Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action’s First Chapter in the East Bay

 

SVYCA’s Tri-City (Fremont) Youth Climate Action Team works to create meaningful change through impactful, interdisciplinary policy and education initiatives.

Join Our Team!

Locations Team Leaders

Fremont Aahana Ruparelia

Union City Audrey Tseng

Newark Sayana Settipalli

Feel free to email us.

Adult Mentors

Kaushik Tota

Zekun Li (Staff)

 
 

Current initiatives

Piloting Statewide Environmental Justice Curriculums

Partnering with Ethnic Studies teachers to integrate climate literacy into the curriculum.

  • Consulting with Ten Strands, FUSD CLEAN (Climate Literacy and Environmental Action Network), and the FUSD School Board’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction to develop a structured curriculum plan to integrate environmental education into Ethnic Studies framework.

  • Hosted Professional Development (PD) Trainings for educators, sesigning slide decks & lesson plans for teachers to implement environmental justice into curricula.

  • Created an 'Equity & Climate Literacy: Curated Playlist for Teachers', implemented at 28 California school districts to educate on the intersection of ethnic marginalization and environmental studies

Union City 2026 Climate Action Development

  • Collaborating directly with Union City officials and the Climate Action Task Force to shape the city’s updated 2026 Climate Action Plan, focusing on youth inclusion, equitable adaptation, and sustainable infrastructure goals.

  • Leading efforts with community partners to launch Union City’s first Green Festival in 2025, aiming to engage over 1,000 residents in sustainability workshops, green business showcases, and climate performances.

  • Co-organizing public candidate forums to elevate climate as a central election issue, ensuring residents can hear directly from local leaders about their environmental policies and commitments.

Urban Planning & Bike Advocacy

  • Reframing Fremont’s City Bike Plan to encourage safer, more accessible bike lanes.

  • Hosting urban planning webinars to educate new members in Fremont.

  • Collaborating with local organizations, such as Bike Fremont, and local officials, including Mayor Raj Salwan, to begin promotion of bike lanes!

  • Hosted urban planning webinars for 50+ members in Fremont

Plastic-Free Farmers Markets

  • Implemented a Bring your own Bag policy alongside the supervisors of Niles, Irvington, and Newark Farmers Markets to implement a full plastic bag ban.

  • Educating the community and raising awareness about microplastic pollution and sustainable alternatives.

  • Promoting the use of sustainable and biodegradable materials

Outreach and Impact

  • Accumulated 500+ sustainability service hours through community projects.

  • Awarded with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award and State Seal of Civic Engagement

  • Attended climate conferences & built connections with local board members, executives, and senators.

  • We are always recruiting! If you're in Tri-City & passionate about climate action, we’d love to have you.

 

Impact 2025

  • Zero Waste & BYOB Campaign (Tri-City Farmers Markets)

  • Launched a Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) campaign in partnership with Zero Waste Corps fellows at the 9 Agricultural Institute of Marin markets

  • Promoted sustainable alternatives to plastic bags through outreach, tabling, and community engagement strategies

  • Led ongoing weekly tabling and outreach at Newark Farmers Market

  • Facilitated a public mural project on environmental awareness in collaboration with Brushstrokes for the Bay

  • Climate Literacy Curriculum

    • Expanded the Equity & Climate Literacy: Curated Playlist for teachers, including new climate health content (air pollution, mental health, extreme heat)

    • Implemented in 28 school districts, presenting materials to educators and supporting integration into classrooms!

  • Fremont Climate Roundtable

    • Proposed a youth-centered climate town hall model to connect students with local officials

    • Planning a large-scale Intergenerational Climate Roundtable (Fall 2026) in partnership with local organizations

  • State Seal of Climate Literacy Advocacy

    • Led a student campaign supporting California’s SB 1048 (State Seal of Climate Literacy Act)

    • Submitted support letters to Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) Board members and gave public comments at the school board meeting

    • Contributed to a successful FUSD Board-approved support letter for the bill

  • Make Polluters Pay Campaign

    • Participated in statewide advocacy for the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act

    • Collected petition signatures and recruited community members for continued advocacy

    • Secured commitments from community members to speak at city council meetings and support policy efforts