~ The City of Mesa has announced the first round of winners for the Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund (MYCAF), a program designed to empower young people to create and implement solutions for climate change. The fund is open to groups of three or more youth, ages 15 to 24, who reside or attend school in Mesa, or whose initiatives directly benefit the community.

At a special Earth Day Celebration, all applicants were recognized and had the opportunity to network with each other and discuss their projects with experts from the City of Mesa and the community. Mayor Mark Freeman expressed his excitement for these young leaders and their dedication to addressing climate issues.

Among the projects submitted for consideration were Brewing a Sustainable Future at Jarrods Coffee, Tea & Gallery Circular Earth, Buddy Benches SWAT Team at Mountain View High School, Heartwood Montessori School Garden, Monarch Waystation Scouts BSA Troop 3030, Ready Set Grow Sustainable Food & Waste Reduction Initiative at Benedictine University-RSG Gardening Club, Rewear Revolution Girl Up at Red Mountain High School, Self-Growth Through At-Home Gardening by Por La Tierra - Por La Cultura, Sonoran Olla Oasis (for SPV Lab) by Sonoran Photovoltaic Lab at Mountain View High School, The Southwest Waystation Network's Sittable Cities Initiative by Arizona Sustainability Alliance, Water Recycling and Materials Management for Mesa Dining Room and Community Garden by Circular Earth, and Zero-Waste Workshop for Mesa Businesses by GreenLight Solutions.

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One of the Round 1 recipients of MYCAF was Red Mountain High School's Girl Up Club led by project lead Josie Smeets. With their previous grant money, they were able to plant 40 trees around Mesa. English teacher and project advisor Rachel Cupryk shared that Josie and her club members are excited to be back for Round 2 with a clothing swap event. Cupryk also highlighted the valuable communication skills the students gain through their interactions with classmates and community members, as well as the satisfaction of seeing their ideas come to life and benefit the community.

While some grants have already been awarded, there is still additional funding available. Groups are encouraged to apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 before the final deadline on May 23. The funding will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. This round of funding was made possible by a generous donation of $100,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The City of Mesa is proud to support and invest in the next generation of leaders who are passionate about creating a more sustainable future for their community. With MYCAF, these young people have the opportunity to turn their ideas into action and make a positive impact on the environment.

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