by Ellen Sachs Leicher ·
Friday, April 3, 2026
For the last six months I have met weekly with three students from the Bromfield Green Team who are concerned about their future as they understand the impact of climate change occurring now and intensifying with time. As they will most likely live into the next century, there is a lot to be concerned about as the world appears to be walking away from mitigating the impacts.
However, these three students are not walking away. When the nonprofit MassEnergize, of which Harvard is a member, sought students to participate in the Youth Climate Solutions Challenge, these three students stepped right up.
The goal of the challenge is to pick a topic empowering them to become local champions of clean energy and to bring this work outside of the classroom and into the community. They settled on solar and like any STEM project they defined the problem, researched it, picked a solution, and will test the impact. I have been honored to work with them. In the beginning they had a lot to learn. They first thought, “We’re not sure we can do this.” Now, a week before the event, they are so excited and say, “We are going to make this happen.”
My hope is that the community will come out and give them the audience to see what they have been able to learn and accomplish, and to seriously consider what they see as one way of addressing their future as the planet warms. I am lucky, too, as these students have personally brought me joy as I have watched them learn, grow, and enjoy the challenge. I couldn’t be prouder. Climate is a tough issue to address in these times, but with students like these three, I have hope. Come join them, Saturday, April 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Volunteers Hall at the library.
Ellen Sachs Leicher
Warren Avenue