SVYCA Alumni

Young woman with dark hair standing in front of plants

Esther Duong

Esther Duong is the Vice Chair of the Leadership Team and student mentor for the San Jose team. In the past, she has worked on the Leadership Workshops, the Environmental Literacy initiative, and various projects on the San Jose team as a co-lead. She is also a student at UC Davis studying Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning with interests in city planning, urban green spaces, and native ecosystem conservation and restoration. In her free time, Esther likes to read, listen to music, and bike around campus.

 

Diya Kandhra

Diya Kandhra is a student at UC Berkeley (majoring in Environmental Economics and Policy), and an avid climate advocate for policy changes from the local to the state level. Within SVYCA, she has co-founded and co-led the Morgan Hill Team, co-founded the County Advocacy Team, has served as an active member of the State Advocacy Team, and has helped organize various workshops and presentations. Outside of SVYCA, in high school she was the co-president for Ann Sobrato High School's Environmental Club, had interned with the City of Morgan Hill's Environmental Department, and created interactive activities on climate literacy within AAUW's Young Women Leaders program. In the future, she wishes to focus her studies and advocacy efforts on energy and transit issues. In her free time, she loves to listen to rock music, run, and play flute, piano, or guitar.

 
Image of young woman in front of a US and Californa flag

Gwyn Azar

Gwyn has been an active member and leader in SVYCA since the organization was founded in 2019. She has been a co-lead of the Cupertino Team, Climate Literacy Team, and is currently serving on the Leadership Team. An alumni of Cupertino High School, she is now a student at UC Davis studying Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning with a minor in Spanish. She is passionate about climate solutions, policy, and advocacy. Outside of SVYCA she is a big band nerd, and currently plays trombone in the UC Davis Marching Band. 

 

Elisa Floyd

Elisa Floyd, a Senior at Homestead High School, champions environmental sustainability wherever she goes. In the summer of 2022, she co-founded the Fremont Union High School District’s (FUHSD) Climate Action Team, a partnership between FUHSD and nonprofit Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA), in order to help create a districtwide climate action plan with comprehensive solutions including climate literacy and waste management. She currently serves as the student board representative on the FUHSD Board of Trustees, representing over 10,000 FUHSD students. Elisa’s commitment to our planet and its people began in the 4th grade, when she worked with her teacher to implement her elementary school’s first Zero Waste Program. Since that young age, she has and continues to focus on using education to empower youth communities to engage in climate advocacy and become environmental stewards. When she’s not working towards creating a greener future, Elisa is an avid fan of Frontline PBS, loves to run, walk, and explore different places, enjoys Matcha and coffee, and finds joy in spending time with her friends.

 

cici xu

Cici, an Economics and Energy Studies student at Yale University, is the former co-lead of the Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action State Advocacy Team and Saratoga/Los Gatos Youth Climate Action Team. Cici currently takes on the role of co-main organizer for SVYCA’s annual Youth Leadership Summit. Cici, being affected by severe environmental issues throughout her childhood, became extremely passionate about fighting back climate change, speaking up for environmental justice, and bringing awareness of sustainability to her community.

 

carolyn zhao

Carolyn is a former co-lead of the Santa Clara Youth Climate Action Team and has a fun time exploring her newfound passions for environmental and social justice. She’s a foodie, both for information as well as delicious sustenance, and loves to paint, dream, learn, and pet her cat Robert while watching Netflix in her free time. She hopes to one day make the world a better place through her climate advocacy, a possible scientific discovery, and joy.