NCWCYouthCouncil

10/30/2026

Help us wish our NCWC Youth Council Assistant Director, Jemari Henry, a very Happy Birthday! 🥳🎂💙

Jemari is a high school junior and aspiring public health professional passionate about community health, environmental justice, and advocacy.

As Assistant Director and a key member of our Poison to Prison Pipeline team, Jemari is helping advance youth-led research and advocacy around lead exposure in school drinking water.

Outside of his leadership work, he enjoys volleyball, reading, writing, and debate!

Jemari, thank you for your dedication and everything you bring to our Council! We hope this year brings you amazing opportunities, unforgettable experiences, and plenty of reasons to celebrate!

Keep growing, leading, and making your mark! 💦🎉

10/29/2026

Our NCWC Youth Council is growing! 💧🌎

Please join us in welcoming Alexa Reid, a pre-law student at Fordham University majoring in International Studies with a minor in Spanish!

With a passion for law, foreign policy, and research, Alexa is already building an impressive foundation. She's a staff writer for the Fordham Undergraduate Law Review, copy editor for The Ram, and writer for MODE Magazine. She also works as an intellectual property researcher at Gibney, Anthony & Flaherty LLP.

Alexa brings valuable research, writing, and analytical skills to our team, and we're excited to see her contribute to our work advancing clean water access, environmental justice, and youth advocacy.

Welcome to the NCWC family, Alexa! 💙👏

10/29/2026

WE FINALLY HAVE A PERMANENT HOME!!! 🌱💙

After 14 weeks searching for green space and 7 weeks relocating, our Nourish Ozone Community Garden & Cultural Learning Space has officially moved into Queens Transition Center (Q752) in South Ozone Park!

What a JOURNEY!

After outgrowing our original space, we made the executive decision to find a larger, long-term home. Weeks of uncertainty, temporary relocation, and changing weather made the transition challenging.

We lost some crops but salvaged one final harvest of tomatoes, peppers (including some HOT ones! 🌶️), basil, scallions, thyme, and oregano!

Our Executive Chairman, , spent hours moving, organizing, replenishing soil, and pruning. Jason, a Q752 culinary student, helped harvest!

We NEVER imagined our pilot program would find its home at a school serving students with special needs!

Q752 helps young people ages 14–22 develop life skills, vocational experience, and greater independence.

With nearly 10 TIMES more green space, imagine the possibilities! Gardening, environmental education, food production, and farm-to-table learning that builds students' confidence, practical skills, and community connections!

A BIG thank-you to Queens BP Donovan Richards' office, Senator Addabbo's office, Ty Hankerson's office, NYC Parks/GreenThumb, and CB9 Chair Sherry Algredo's office for spreading the word and exploring potential spaces throughout our search!

Special thanks to Daniel for caring for our garden and helping us relocate, Mr. Williams for organizing our plants, and Principal Asia Williams and Dr. Sharon Simmonds for helping make this partnership possible!

NEXT UP: Garden beds, greenhouse, outdoor learning space, and MORE!

📣 SOUTH OZONE PARK & SURROUNDING QUEENS, WE NEED YOU!

We're recruiting volunteers to help bring this garden to life! From gardening to supporting hands-on learning, there's a place for YOU!

👉🏽 Ready to make an impact? Comment GROW and let's get to work!

10/29/2026

Hey Hydration Nation! 🚰💦

We learn about math, science, history, and so much more in school.

But how much do we actually learn about the water we drink every day?

Where it comes from. How it's treated. What's in it. And how to know whether it's safe.

These are things that affect every single one of us, regardless of where we live.

So here's this week's question:

❓ Should every school be required to teach students about drinking water safety, or should that education be left to families?

Think about it. How much did YOU learn about drinking water safety growing up?

👇 Share your thoughts in the comments! We'd love to hear from students, parents, educators, and communities everywhere.

10/22/2026

Enoch, you thought we forgot about you? No way! 😂🎉

Wishing our fellow NCWC Youth Council member, Enoch Yip, a very happy belated birthday! 🥳🎂

Enoch, thank you for your commitment to the Council and everything you bring to our team! We appreciate your passion for science, environmental advocacy, and making a difference.

We hope this new year of life brings you exciting opportunities, new friendships, unforgettable experiences, and plenty of reasons to celebrate! Keep growing, exploring your interests, and doing what you love. We're excited to see what's ahead for you!

Everyone, help us wish Enoch a happy belated birthday! 💦

10/14/2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, SYRAH SCOTT!!! 🎉💙🎂

Some people see problems. Others see possibilities. Our founder sees what can be done and brings people together to make it happen!

From advocating for clean water to creating opportunities for young people to lead, Syrah has spent years turning ideas into action and reminding us that one person's vision can impact countless lives.

Today, we celebrate the woman behind the vision, the leadership, the sacrifices and the unwavering belief in what we can accomplish together.

Here's to another year of breaking barriers, opening doors and making history!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SYRAH!!! Your NCWC family celebrates YOU! 💙💦🥳

10/12/2026

10/09/2026

BREATHE GOWANUS, HERE WE COME!!! 🙌🏽🌬️

We're excited to announce that National Clean Water Collective, through the AirPAC team, has secured a $12,000 CitizensNYC Collaborative Impact Grant in partnership with O2NYC!

Together, we're bringing Breathe Gowanus to life, advancing air quality awareness, environmental education and community engagement in Gowanus, Brooklyn.

A HUGE congratulations to our NCWC Youth Council, with special recognition to Joanne, whose leadership, determination and belief in this project helped bring us to this moment.

AirPAC was one of three winning teams at our 7th Annual Pen PALs Youth Justice Forum, earning the opportunity to further develop its work. But the journey wasn't easy. When her original team moved on, Joanne found herself carrying the project alone. She kept going, wrote a book, continued building AirPAC and helped grow the team.

That commitment helped AirPAC secure its first $5,000 in funding, and now another $12,000! With an event in the works for the Bronx, the team is preparing to expand into Brooklyn through Breathe Gowanus.

Imagine if she had stopped when everyone else left.

To Debanjan and the entire O2NYC team, we're excited about what we'll accomplish together!

A heartfelt thank you to the entire CitizensNYC team for believing in our vision and investing in this collaboration. Your support is helping young leaders turn their ideas into meaningful community impact.

Here's to youth leadership, perseverance, strong partnerships and healthier communities! 💙🌬

10/06/2026

You asked for more time, so we’re giving it to you! 📚💦

WE’RE EXTENDING OUR DEADLINE! Applications to join the NCWC Youth Council are now open through November 8!

We’re high school and college students from across the country who care about our communities, and we’re looking for more passionate, committed young people ready to bring their ideas, talents and voice to the table.

Our award winning Youth Council creates and leads real projects, shows up in our communities, works alongside leaders and experts, and takes on issues from clean water and environmental justice to public health and climate.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, NOW is your chance!

🗓️ NEW DEADLINE: November 8

👉 Comment WATER and we’ll send you the application!

And if you know someone who belongs on this Council, TAG THEM below! ⬇️

10/02/2026

Flashback to last month! 💦💙

There’s something different about getting out from behind the screens and being in the room together.

Our NCWC Youth Council meets virtually throughout the year, but our in person meetings give us a chance to connect differently. And THIS conversation was ROBUST.

We talked about current issues impacting our communities, environmental justice, water and the projects we’re working on. Everyone weighed in, asked questions and shared their point of view.

That’s what we love about this Council. Your voice matters here. We’ve built a family where everyone has room to bring their ideas, experiences and perspectives to the table.

And we do WAY more than meetings.

We work on real environmental justice projects, host events, meet with community and government leaders, research issues, develop policy recommendations and turn ideas into action.

And we’re recruiting NEW members NOW! 🚨

If you’re passionate, dependable, ready to learn and serious about making an impact, we want to hear from YOU.

💬 Comment WATER and we’ll send you the link to learn more. 👇

So proud of this team and everything we’re building together. 💙