From Backyard Gardens to National Impact: How One Detroit Native is Leading the Fight Against Climate Change
April 23 2024 - 2:52PM
In a speech delivered ahead of an appearance by President Joe
Biden, Detroit native, AmeriCorps member and environmental
champion, Za’Nyia Kelly, shared her inspiring journey from a youth
concerned about healthy food access and reliable public
transportation in her hometown to a proud member of the inaugural
cohort of the
American Climate Corps – a
groundbreaking initiative that will put more than 20,000 young
Americans to work fighting the impacts of climate change today
while gaining the skills they need to join the growing clean energy
and climate-resilience workforce of tomorrow.
The
President announced the launch of the
American Climate Corps website along with a suite of actions at an
event at Prince William Forest Park – a national park system site
developed by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps
and stewarded by the Department of the Interior’s National Park
Service.
Below are Kelly’s remarks as delivered:
Hello, my name is Za’Nyia Kelly.
I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, as the middle child
of seven. In the neighborhood I grew up in, there were no major
grocery stores nearby with healthy food options. There were times
where liquor stores doubled as grocery stores.
But in elementary school, after I learned about the importance
of having access to healthy foods, my mom and I started a backyard
garden – I was hooked. From our little backyard oasis, I could see
the impact fresh fruits and vegetables had on my family’s
health.
The high school I attended focused on aviation. In between
learning to fly planes and build engines, I also learned how flying
and different forms of transit contributed to climate pollution.
For me, transportation was personal.
Apart from lacking healthy food options, my entire city lacked
reliable transportation. Coming from a big family, cars were
expensive, so I had to rely on public transit. A 25-minute car ride
to school could easily be a two-hour bus ride. One winter during
10th grade, I got second degree frostbite on all of my toes because
I had to walk for miles in the snow when the bus didn’t show
up.
These experiences inspired me to combine my passions, for
improving both the environment and the public transit systems as an
AmeriCorps member.
After graduating from Michigan State University last May, I now
proudly serve in the Michigan Healthy Climate Corps, working at
Transportation Riders United. TRU is a nonprofit dedicated to
reducing pollution by improving Detroit’s and the surrounding
region’s public transit systems.
Thanks to President Biden, I’m so excited to be part of the
inaugural cohort of the American Climate Corps. For young
environmentalists like me, it means so much to know that we have a
president who understands the importance of climate change, clean
energy and climate justice.
Ladies and gentlemen, I’m now honored to introduce to you the
President of the United States, Joe Biden.
The American Climate Corps underscores the Biden-Harris
administration's commitment to addressing climate change, promoting
clean energy and advancing environmental justice. As a member of
the inaugural cohort, Kelly embodies the spirit of young leadership
and dedication to creating lasting positive change in the face of
climate change.
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The American Climate Corps is an historic initiative dedicated
to mobilizing a diverse workforce to confront the climate crisis
and tackle environmental injustice. Through collective action,
hands-on projects, mentorship and training, the ACC empowers
individuals to drive impactful change across communities nationwide
while giving members a career pathway to clean energy jobs in the
private and public sector.
To learn more and apply to the American Climate Corps
visit ClimateCorps.gov.
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and
volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their
country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing
challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic
engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000
AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive
service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term,
short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more
at AmeriCorps.gov.
AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all
backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow
personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their
service. Learn how to get involved
at AmeriCorps.gov/Serve.
- Za’Nyia Kelly giving remarks for Earth Day
National Service Press Office
AmeriCorps
press@americorps.gov