Angerman to serve on National Environmental Youth Advisory Council

Alexandra Angerman of the Wrangell Cooperative Association is one of 16 young people who will serve on a nationwide committee advising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on environmental issues.

The National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC) was created this year by EPA Administrator Michael Regan to provide "a critical perspective on how the impacts of climate change and other environmental harms affect youth communities," according to the EPA press office. Members are ages 16 to 29 and come primarily from disadvantaged communities across the nation. The council's two-year terms began Nov. 2.

Angerman was selected to represent the interests of tribal organizations and communities in remote areas, which are often least able to handle the impacts and costs of climate change.

As a council member, she will attend meetings throughout the year and perform tasks as assigned by the EPA administrator.

"NEYAC presents a unique opportunity for me to make a meaningful impact on the world," said Angerman. "Combining my deep-seated passion for environmental conservation and sustainability with the privilege of representing my rural tribal community, I am deeply honored to have been selected."

Her work in environmental stewardship began with an internship at the Spokane Lands Council in Washington state, where she participated in street tree projects.

She is currently WCA's Tl'átk – Earth Branch coordinator, where she helps provide composting, recycling, water testing and educational outreach services to the community. Earth Branch has offered gardening and subsistence workshops and collaborates with the U.S. Forest Service on sustainable restoration projects.

As a NEYAC member, she hopes to build national connections with environmentalists and educate others on the unique issues facing Southeast Alaska, like mining and the growth of the tourism industry.

"Not many individuals understand the biome or biodiversity of Southeast Alaska," she said. "Many may assume that all of Alaska faces the same environmental challenges, and that's not the case."

Regan hopes that committee members can represent the rising generation's perspective as the administration seeks to address the nation's changing environmental reality.

"We can't tackle the environmental challenges of our time without input from our younger communities, who've long been at the forefront of social movements," said Regan. "This committee will help ensure that the voices and perspectives of our youth are included and valued in EPA's decision-making."

Like Regan, Angerman believes that young people should stand at the forefront of the movement for environmental sustainability. "Youth communities stand as a powerful force, igniting the green revolution that the world desperately needs," she said. "We refuse to be passive spectators in the face of climate change, overabundance of waste, biodiversity loss and water scarcity."

"This opportunity means the world to me," she continued, "as it signifies not only a chance to make a meaningful impact but also a recognition of my dedication to the cause."

She learned that the council was accepting applications through Intersectional Environmentalist, a nonprofit that focuses on environmental leadership in communities of color.