Los Angeles Zoo’s Teen Council for Conservation held its annual youth conservation symposium recently with the theme “Raising our voices: Amplifying teen voices for a just and sustainable Los Angeles.”
The zoo’s nine-month program focuses on empowering young Angelenos in leadership, in building skills involving conservation, and community-building. The zoo said in a statement that the intent is to inspire “these teens to enact change in themselves, at the Zoo, and in their communities.”
The high school students hailed from L.A. City Council District 14 encompassing Boyle Heights and parts of Northeast L.A. and Downtown, and from L.A. City Council District 15 including South L. A, Harbor Gateway, Wilmington and San Pedro.
The teens collaborated for months on biodiversity and environmental topics. Zoo Director Denise Verret praised them, saying, “I am deeply impressed with the courage, leadership, and tenacity these young leaders have displayed over these last nine months.”
Students heard from leaders including Jacqueline Hamilton, Los Angeles deputy mayor of neighborhood services; Jill Sohm, USC director of environmental sciences; Kevin Patel, youth climate activist; Misha Body, L.A. Zoo deputy director of animal programs; Maya Penn, youth climate activist; Julio Soria, Nature for All; Sim Bilal, Youth Climate Strike LA and others.