CAFCU YOUTH ADVOCATES
Cafcu Youth Advocates testify in support of the NYC #SkipTheSTuff bill
Dec 12, 2022
Dec 12, 2022
Rebeca Sabnam, Cafeteria Culture Youth Advocate and Columbia University sophomore, speaking at the Skip The Stuff rally with NYC Councilmembers Erik Bottcher and Marjorie Velázquez, co-sponsors of the bill, and advocates from NRDC, Surfrider, Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board, ReusableNYC coalition; NY City Hall, Dec. 12, 2022
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CafCu Youth Advocates, Rebeca Sabnam and Megan Ortiz, joined the #SkipTheStuff Rally on the steps of City Hall! and testified later with powerful and poetic points! Rebeca, who was a student in our program in 5th grade and is now a sophomore at Columbia University, has previously testified at City Hall in support of equitable waste reduction legislation, including the styrofoam ban, fees for plastic bags, and universal composting, Megan's testimony, which was presented as spoken word, was a first-hand, poetic account of the wasteful practices and cost of unnecessary (compostable) plastic utensil use in the food service business. (read Megan's testimony ->).
If passed, the "Skip The Stuff" Int 0559 will require restaurants, food delivery services,and online delivery platforms to provide single-use utensils, condiments, and napkins by customer request only. This bill is a money saver for restaurants & will reduce single-use plastic pollution that contaminates our air, water, soil and bodies. Let's get the Skip The Stuff bill passed! |
Are you a student in middle school, high school, college, or a recent graduate who would like to learn more about testifying, writing a testimony or other types of civic action? are you looking for advice on how to lead a campaign in your school to reduce single-use plastics and food waste?
Contact us about participating in our weekly Youth Advocates meetings
Contact us about participating in our weekly Youth Advocates meetings
Listen to youth!
Youth Directed Content - Unplugged
A podcast hosted by 5th grade girls, created as part of our afterschool program with Lower Eastside Girls Club Club in NYC
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Girls Justice Podcast was recorded and created with our partner organization, Lower Eastside Girls Club, in the Fall/Winter of 2022, featuring 5th grade hosts, Pippi, Madison, Soleil, Sophie, Chrismeily, and Genesis and led by CafCu teachers, Nicholas and Rebeca!
Each episode features interviews with staff members at the Lower Eastside Girls Club as well as class reflections and sound effects selected by the girls. The girls ask their interviewees about their favorite places in New York, thoughts on environmental justice, and changes they would make if they were in power to make the world a better place. The girls discuss their favorite grocery items and share facts they've learned about food waste and ways to combat food insecurity with staff members at the Lower Eastside Girls Club. Happy Holidays! In this episode, the girls learn about the holiday traditions of their interviewees and share wishes for the world with each other. Thanks for listening! |
Youth POV +action on climate, racial justice, human rights, policy, public school & more! "A podcast made by youth activists to share our thoughts about the climate crisis, human rights and political views so we can create a platform to take action."
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YOUTH ACTIVISTS Café- a new podcast series
Episode 1: Climate Action- the white washing of the climate movement; Performative Activism; Fast Fashion & Human Rights; are Individual actions enough?
Episode 2: The election; presidential debates; Implicit Bias; Art and Activism, Remote Learning problems; how are schools doing with Remote Learning?; Creative Advocacy - spoken word by Megan Ortiz. Episode 3: Post-election reactions; voter suppression, Stacey Abrams and FairFight.com; - Ranked Choice Voting - what is it?; self care during COVID ; Creative Advocacy - spoken word by Megan Ortiz. |
Student Advocacy
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Youth Activists Spotlights
NYC YOUTH CLIMATE STRIKE 9/20
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ALJAZEERA - News|Climate Change
Bangladeshi-American teen activist fighting for climate action - Rebeca Sabnam, 16, highlights risks Bangladeshi women and Rohingya face due to climate change as COP25 gets under way.(By Samira Sadeque, 3 Dec 2019) 
The RISING - 2020 - by Emily Dao
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Creative Advocacy
"RELIEF"
by Megan Ortiz
NYC high school senior and CafCu Youth Advocate and Intern
(Spoken Word; listen to Megan on the Youth Activists Café podcast #3)
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If I had to sum up
The results of the election I don’t know if I can call it a victory With our country still being divided On human rights How could I be happy That one election would result in A lot of people's lives and rights Being dependent on the balance of a ballot With this country claiming “unity” But having always been divided Once the election had came to a close I saw trump supporters come online And fold their trump flags Congratulating biden Like this was a football game And their favorite team had lost Actually a lot calmer than that Somehow refusing to understand That nothing about this election was political But honestly through it all I can’t say I’m surprised Because being a minority in america You begin to understand How your life is a piece on a gameboard For politicians to throw around That every year in this country feels like a slap in the face. The country that advertised freedom |
Feels they have the authority to strip it away from another To be a minority in america Is to constantly hear You are not welcomed here But your labor is You are not welcomed here but your culture is And we will strip you of everything while claiming it is ours To be a minority in america Is to hear topics like racism, homophobia, and ableism Being used as debate topics As though you weren’t taught these as live demonstrations Rather than chapters in a textbook To be a minority is to be seen as nothing More than an accessory for diversity And to be constantly thought of as a nuisance While always having provided But most importantly To be a minority in america Is to take each election in strides While fighting for better days Because patiences only works If the one you are against had any kind of sympathy in the first place But I will end it here That day of the results Felt like a summer day in 2016 And I guess I can be happy about that. ----- |
About CafCu's Youth Advocates
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Cafeteria Culture (CafCu) Youth Advocates is a youth leadership program focused on plastic-free and climate justice action. The CafCu team mentors middle, high school, and college age youth, many who are alumni of Cafeteria Culture’s school programs. The Youth Advocates meetings are held weekly, mostly virtually, and now include students from across the US.
Youth Advocates projects and activities have included:
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Youth Advocates host panel at the Microplastic Madness - movie premier, September, 2019
CafCu Youth Advocates and some of the stars of the movie, Microplastic Madness, Ronen, Ixchel, Maggie and Khamari after the premier of Microplastic Madness at the Lower Eastside Girls Club.
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Rebeca Sabnam, Youth Advocate, interviews Maggie, Ronen, Ixchel and Khamari as part of the Q&A following the Microplastic Madness movie premier at the Lower Eastside Girls Club.
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CafCu Youth Advocates and students featured in the movie, Microplastic Madness, Ixchel, Maggie, and Ronen spoke on the panel at Brooklyn SWAB screening; Brooklyn Borough Hall, NYC, Feb. 13, 2020
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Cafcu Youth Advocates, Ronan and Rebeca on panel at Cooper Union screening of Microplastic Madness, hosted by Manhattan SWAB, Nov. 8, 2019 with NYC School Food Director, Stephen O'Brien and the movie's co-directors, Atsuko Quirk and Debby Lee Cohen.
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Youth Advocates at Ocean Heroes MeetUp, June, 2019
New York City
Seven Cafeteria Culture Youth Advocates joined 90 other nominated youth as part of the Ocean Heroes MeetUp New York City youth program, emerging leaders ages 11-18 from across NYC. The program was in collaboration with The Explorers Club, United Nations Environment Program, and the international NGO Peace Boat. Youth learned about plastic pollution and how to create their own impact campaigns to beat plastic pollution in their schools and communities.
Maggie Dalencour (center), Cafeteria Culture Youth Advocate, on panel with Alexandria Villaseñor (letf) at the Ocean Heroes MeetUp panel at the Explorers Club
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Cafeteria Culture Youth Advocates / Ocean Heroes Ambassadors at the Ocean Heroes Meet Up, on the Peace Boat, New York City, June 8, 2019
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