Our Story

In 2019…

Born from the global youth movement, Fridays for Future, YCSLA erupted in 2019 when four LA teens saw our city choking on smog, burning in wildfires, and silencing frontline communities.

Fed up with empty promises, they organized walkouts, flooded City Hall, and linked arms with Indigenous, Black, and Brown organizers fighting for breathable air, clean water, and a livable future.

What we stand for

We’re here to disrupt business-as-usual (aka extraction of land and exploitation of people) by:
#1
Collective Care!
We are hosting community spaces and workshops for classmates, friends, families, and neighbors to build skills and relationships so that we can take care of one another during climate and environmental crises

#2
Challenge the System!
We target politicians and corporations fueling extraction, racism, and inequality—because climate justice is housing justice, migrant justice, and Indigenous sovereignty.

Capitalism and colonialism are killing the planet—and frontline communities (Black, Brown, Indigenous, working-class) pay the price. LA’s smog, wildfires, and water crises won’t wait. We strike to reclaim power, center solutions led by those most impacted, and force a just transition to a world where people and planet thrive together.

Who we are

We are a BIPOC and youth-led volunteer grassroots group made up of high school and college-aged youth, students and young adult across Los Angeles county. We are youth that aren’t waiting on adults to make the change we want to see.

We believe youth leadership and inter-generational organizing is key to surviving the climate crisis.

Our Timeline

2019

  • Co-founded the CA Youth vs Big Oil coalition, helping draft and adopt the Stop, Drop, Roll demands to phase out fossil fuel drilling at city, county, and state levels.

  • Mobilized 20,000+ people in mass demonstrations and disruptive actions for climate justice.

2020

  • Pivoted to mutual aid during the pandemic, distributing supplies and creating safe spaces for youth to process trauma and grief.

  • Amplified community care by linking climate justice with urgent COVID-19 relief efforts.

2021

  • Hosted a 24-hour Climate Strike post-lockdown, centering cross-cultural and multi-generational solidarity.

  • Engaged 1,000–1,500 youth through workshops, art builds, and collaborations with social justice groups.

2022

  • Launched youth voter engagement campaigns, securing record-breaking youth turnout in LA elections.

  • Organized LA’s first youth-led candidates forum, forcing climate action into the mayoral race through direct actions and media pressure (LA Times coverage).

2023

  • Partnered with immigrant/workers’ rights orgs to diversify environmental justice (EJ) spaces and center frontline leadership.

  • Won a decade-long fight: Helped push LA City Council to phase out urban oil drilling as part of the CA Youth vs Big Oil coalition and STAND-L.A.

2024

  • Sued the EPA: Three of our organizers joined the Genesis V. EPA lawsuit which calls out the federal agency for failing to value and protect the lives of children

  • Connected 27 youth to leadership development trainings

  • Co-led Free Palestine x Climate Justice protests and discussions with over 2,000 attendees

  • We started filming our own documentary!

Meet the Team

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary (they/he/she) is a queer, Latine 16-year-old high school junior based in Central LA. Founder of their school’s environmental & gardening club called Go Green. With the club, they have led their schools environmental initiatives by installing bottle-filling stations, schoolwide recycling, and maintaining a school garden for 3 years. They also attended YCSLA’s Climate Strikes for 2 years before joining YCSLA in January of 2024. They enjoy watching cartoons, listening to Conan Gray, & painting. Rosemary is passionate about grassroots organizing, especially within the climate justice movement & fight for liberation of all. They hope they can contribute to a better world through their activism and motivate others as well.

  • Sim Bilal

    Sim Bilal is a Gen-Z climate organizer from South LA, raised by a single mom. He is a Korean, Black, and Chickasaw. He serves as a Los Angeles County youth climate commissioner

  • Shekinah Deocares

    Shekinah (she/her), born and raised in the SFV, is a Filipina immigrant and workers’ rights organizer. Shekinah has organized with YCSLA since 2022. She grew up witnessing her parents and friends forced to repeateadly go up against discrimination based on immigration status and background, exploitation and mistreatment in the workforce, and systemic barred access from resources. She also saw this same community on the frontline of heat waves, toxins, and pollution while also and oftentimes climate refugees, even though they have championed sustainable practices and have not been the primary effectors of climate change. Shekinah is determined to support frontline communities in getting the resources and space to lead the EJ & CJ movement. Shekinah also loves mint chocolate chip ice cream, her cats Mango & Lee, and roller skating.

  • Ivan Serna

    Ivan Serna (He/Him) is a Latino youth leader born and raised in East Los Angeles focused onyouth empowerment and environmental justice. His activism brings awareness to urban oildrilling sites located in Los Angeles and the harm it poses to the community. His efforts fight for a livable future by permanently exiling fossil fuels. Ivan has previously organized with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Youth Council for Climate Action, STAND LA Coalition, and the Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles. He has seamlessly merged his love for the environment with his skills in photography and filmmaking. From a young age, Ivan felt a profound connection to nature, igniting a flame within him to make a positive impact on the planet. Through his lens, he aims to not only showcase the Earth’s stunning landscapes but also shed light on environmental issues that demand our attention. Ivan’s work is a powerful visual narrative for compelling viewers to reflect on theurgency of sustainable living and conservation. With a heart that beats for nature and a lens thatcaptures its essence, Ivan is poised to make a lasting impact in environmental activism and film production.

  • Muaawiyah

    Muaawiyah (16) is an organizer, activist, & plaintiff on the Genesis V EPA case. He organizers for his family & community.

  • Zubayr

    Zubayr (11) is a organizer with Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles, a plaintiff on the Genesis V. EPA case joining other children in holding the government accountable for their inaction.

  • Jesus

    YCSLA Co-Founder

  • Bii Gallardo

    Bii Gallardo (they/them) is a 22 year old Apache/Yaqui queer youth born and raised in Tongva Territory, specifically North East Los Angeles. They are currently a college student at East Los Angeles College and are passionate about building community and environmental sciences. Bii has previously organized with the International Indigenous Youth Council Los Angeles Chapter for about 4 years and is currently part of Meztli Projects' Cultural Workers Apprenticeship Cohort.

  • Zach Goldberg

    Zach (He/They) is high-schooler in Los Angeles. He has been involved in school-based environmental activism for many years, and has worked with Youth Climate Strike for two years, recently taking on the role of team coordinator. He is a drummer, songwriter, and avid tea drinker. When he is not actively awaiting the downfall of capitalism, he can be found writing nature poetry.