Alumni Spotlight: Sophia Gustafson’s Passion for our Planet!

Sophia Gustafson, ALC and senior at Medfield High School, began her mission as community builder, change maker, and philanthropist at age eight. As founder of Hope for All, a young Sophia sought to make a difference in the lives of children in extreme global poverty. Hope For All just celebrated a decade of transformative impact, a testament to Sophia’s optimistic belief in the power of community united in common purpose. That experience  -- and growing awareness of climate change --  inspired her vision for Youth Environmental Consumers Alliance (YECA), an environmental non-profit organization. YECA unifies and mobilizes climate conscious youth in environmental action. Through YECA, youth leverage their collective consumer influence to demand sustainability and transparency in the textile industry. 

The clothing industry is often referred to as “fast fashion” -- because of the high production of trend-based apparel and footwear, which produces 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. YECA raises awareness of this generation’s unwitting support of the world’s greatest environmental problems challenges. By buying up trends as soon as they hit the market, young consumers accelerate rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Sophia shares her resolve: “Climate crisis is an issue we all have a human responsibility to address. It is human-caused and terrifying and unacceptable. Climate Change directly impacts animals and the environment, and is a human social justice issue.

Around the world, our most economically vulnerable communities face the most dire consequences of environmental degradation. Despite causing the least amount on our planet. I am motivated to lead YECA by the knowledge that I have the opportunity and obligation to lower greenhouse gas emissions through collective action. And, together with YECA members, make a small step towards a more just and equitable world.

My hope is to recruit young people who’ve been inspired to school strike, march, and sit-in for the climate. Together, we'll build a young consumer-driven movement of change and impact emissions footprints MUCH bigger than our own!”

In just a few months, 250 young people from 15 states have joined Sophia’s movement! Supporters include the Sunrise Movement Clubs at Middlebury and Rutgers, Sustainability Clubs at Smith and Bentley College; and Environmental Clubs at Medfield and Wellesley High Schools. 

For five years, Sophia's radiant spirit and humanity has been a source of light, love, and transformative action in our 351 community. In addition to highlighting her inspired leadership of YECA and Hope for All, we also want to celebrate her recent admissions to Harvard University with greatest pride and abiding admiration.
To learn more about Sophia’s vision-in-action, and join the cause visit https://www.youthenvironmentalconsumersalliance.org