Alexandria Villaseñor

Back to the list
Back to the list Youth

Alexandria Villaseñor

The Optimist

The way terms like “activist burnout” and “climate anxiety” roll off the tongue of 14-year-old Alexandria Villaseñor is a worrying but telling insight into what it’s like to be a face of the global youth climate change movement. Pulling 12-hour days in the halls of the U.N. Climate Change Conference, founding her own advocacy organization Earth Uprising, and unfailingly spending every Friday in front of the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan as part of the Fridays for Future movement have become Villaseñor’s norm. Media often approach her in the streets; the likes of Patagonia and Teen Vogue have featured her in profiles. There’s little doubt that she’s headed toward a leadership role of her choosing.

Yet the poised New York native takes it in impressive stride, educating herself by reading IPCC reports alongside experts like Michael Mann, Katherine Heyhoe or Kate Marvel to inform the addresses she now regularly gives, forming friendships with the global community of other young climate activists, and taking time off when she needs it.

“It’s important that you take care of yourself, because we’re in this for the long haul,” she says. “Once you get involved in climate activism, there really is no way to go back, because you see what is happening to our planet, and you can’t ignore it.”

Lina Pohl

The Leader Restoration

Aster Gebrekirstos

The Scientist

Wanjira Mathai

The Legacy Restoration

Célia Xakriabá

The Lawmaker

Constance Okollet

The Changemaker Food & Livelihoods

Ineza Umuhoza Grace

The Activist

Amy Duchelle

The Scientist Measuring Progress

Camille Rivera

The Steward

Janene Yazzie

The Activist Rights

Houria Djoudi

The Protector

Autumn Peltier

The Protector Youth

Fe Cortez

The Entrepreneur Youth

Jennifer Pryce

The Investor Finance

Ottilie Bälz

The Philanthropist

Rekia Foudel

The Fundraiser