Jackie DiGiacomo
“So much of the work and activism that takes place to fight climate change requires a positive attitude and knowing that your actions, no matter how big or small, truly make a difference. While climate activism is very hard, and we cannot see the impact of our actions right away, it is important to continue it because doing something is always better than doing nothing. I am hopeful that as a human race, we will be able to come together to combat the climate crisis to protect our future on this planet, just as we have come together for a common cause so many times before.”
Climate Change Maker Since 2020
COMMUNITY | Franklin Park
SCHOOL | Rising 12th grader, North Allegheny Senior High School
HOURS OF ACTION | 50+
ACTIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS |
Member: 2020 Get Out The Vote Leadership Team
Co-Founder: Sustainability in our Schools
Mentee: Communitopia Climate Action Small-Group Planning
Presenter: 2021 Seeds of Change Conference
Grant Recipient: 2021 Seeds of Change Conference
Member: Pittsburgh Youth for Climate Action (PYCA)
Jackie has been participating in Communitopia’s Programming for less than a year, but has accomplished so much in that amount of time! Prior to teaming up with Communitopia, she founded the non-profit, Sustainability in our Schools (SIOS), with the mission of empowering the next generation to make the right choices about the environment and follow a sustainable lifestyle by focusing on elementary & middle schools students and helping them gain awareness about sustainability.
She is one of our most involved youth participants. Through Communitopia, she has learned about a variety of different topics over the last year, such as voter registration, the Green New Deal, environmental racism, and what to look for in a college (relating to environmental and sustainability opportunities) and heard from many different guest speakers and community leaders. She writes, “Communitopia has allowed me to meet an inspiring group of people to work with, who have the same passions and concerns about the future as me and provided me many opportunities to become more educated on the issue of climate change and improve on many skills, such as public speaking and organization. These have allowed me to become a more well-rounded and effective Change Maker.”
Jackie is also one of Western Pennsylvania’s best performers in Track and Field, receiving a WPIAL Individual Championship Medal for 7th place in the Discus Throw in May of 2021.