21. Seeds of Change: Empowering the Next Wave of Climate Leaders

21. Seeds of Change: Empowering the Next Wave of Climate Leaders

Author: Jenn Galler November 7, 2025 Duration: 17:15

Today, we’re joined by Mona Shomali, Director of the New Leaders Initiative at the Earth Island Institute,  the organization behind the annual Brower Youth Awards, which recognize some of the most inspiring young environmental leaders in North America.

Earth Island Institute is a hub for grassroots environmental projects around the world, and the New Leaders Initiative focuses specifically on elevating youth leadership in the fight for climate justice.

In this episode, Mona walks us through the legacy of Earth Island founder David Brower, why young people between 13 and 22 are at the forefront of transformational change, and how the environmental movement has evolved and must continue to evolve to support their leadership.

We also talk about the behind-the-scenes support systems that sustain these youth leaders year-round, how the Brower Youth Awards have changed since their founding in 2000, and how Mona’s own journey including her work in the Amazon has informed her work in climate storytelling.


New Leaders Initiative https://www.broweryouthawards.org/about/ 

Water Mamas book: https://www.amazon.com/Water-Mamas-Climate-Spirituality-Indigenous/dp/B0FR3LRTFV



Hosted by Jenn Galler, In Our Backyard Podcast is the voice of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, bringing urgent local stories to the forefront. This isn't about abstract global debates; it's a grounded conversation focused on the very real industrial pressures facing specific towns and neighborhoods. Each episode examines a particular threat, from active coal plants and fracking operations to the routing of new pipelines, unpacking the complex realities behind the headlines. You'll hear directly from the residents and organizers who are living these fights, sharing their personal struggles and strategies for safeguarding both community health and the local environment. The discussions are detailed and thoughtful, prioritizing the experiences of those on the ground. Tuning into this podcast means connecting with the persistent, often overlooked work of environmental justice, understanding that the most critical battles for planetary protection frequently begin just outside our own doors.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

In Our Backyard Podcast
Podcast Episodes
1. Gaslighting: Opposition to New Natural Gas Projects in NC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:18
Lisa Sorg is the North Carolina reporter for InsideClimate News. A journalist for 30 years, Sorg covers energy, climate, environment and agriculture, as well as the social justice impacts of pollution and corporate malfe…
70. United Nations Work on Climate Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:45
Younju Lee is from South Korea and based in Paris, France. She is a Masters student for Environmental Policy as well as an intern with the Stakeholder Engagement team at United Nations Climate Change. The United Nations…
69. Environmental and Natural Resource Security [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:30
Dr. Elizabeth Hessami is a professor at Johns Hopkins University and a licensed attorney. She has served as a visiting attorney for the Environmental Law Institute for nearly a decade, researching post-conflict natural r…
68. The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:00
Court Lewis is the BREDL chapter President of Unicoi Clear in Unicoi County, TN and currently living in Upstate, South Carolina. In late September of this year, category 4 Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction a…
66. Championing the Southeast and Seeing its Full Potential [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:03
Abigail Franks who is the Membership and Policy Manager and Alexander Easdale who is the Executive Director at Southeast Climate and Energy Network. The Southeast Climate and Energy Network has a mission to confront the…
64. Food Policy for Better Food Systems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:36
Erica Hall is Executive Director and Board Chair at Florida Food Policy Council. Executive Committee Member of the Sierra Club, Florida Chapter. As well as a National Board of Director Member of the National Sierra Club.…