Grace W. Boyer
“Since I was young, I have always wanted to preserve and take care of the Earth. I felt obligated to do my part as a global citizen and try to reduce my carbon footprint by both implementing convenient eco-friendly practices in my home and inspiring others to do the same. Although I am wary of the future because carbon emissions are alarmingly high, I find taking action to slow global warming comforting and empowering.”
Climate Change Maker Since 2021
COMMUNITY | Highland Park
SCHOOL | Rising 10th Grader, The Ellis School
HOURS OF ACTION | 19+
ACTIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS |
Mentee: Communitopia Climate Action Planning: Community Rain Barrel Build
Member: Pittsburgh Youth for Climate Action (PYCA)
Grace reached out to Communitopia to help get a rain barrel project underway in her neighborhood, and has since become an active participant in PYCA as well! Through her participation in Communitopia’s programming, Grace has gained and improved her skills in analytical thinking, event organizing and facilitating, and goal setting, as well as reliance and flexibility. She writes, “I have noticed that talking about the environment is not as palatable these days, despite the perpetual threats to our lifestyle. It's so hard to integrate it into my everyday conversations and shed a positive light on environmental stewardship. The first and most important thing that Communitopia did for me was making me feel heard and indulging all my ideas about sustainability and meaningful action. Lauren, my advisor, was incredibly thoughtful and pushed me to execute my project by both learning the science behind sustainable practices and setting attainable goals. Thus, my rain barrel project was accompanied by sufficient research about water rates in Pittsburgh and its impact beyond a household’s water bill.”
Grace’s message about a hopeful future is: “While innumerable obstacles can make it feel impossible to save our Earth, by uniting resilient individuals and brainstorming sustainable solutions, we can accomplish anything no matter how severe the circumstances are. We need to act now and we need to act quickly, but that doesn’t mean that building climate literacy and taking meaningful action is impossible.”
In addition to her involvement in climate action outside of her home, in the past year, she has introduced her family to vermicomposting, anaerobic composting, plant-based meals, eliminating plastic bag use, and limiting first-hand shopping.