Malcolm Kurtz
“I am an avid birder, gardener, naturalist and nature photographer. I feel very passionately about the environment and its inhabitants. I have a particular connection with native plants and animals of our area and am dedicated to figuring out ways to protect them. As a steward of the earth, I am concerned with how climate change is negatively altering ecosystems and people.”
Climate Change Maker Since 2019
COMMUNITY | Squirrel Hill
SCHOOL | Rising 11th grader, Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts Academy (CAPA)
HOURS OF ACTION | 12+
ACTIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS |
Founding Member: Pittsburgh Youth for Climate Action (PYCA)
Youth Planning Committee Member: 2021 Seeds of Change Conference
Malcolm is a founding member of Pittsburgh Youth for Climate Action (PYCA) and has been consistently involved since then. He also serves as a youth planning leader for the 2021 Seeds of Change Conference.
His participation in Communitopia programming has improved his public speaking skills and meeting planning and facilitation. He writes, “Even through the pandemic, Communitopia has allowed me to stay connected to other activists and given me opportunities to take action. The guest speakers have been particularly inspiring and have given me new insight into the effects of climate change.”
He’s also gained a new perspective about climate change, noting, “While I was most aware of climate issues from a naturalist’s perspective, Communitopia helped me to understand the far ranging implications of climate change on various communities within society.”
“I feel hopeful because environmental justice is a top priority for many in my generation. We recognize the interrelationship between social and climate justice and know that we can create a safer world for ourselves and the environment.”
In addition to returning to in-person climate action with Communitopia, he is one of the youngest members of the Three Rivers Birding Club and leads youth camp activities for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. He manages a website and social media presence where he features his photographs of the local flora and fauna with the goals of education and conservation. He actively participates in citizen science through apps such as eBird and iNaturalist and is currently the lead contributor on iNaturalist of nature observations for Allegheny County. He regularly receives requests from scientists requesting to utilize his data in their research.