Altadena Youth Mobility & Sustainability Ambassadors Program

Wildfire relief

San Gabriel Valley

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

The issue we are seeking to address is the need to include youth in community recovery and planning processes, especially mobility and environmental sustainability in the aftermath of the 2025 Altadena wildfire, which not only caused widespread physical destruction but also displaced thousands of families and youth, disrupting their sense of community and their ability to organize around recovery efforts. As Altadena rebuilds, there is an urgent need to ensure that young people who live, learn, and move through these spaces are empowered to shape a future that reflects their needs, values, and vision for equitable and sustainable mobility. The program addresses gaps in civic engagement, transportation equity, and environmental justice by training youth to become knowledgeable, vocal, and solution-oriented leaders as there is a great desire in the community for rebuilding efforts to be inclusive of the thousands of Altadena residents who have called the area home for decades.

AYMSA is a youth-led leadership cohort based at Aveson Global Leadership Academy, designed to train middle and high school students to become advocates for mobility justice and environmental sustainability in the wake of the devastating 2025 wildfire. With much of Altadena’s physical and social infrastructure in the process of being rebuilt, this program ensures that local youth have a seat at the table and the skills to lead the way forward at their school and other schools in the region.
Program Goals:
Equip youth with leadership and advocacy skills rooted in equity, sustainability, and mobility justice.
Provide hands-on training in safe, active transportation practices.
Foster intergenerational dialogue around rebuilding Altadena with youth voices at the forefront.
Build regional momentum around student-led mobility initiatives through a Walking & Biking Challenge.
Program Structure:
Duration: 20-week program over two semesters (flexible based on school schedule)
Target Participants: Approximately 24 students from Aveson Global Leadership Academy
Meeting Frequency: Weekly 90-minute sessions + optional weekend rides/events
Outcomes and Deliverables
Trained cohort of youth mobility and sustainability leaders
Toolkit and resource materials developed by youth
Public-facing Walking & Biking Challenge event
Host a youth-led summit to showcase their story and present the toolkit to empower other schools to follow their lead

If our work is successful, Altadena specifically and Los Angeles County generally will be home to a new generation of youth leaders who are actively shaping the future of their communities with a focus on sustainability, equity, and mobility justice. As communities continue to suffer from natural disasters that severely disrupt the lives of the people who live and work there, we will need youth leaders to be trained in advocacy and recovery efforts. This project will ensure there are local youth leaders who are able to support other youth leaders who may be faced with a similar disaster in the future. Towns like Altadena will be rebuilt with safer, more accessible walking and biking infrastructure that is shaped by the ideas, lived experiences, and leadership of local youth. This approach to youth-led planning and action will serve as a model for communities across the county, advancing resilience, connection, and inclusivity throughout Los Angeles.