Youth For Change

Meet The Groundwork Youth Leading Today, Shaping Tomorrow

Young people aren’t just the leaders of the future—they’re driving real change today!

Our National Youth Leadership Initiatives equip young people with the skills and experience to become leaders now and in the future. At the core of these programs is the Green Team, a group of passionate young adults dedicated to leading environmental transformation in their neighborhoods. They grow as leaders, learn about the environment, spearhead outreach and community organizing efforts, and develop job-readiness skills—all while getting paid to explore and lead.

Our Youth For Change celebration spotlights standout Green Teamers from four different Groundwork Trusts. Get inspired by their stories, learn how the program has shaped their lives, and see how they’re planting seeds of change in their communities!

Groundwork Elizabeth

“Hello, my name is Ashly. I’ve had the privilege of serving as the Youth Program Manager for the Mayor’s Youth Council at Groundwork Elizabeth for the past year. This role has been incredibly transformative. From exploring national parks to engaging in a riverbank restoration project in our hometown of Elizabeth, I’ve had invaluable opportunities to immerse myself in various facets of environmental science. The most fulfilling aspect of my job has been guiding the Mayor’s Youth Council to new heights, providing a platform for local youth to voice their ideas and turn them into meaningful actions. I’m particularly proud of our latest endeavor: launching an anti-litter campaign for the City of Elizabeth. This initiative is close to our hearts, and we’ve dedicated considerable effort to it. We remain steadfast in our commitment and hope to make a lasting impact over time.”

“Hi! I’m Ashley! Being a member of the Groundwork Elizabeth team has been an incredible journey for me over the past two years. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to learn and grow, and I am excited to take on a leadership role with the Green Team this year!

The experiences I’ve had with the Green Team have been enriching. From the day-to-day tasks like gardening or trail maintenance to the impactful projects like building a boardwalk, or the river restoration in our local parks, I have gained a new perspective on nature and conservation. The connections I’ve made with park rangers and various trusts have been invaluable, and I am eager to continue making a positive impact in my local community and in surrounding cities. The trip to Yellowstone last summer was truly a life-changing experience for me, it opened my eyes to the beauty of nature and the importance of protecting it for future generations. Camping in a whole different state and waking up to the most beautiful scenery was breathtaking. Witnessing geysers right in front of my eyes was surreal, and experiencing the weather shift through four seasons in just one day was mind-blowing, seeing that our shared objective in Elizabeth is spread throughout the nation, especially among youth and young adults, reassures me that the upcoming generation values the environment highly. It’s heartwarming to know that there are like-minded individuals who are passionate about preserving our ecosystem. The memories I made there will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have had such a transformative experience.”

“Hi! I’m Geyleen! Groundwork has given me a different view of nature and its values. People take the earth for granted and don’t realize how much nature contributes to our day-to-day life. Since I’ve joined Groundwork, I’ve learned how to value and cherish Mother Nature.”

“Hi, I’m Bryan. I’ve been with Groundwork Elizabeth for 3 years and the experiences I’ve had are exhilarating, breathtaking, and especially amazing. We explore different kinds of national parks, like Morristown, Paterson Great Falls, and The Great Swamp. Groundwork gave me a lot of opportunities to help out with things that excited me, I would wake up every morning excited to work.

In Morristown National Park, Park Ranger Bob had us weed at first to help with gardening. Then I helped mow the lawn, which was a big step for me believe it or not because it wasn’t a part of our tasks. Working at Morristown was good as the hike we would do to our work site helped cut the invasives. At Paterson Great Falls we were working with heavy tools–I loved working with the power tools, the rock bar, and the pick axe. We were working with rocks to understand rock work for balancing, restoring, and supporting the stairs, and using the pick axe to break the rocks for smaller spaces. We also restored a bridge at Paterson which we needed patience and strength for because it took a while to roll the fence up and back when the bridge was ready, cut the wood, and carry it back and forth. Last but not least, Groundwork gave me the best friends I can count on and trust, yes we come and go but we always come back every summer we are working together. And I thank Groundwork for the best work family I can ask for.”

Groundwork DENVER

“Hi, my name is Isabella. I am on the Green Team at Groundwork Denver and I work to make my community better by doing trash pick-ups and helping grow crops that go to local schools in the Sheridan community. What I love most about being part of the Green Team is all the amazing opportunities that have opened up for me and all the good work we do for others. This program means a lot to me because it helps me get outside my comfort zone and to try new things and take new chances.”

“Hi my name is Daquan. I am a Groundwork Denver Green Team Supervisor. I’ve loved my time with Groundwork from being a youth experiencing different things to a supervisor offering those experiences to others. I hope we continue to create opportunities for young people to become leaders in their communities.”

“Hi! My name is Jovani; pronouns are he/him and his. I’m on the Sheridan Blue Team at Groundwork Denver as a Supervisor. I work to make my community better by having youth engage in outdoor work in their communities. Such tasks include cleaning up trash, gardening, doing trail cleanups, helping in community events, learning about social justice, and discovering how to be young leaders in today’s green jobs.

What I love most about being part of the Groundwork Denver team is that I started working when I was 13 yo, and since then, it has provided me with the skills I need today to advocate for myself. It has shown me that what I care about matters and has provided me with leadership skills that I’m continuing to grow. All the amazing partners such as Generation Wild and the water program also support the work we do by helping to engage the youth and teach them Groundwork Denver’s mission and message. I get to work alongside others who care about the same climate problems or just want to try to make their community a better place. Trying to make a positive change in my community means a lot to me because it’s a positive outlook in our communities; to have them look nice and clean and feel safe and secure to hang out outside. I feel like all the work we do is important and provides great skills for the younger generation interested in land work, climate, or just this type of work.”

“Hi! My name is Greg. I’m on the Green Team at Groundwork Denver and I work to make my community better by giving youth an opportunity to help their neighborhood change for the better. What I love most about being part of the Green Team is the knowledge as well as the skills I was taught to make a positive impact within my own community. This program means a lot to me because I can physically see and feel the change in my community and other communities just like mine.”

Groundwork SOMERVILLE

“Hi! My name is DJ. I’m on the Green Team: Biking Division at Groundwork Somerville and I work to make my community better by learning how to fix bikes that have been donated to us and helping the people in my community fix their bikes. What I love most about being part of the Green Team is being able to make new friends while also learning a very valuable skill. This program means a lot to me because I loved the seven months I got to meet new people, learn a new skill, and help the community.”

“Hi! My name is Isabela (Isa). I’m on the Green Team at Groundwork Somerville and I work to make my community better by working on an urban farm that uses sustainable practices and produces accessible and diverse produce, civic engagement, learning about and spreading knowledge of equity and sustainability, giving input on government-led changes, and more. What I love most about being part of the Green Team is seeing the brightness and improvement that I’m a part of in an aspect of life (the environment and human rights) that has many negatives. This program means a lot to me because as my first real job, the Green Team has presented a new challenge of balance. Knowing when to prioritize social life, work life, school life, family, sports, etc. can be difficult. Still, every week I get to join a community of amazing people and do work I love and I can put stress aside and learn to prioritize.”

Groundwork OHIO RIVER VALLEY

“Hi! My name is Althaea! I’m on the Green Team at Groundwork Ohio River Valley, and I’m dedicated to making my community better by sharing my passion for the environment. What I love most about being part of the Green Team is creating real change in neighborhoods that might not see improvements otherwise. This program means so much to me because it has deepened my connection to the environment and outdoors, and I love it so much that I want to make it my career.”

“Hi! My name is Daisie. I’m on the Green Team at Groundwork ORV and I work to make my community better by cutting down invasive species so that the native ones have more room to grow. I also help with the media side of our work, getting out content to help show off what we do at Groundwork. What I love most about being part of the Green Team is that I get to help my environment and leave a lasting impression on the environment. This program means a lot to me because I have learned so much about the environment that I never would have before. I’m also grateful to be able to help with the media, I love working with cameras, editing, and doing podcasts so I knew this would be a perfect job for me.”

“Hi! My name is Ronreco. I’m on the Green Team at the Zoo Team and I work to make my community better by making it look beautiful with the different plants we plant throughout Avondale. What I love most about being part of the Green Team is we go to the Bowyer Farm out in Mason and help with their work such as cutting Willow and sorting the massive amount of Willow and bundling it. This program means a lot to me because it doesn’t feel like a job I enjoy doing what I do, it’s more of a learning experience. This job also helped me with my communication and socialization skills.”

“Hi! My name is Sophie. I’m on the Green Team at Groundwork Ohio River Valley and I work to make my community better by lending a helping hand — and green thumb — wherever I can so that I may lighten the burdens of my neighbors. What I love most about being part of the Green Team is being able to discover the cross-section of social justice and environmentalism in the strength of Cincinnati’s environmentalist community. This program means a lot to me because it has, in the face of chaos, given me an indelible hope for the future.”

“How are yall doing! My name is Valentino. I’m on the Green Team at Groundwork ORV. I work to make my community better by making sure what needs to be done is done–if an area is lacking vegetation we plant flowers, if it’s dirty we clean it, staying in tune with the neighbors to know what is going on, and if there are problems we look for solutions. What I love most about being part of the Green Team with Groundwork ORV is the versatility to learn and do different things throughout the work week, one day we could be planting trees, and the next we could be riding bikes to learn about air quality. this job means so much to me because even though the things we do might seem small they make big changes helping the earth and making it a better place for the future.”