West Palm Beach celebrates young changemakers with announcement of Youth Climate Action Fund project winners

West Palm Beach, Florida – On the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, the City of West Palm Beach is turning the spotlight toward the next generation of environmental changemakers. The city has officially announced the winners of its Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF), a new initiative designed to empower local youth to lead the fight against climate change through creative and community-driven projects.

This groundbreaking program is backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies and was launched with the goal of putting real resources into the hands of youth between the ages of 15 and 24. The selected projects, all based in West Palm Beach, were awarded microgrants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, allowing the young innovators to bring their climate action ideas to life. The effort is part of a larger collaboration between the City of West Palm Beach, The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin County, and Philanthropy Tank.

This year’s Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” couldn’t be more fitting. Each of the winning projects aligns closely with the city’s Sustainability Action Plan, which lays out West Palm Beach’s climate goals and strategies for building a greener, more resilient community. These youth-led ideas are not just concepts—they are action-based, measurable, and full of promise.

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Mayor Keith A. James expressed his pride in the city’s youth, stating, “The creativity and leadership coming out of our youth is inspiring. By working across sectors and taking the initiative, West Palm Beach students are taking their future into their own hands. I look forward to seeing these projects come to life.”

Among the standouts is Circuit Cycle, a student-led organization tackling the growing problem of electronic waste. The group has already collected over 217 pounds of e-waste and rallied more than 700 supporters through a petition. With support from the YCAF, Circuit Cycle plans to expand its impact by partnering with local businesses to promote e-waste recycling and increase awareness throughout the community.

Another winner, Surface 71, is a nonprofit run entirely by students with a focus on reducing plastic pollution. While the group is known for organizing beach and neighborhood cleanups, its new project takes a fresh approach by engaging with summer camps and back-to-school events. Through these targeted programs, Surface 71 aims to educate younger students about the importance of reducing single-use plastics and keeping both land and ocean environments clean.

Also receiving funding is Kids for Climate Change, which has created a unique and kid-friendly educational tool—the Color the World Green Coloring Book Project. This initiative targets children ages 5 to 10, using vibrant illustrations to teach them about major environmental issues like sea level rise, waste management, and extreme heat, all themes directly pulled from the city’s climate plan. Each page also includes practical solutions, turning a simple coloring book into a hands-on environmental learning experience.

These are just a few examples of how West Palm Beach’s youth are channeling their creativity and concern for the planet into tangible action. More importantly, the projects are rooted in education, awareness, and community collaboration—three pillars that are crucial for long-term climate progress.

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Through the YCAF, West Palm Beach isn’t just investing in environmental projects. It’s investing in young people as leaders, providing them with the tools and the trust they need to innovate and take charge of their future. The city hopes this program will spark even greater involvement from local youth and set an example for other municipalities looking to empower their next generation of climate leaders.

To learn more about the Youth Climate Action Fund or to follow the progress of the winning projects, residents are encouraged to visit www.wpb.org/green.

With Earth Day serving as a backdrop, the announcement of these projects offers a refreshing reminder: climate action doesn’t have to start in city hall or the boardroom—it can begin in a classroom, a sketchbook, or even at a neighborhood recycling bin. In West Palm Beach, the youth are proving that the future of the planet is already in good hands.