the movement:
Become a mentor or classroom guest: We’re looking for professionals in climate policy, science, communication, and tech to guide and inspire students.
Bring our program into your classroom: We’re looking for teachers and schools to help bring our programs to life.
Donate: Your contribution helps us expand into more schools and train the next generation of climate-ready youth.
👉 Donate hereShare this newsletter: Forward it to someone who cares about the future of education and the planet.
Thank you for being a part of this movement. Together, we’re helping the next generation build the resilience, insight, and support they need to face a changing world and work toward better outcomes for themselves and their communities.
With gratitude,
The Future Climate Collective Team