Rising Tides 2026
Rising Tides 2026
What is Rising Tides?
The Rising Tides: Summer Youth Leadership Academy is an in-person, six-week leadership program designed for high school and college students ready to confront the climate crisis and immigrant injustice while building power for their local community. Participants will learn essential skills in grassroots organizing, campaign strategy, and storytelling, while connecting with peers and mentors fighting for solidarity and social justice. Through workshops, hands-on activities, and a group project, participants will gain and use tools to combat systemic inequities and strengthen neighborhood resilience. Grow as a leader, take action, and rise with a community rooted in solidarity.
Rising Tides is a Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California and Youth Climate Strike LA program.
PROGRAM GOALS
By the end of the program, students will:
Gain hard skills to protect their community during climate and immigration emergencies.
Connect climate justice with immigrant rights and other community issues.
Build connections with peers, neighbors, and social justice movement leaders.
Grow leadership and organizing experience to build power for lasting change.
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
Through Rising Tides, participants gain a deeper understanding of the climate and environmental issues facing immigrant and working-class communities, explore pathways to making change, and connect to LA's social justice movement network.
These goals are achieved through four major components of the program:
ORGANIZING WORKSHOPS
Through interactive discussions, activities, and lessons led by youth organizers and movement elders we will explore topics like climate and immigration justice (and injustices), youth movement histories, and more.
CONNECTING TO COMMUNITY
Our community is our strength, our shield, and our power. A core element of our program is building community both within the summer program our schools, neighborhoods, & across Los Angeles. We’ll invite guest speakers, other community organizations, and community leaders.
HANDS-ON SKILLS
Participants will learn practical skills to protect and prepare their neighborhoods, during climate and immigration crises.
CAMPAIGN COHORT PROJECTS
Each cohort will learn campaign basics and develop a short, creative campaign of their own that builds power in their community.
Rising Tides Summer Program overview
Eligibility Criteria: Who should apply?
The Rising Tides Academy is a beginner-friendly, accessible program. No prior background in social justice or organizing experience needed. We’re looking for passionate individuals who care deeply about climate, immigration, and /or social justice!
This program is open to participants of all backgrounds. We encourage those of any of the following backgrounds to apply:
Immigrant, Black, Indigenous, and/or other People of Color (BIPOC)
Low-income or working class
Disabled
Queer and/or trans
Additionally, you must meet the following criteria:
Grade level: You will be a freshman, sophomore, or junior during the 2026–2027 school year.
School enrollment: You attend one of the following schools:
Van Nuys High School
Panorama High School
West Los Angeles College
UCLA
Santa Monica Community College
Attendance: You are able to attend all program activities, both in-person and remote outlined below.
Summer Program Schedule
The Rising Tides Academy will be held from June 22 – August 1, 2026, at the following locations:
Orientation (All participants)
June 23–24 (10am–4pm) – Pilipino Workers Center, San Fernando Valley Office
June 25–26 (10am–4pm) – West LA College
Weekly schedule
High school participants:
Tuesdays (10am–4pm) – Workshops @ Pilipino Workers Center, SFV Office
Wednesdays (2–4pm) – Campaign Prep @ Zoom
Thursdays – Campaign Action Days @ location & time decided by cohort
Fridays – Ecosystem Days (networking: 1:1s with guest speakers, community leaders, etc.) @ location & time decided by you
College participants:
Mondays (10am–4pm) – Workshops @ Pilipino Workers Center, SFV Office
Wednesdays (2–4pm) – Campaign Prep @ Zoom
Thursdays – Campaign Action Days @ location & time decided by cohort
Fridays – Ecosystem Days (networking: 1:1s with guest speakers, community leaders, etc.) @ location & time decided by you
Graduation (All participants)
Saturday, August 1 - Time and location TBD
Is this program free?
Yes! In fact, 2026 Rising Tides Academy participants will receive a stipend of $1,200 to reduce financial barriers and support full participation.
How to Apply
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The priority deadline is May 2nd, 2026. The final deadline is May 16th, 2026. Qualified applicants will be invited to interview. Early submission is encouraged as spots are limited.
2026 Rising Tides applications are due on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Rising Tides goes beyond the summer academy. In 2025, Rising Tides students started on-campus clubs to keep fighting for climate justice and immigrants' rights throughout the school year; with support from Youth Climate Strike LA (YCSLA) and the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC).
We currently have active clubs at:
Van Nuys High School
UCLA
West LA College
We're looking to start clubs at Panorama High School, Santa Monica College, and other campuses.
If you are interested in applying for Rising Tides 2026? Reach out with any questions, even if your school isn't listed. We want to work with you.
“I learned the importance of building connections and understanding the people around you because that’s what can help build out a better future.”
– Joselyn Hernandez Ochoa,
Rising Tides Student Cohort ‘25
Rising Tides is a program created by Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) & Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles (YCSLA).
Youth Climate Strike LA (YCSLA) is a BIPOC and youth-led grassroots organization. We build youth power through organizing, direct action, and community-owned climate infrastructure. Our mission centers climate justice on Indigenous sovereignty, migrant rights, and collective care. We are creating a world where front-line communities lead, thrive, and transform old systems into new, regenerative ones.
Founded in 1997, the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) organizes Filipino immigrant and working-class families in Southern California to achieve labor justice, build community power, and create resilient "Neighborhood Caring Communities" through grassroots leadership and mutual aid. Rooted in inter-generational organizing, PWC fights for worker rights, climate resilience, and immigrant dignity while centering Filipino cultural pride and radical care.
