thank you for ATTENDing THE 9TH ANNUAL ZERO WASTE YOUTH USA CONVERGENCE!
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10TH ANNUAL CONVERGENCE PROGRAM
Opening Remarks & Keynote- Main Hall (Track 1)
10 - 10:50 AM PST
Sage Lenier
Founder, Sustainable & Just Future
10 - 10:50 AM PST
Sage Lenier
Founder, Sustainable & Just Future
Sage Lenier is a 24-year-old activist and educator. As an undergraduate at Berkeley, she wrote and taught her own program, Solutions for a Sustainable & Just Future. After breaking the record for largest student-led course, Sage founded Sustainable & Just Future to bring her vision to a global audience. Sage’s work covers the circular economy, decarbonization, degrowth, community power, food systems, sustainable development, environmental justice, and more, specifically seeking to offer a vision for what a better future could look like. Website: https://www.sustainableandjustfuture.org/ Instagram: @sagelenier @sustainableandjustfuture |
Morning Sessions
10:55 - 11:40 AM
10:55 - 11:40 AM
Main Hall (Track 1)
Connecting Global Youth Leaders

Sofia Máximo Director,
Zero Waste Youth Portugal
Soul of a carpenter, Sofia Máximo currently lives in Torres Vedras and from an early age she has environmental concerns and a lot of dedication to social projects. Training Tourism and Heritage, it is in the knowledge about healthy and conscious eating that she fell in love, as well as the wonderful spontaneous herbs. Training in permaculture has given more meaning to her way of seeing the world and spreads these teachings in schools and “out of class”. Member of Zero Waste Youth Portugal, she develops several actions in the field of sustainability. Volunteer in the most diverse areas, her mission is to pass on these values to her children, André and Eva.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/zerowasteyouthportugal/
Zero Waste Youth Portugal
Soul of a carpenter, Sofia Máximo currently lives in Torres Vedras and from an early age she has environmental concerns and a lot of dedication to social projects. Training Tourism and Heritage, it is in the knowledge about healthy and conscious eating that she fell in love, as well as the wonderful spontaneous herbs. Training in permaculture has given more meaning to her way of seeing the world and spreads these teachings in schools and “out of class”. Member of Zero Waste Youth Portugal, she develops several actions in the field of sustainability. Volunteer in the most diverse areas, her mission is to pass on these values to her children, André and Eva.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/zerowasteyouthportugal/
Reilly Hollern
Club President, (W) World (P) Perspective (S) Solutions Reilly is a student at Windermere Prep School and the President of the World Perspective Solutions (WPS) Club based in central Florida. WPS is a student-driven initiative that focuses on the bioremediation of harmful algal blooms as they are a local issue in Florida. This program is based on furthering student-led research, bringing awareness, and encouraging action. For instance, right now, WPS is based heavily on biodiversity, and the goal is to have students bring what they are learning in school right now to the project while being supported to go into depth with it. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wps_project2020/ |

Robin Chapagain (Nepal)
Educator & Activist
Robin chapagain is living in Nepal and is continuing his education in environmental science. Robin was born on 24th of September year 1994. His parents are Indra raj Chapagain and Uttamkala Chapagain. Robin is passionate about service to youth in his community.
Educator & Activist
Robin chapagain is living in Nepal and is continuing his education in environmental science. Robin was born on 24th of September year 1994. His parents are Indra raj Chapagain and Uttamkala Chapagain. Robin is passionate about service to youth in his community.

Sabrina Sabatini
Founder & Director of Zero Waste Youth
Since 2017, she has been director of Zero Waste Youth, an organization with the objective of training and engaging young people in the cause of zero waste. Graduated in Design from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), she uses her training as a powerful tool for change, making the communication and dissemination of the climate emergency increasingly effective and assertive. She also works with innovation and entrepreneurship as Brand Manager at Semente Negócios in Brazil.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juventudelixozero/?hl=en
Founder & Director of Zero Waste Youth
Since 2017, she has been director of Zero Waste Youth, an organization with the objective of training and engaging young people in the cause of zero waste. Graduated in Design from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), she uses her training as a powerful tool for change, making the communication and dissemination of the climate emergency increasingly effective and assertive. She also works with innovation and entrepreneurship as Brand Manager at Semente Negócios in Brazil.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juventudelixozero/?hl=en
Track 2
Upstream Solutions for Downstream Pollution
Mary Laska
RecycleSmart Student Intern (her/she) Mary is a senior at Acalanes High School. She is interested in environmental advocacy and public policy reform. Currently, she is interning at RecycleSmart and works to support electronic waste programs. Mary is a vegetarian, and an avid animal lover. On top of environmental advocacy, she is passionate about math and is a math tutor and co-president of her school's math club. Mary is hoping to study Environmental Science or Math in college. |
Peter Mui
Founder, Fixit Clinic Peter Mui founded FixitClinic.org in California with it's purpose to host community repair events. Fixit Clinic conveys basic disassembly, troubleshooting, and repair skills using peoples' own broken things as the vehicle. By sharing these skills while transferring them to others we teach critical thinking through the lens of our relationship to consumption and sustainability. We strive to demystify science and technology so that we can ultimately make better policy choices as a society. Website: https://fixitclinic.blogspot.com/ |

Romina Silva
Founder, FoodWare: Tech-Driven Reusables System
Romina is an undergraduate at UC Berkeley majoring in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Business & Management. She is interested in Sustainability, Developing eco-friendly alternatives and solutions and UX/UI and website design are my personal hobbies. Currently a founder FoodWare which is participating at the UC Berkeley campus.
Founder, FoodWare: Tech-Driven Reusables System
Romina is an undergraduate at UC Berkeley majoring in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Business & Management. She is interested in Sustainability, Developing eco-friendly alternatives and solutions and UX/UI and website design are my personal hobbies. Currently a founder FoodWare which is participating at the UC Berkeley campus.
Lunch Break - Main Hall/Track 1
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM (PST)
Networking Breakout Rooms with World Perspective Solutions Club & ZWY USA
Afternoon Sessions 1 - Main Hall/Track 1
12:35 PM - 1:30 PM (PST)
12:35 PM - 1:30 PM (PST)
Main Hall
Sowing a Zero Waste Campus
Ella Copiatti Senor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Ella is a Senior majoring in Environmental Studies with a focus on Policy, Planning and Law at SUNY-ESF. She is passionate about sustainability initiatives and is actively working to making her campus community more connected. She believes that minimizing your footprint can go a long way and is always looking for new opportunities to make a difference. She has earned a Sustainability and Strategy certification and is presently working towards becoming a LEED Green Associate. Ella intends on pursuing a Masters degree in Urban Planning in the Fall, where she'll learn more about the planning and design aspect of sustainability in our cities. |
Ashpreet Kaur
Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida in the school of natural resources and environment. Researching in the field of Zero Waste in Higher Education Institutions. From India originally, did master's in environmental science. After graduation Ashpreet will pursue a position in the resource management and recovery space such as zero waste manager, sustainability manager or even research. Ashpreet will present her findings of her dissertation which is focused on factors leading to successful ZW programs in college campuses. |
Rebecca Morris, Ethan Lo, Shannon Lunny
University of South Carolina, Compost Club The University of South Carolina Compost Club is a group of environmental majors at @uofsc working with a local composting facility to implement student compost bins in dining halls across campus. Already, the university has taken steps toward composting on the kitchen side, but the goal is to start composting on the student side as well. Club Compost USC believes that making sustainable choices, like keeping food waste out of the landfill, are important. They desire to educate others on this issue and start with our own campus. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clubcompost_usc/ |
Afternoon Session 1 - Track 2
Evolving Intro an Equitable Future
Dennis Uyat
Zero Waste Youth USA Alumni, Environmental Educator and Consultant Dennis will talk about how environmental racism is not the same thing as environmental justice. His presentation will describe how race, and not class, continues to impact disparities in environmental health and environmental burdens. |
Brittany Noelle
Sustainable Materials Innovation Specialist, Travis Mathew Apparel Brittany is a Zero Waste Youth USA Alumni and is passionate about Zero Waste. She works in the fashion industry as a Sustainable Materials Innovation Specialist with Travis Mathew Apparel. Former positions include The North Face and Patagonia. Her mission is to push the needle towards a sustainable and zero waste fashion industry. Among the many layers of her role she looks at where the textiles are sourced and the quality of the materials. Brittany will share with us her journey in this space and the challenges with greenwashing. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bnoelle/ |

Acta Non Verba Youth & Simba Jackson Program Manager, No Limit Leadership Youth Development Program
Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project (ANV) is based in Oakland California. Simba Jackson heads the program, No Limit Leadership Youth Development Program. This program prepares middle and high school students for jobs at camp and future careers working with kids.
In the Fall 2020, the youth created a Zero Waste Policy for Acta Non Verba, and now to be initiated this Spring of 2023, they are implementing their plan within the organization. Simba and the crew will present their policy at the convergence.
Website: https://anvfarm.org/
Afternoon Sessions 2 - Main Hall/Track 1
1:35 PM - 2:00 PM (PST)
Main Room
Slaying a Career in Zero Waste (ZWY USA Alumni Career Panel)
This panel is composed of former Zero Waste Youth USA alumni who were all instrumental in the creation, and expansion of the ZWYUSA organization. Today, they are zero waste industry professionals. These talented and dedicated folks consist of non-profit founders, company owners, and government agency officials. They will talk about how they paved a way into the environmental sector to address some of our biggest issues from engaging voters to implementing waste prevention programs. Find out where and how you fit into the zero waste and climate action space.

Nicole Kozlowski
Founder, Wisdom Supply Co. Plastic-free, Zero Waste School & Office Supplies.
Dedicated environmentalist and ocean advocate with a strong commitment to protecting the ocean and wilderness by confronting disposable culture; intentionally disrupting what I call the "Shelf-to-Shore Pipeline".
The mission at Wisdom Supply Co. is to educate the generations set to inherit the planet about the global plastic pollution crisis through student-led programs that implement realistic waste-free alternatives and promote repair + reuse over disposability.
Website: https://www.wisdomsupplyco.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-kozlowski-737195155/
Founder, Wisdom Supply Co. Plastic-free, Zero Waste School & Office Supplies.
Dedicated environmentalist and ocean advocate with a strong commitment to protecting the ocean and wilderness by confronting disposable culture; intentionally disrupting what I call the "Shelf-to-Shore Pipeline".
The mission at Wisdom Supply Co. is to educate the generations set to inherit the planet about the global plastic pollution crisis through student-led programs that implement realistic waste-free alternatives and promote repair + reuse over disposability.
Website: https://www.wisdomsupplyco.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-kozlowski-737195155/
Jency James
Sustainability Project Manager, County of Alameda Office of Sustainability Jency James has been involved in the world of waste for the past 7 years. She started her career as a Recycling Coordinator for Republic Services where she worked with businesses and apartment/condominium complexes in central Contra Costa County to implement recycling and composting programs and collaborated with volunteers and city staff to organize city-wide zero waste events. Jency now serves in Alameda County's General Services Agency as a Sustainability Project Manager where she manages the County's waste and recycling program. She is excited to implement waste reduction and reuse into the program as part of the shift to the circular economy and seeks to help County employees rethink waste. In her free time, Jency enjoys going on long hikes, reading intense thrillers, and giving her dog belly rubs. |

Sophia Chan, PhD
California Council on Science and Technology Policy Fellow
I am passionate about fighting climate change by engineering solutions in energy technologies and science-based policymaking.
Sophia Chan, PhD is a California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) Science Policy Fellow. She works as an analyst for the Legislative Office at CalEPA’s Department of Toxic Substances Control, where she uses her research and communication skills to inform legislation on hazardous waste management and pollution prevention for the Governor’s Office. Sophia became interested in science policy during the middle of her PhD when the California wildfires endangered her family, and she wanted to make a more immediate impact. She has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University studying carbon capture membrane materials, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley. She also interned multiple times at Tesla where she worked on battery technology and supply chain.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiaychan/
California Council on Science and Technology Policy Fellow
I am passionate about fighting climate change by engineering solutions in energy technologies and science-based policymaking.
Sophia Chan, PhD is a California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) Science Policy Fellow. She works as an analyst for the Legislative Office at CalEPA’s Department of Toxic Substances Control, where she uses her research and communication skills to inform legislation on hazardous waste management and pollution prevention for the Governor’s Office. Sophia became interested in science policy during the middle of her PhD when the California wildfires endangered her family, and she wanted to make a more immediate impact. She has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University studying carbon capture membrane materials, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley. She also interned multiple times at Tesla where she worked on battery technology and supply chain.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiaychan/
Afternoon Sessions 2 - Track 2
1:35 PM - 2:00 PM (PST)
Track 2
1:35 PM - 2:00 PM (PST)
Track 2
Engaging the Next Generation

Fredrika and Liam Syren
Book author of “A practical Guide to zero waste for families”
Fredrika and Liam Syren will share how they communicate as a family on navigating zero waste and actionable steps on how to combat eco-anxiety as a family.
Fredrika Syren is an environmental activist, writer and book author of “A practical Guide to zero waste for families”. In 2011, she founded the website Zerowastefamily.com where she shares her family’s journey of living zero waste. Originally from Sweden, she lives in San Diego, California with her husband James and their children Isabella, Noah, and Liam. Fredrika and her family are featured in the documentary Zero Time to Waste. Fredrika has also been featured on many Tv networks like , CNN, FOX, CBS, NBC, Nickelodeon, ABC, The Dr. Oz show and in Ava DuVernay’s TV series “Home Sweet Home” on NBC.
Book author of “A practical Guide to zero waste for families”
Fredrika and Liam Syren will share how they communicate as a family on navigating zero waste and actionable steps on how to combat eco-anxiety as a family.
Fredrika Syren is an environmental activist, writer and book author of “A practical Guide to zero waste for families”. In 2011, she founded the website Zerowastefamily.com where she shares her family’s journey of living zero waste. Originally from Sweden, she lives in San Diego, California with her husband James and their children Isabella, Noah, and Liam. Fredrika and her family are featured in the documentary Zero Time to Waste. Fredrika has also been featured on many Tv networks like , CNN, FOX, CBS, NBC, Nickelodeon, ABC, The Dr. Oz show and in Ava DuVernay’s TV series “Home Sweet Home” on NBC.
Kayla Ling
Student & Founder of No Waste Nation Kayla recently started a project called No Waste Nation where she uses social media to highlight local, creative waste reducers in my community. As a videographer and photographer, she loves that this project allows her to use media to combat the culture of consumerism, rather than fuel it. Through this project, Kayla has had the opportunity to meet lots of local environmentalists—big and small—learned a lot from them, and gained valuable knowledge. Kayla will share this with other youth at the Convergence! She has currently reached 148 individual accounts in the past 30 days, and I'm excited to keep growing this project! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/no.waste.nation/ |
Lily de la Espriella – You(th) Be the Change Associate
Lily manages the youth focused education programming which includes You(th) Be the Change and Acterra's Student Ambassador Program. Outside of instructing and mentoring students, she also runs teacher trainings and external consultation services. Lily has been working with Acterra since 2021 and has a background in ecological research and science communications from UC Santa Cruz. https://www.acterra.org/ |
BREAK
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM (PST)
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM (PST)
Closing Keynote
Pooja Tilvawala
Youth Climate Collaborative, Founder and Director Pooja was born in Gujarat, India but raised in a suburb of Philadelphia. In 2018, she graduated from American University in Washington, DC with degrees in Economics and International Studies, specializing in justice, ethics, and human rights, and South Asia. After graduating, Pooja worked as a Project Associate for the Meridian Institute, committed to collaborative problem-solving on environmental issues. In November 2020, she founded Youth Climate Collaborative and currently she leads efforts after work and during the weekends. Her primary role is as the Youth Engagement Manager of The Climate Initiative. Outside of work, she participates in different organizations and programs such as YOUNGO (the official UN youth constituency), High Seas Alliance, Coalition WILD, and Unleash the sHERO in you! For fun, Pooja enjoys bhangra dance, paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking, game nights, and food parties with friends and family. Her purpose in life is to nurture her curiosity and creativity, challenge the status quo, and bring people together to improve the quality of life for all. Website: https://youthcc.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youthclimatecollab/ |
Closing Remarks - Main Hall
2:40 PM - 3:00 PM (PST)