Changemaker Labs for Green Youth

The  Changemaker Labs program ran from 2023 to 2025 and drove climate action in Canada by supporting work-integrated learning (WIL) through partnerships between small- to mid-sized municipalities and motivated youth. Each term offered a range of activities designed with an inclusive participation model and interdisciplinary opportunities of varying time commitment.   

Changemaker Labs mobilized  , ݮƵ Region's climate action strategy, guiding our community toward a low-carbon, equitable, and resilient future. Rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, emerging research, and local expertise, this program offered holistic educational experiences. Participants gained valuable skills, built networks in the green economy, and contributed meaningfully to municipal climate action.   

Since June 2023, nearly 450 participants ages 12 to 72 have engaged in the program. Over 50 subject-matter experts and knowledge guides continue to play a pivotal role in inspiring and directing participants toward sustainable futures. During this period, 18 activity streams have been facilitated, totalling over 75 events, along with numerous outreach and collaboration activities.  

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Thursday, February 6, 2025

Young & Restless SDG Blender

Date: February 6th, 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Location: GreenHouse, UTD 164

Hosts: Young and Restless, SDG Impact Alliance, GreenHouse

Our team was delighted to participate in the SDG Blender, hosted by SDG Impact Alliance and Young and Restless! At this exciting event, students, collaborators, community members and more had the opportunity to engage with each other and the sustainable development goals. This blender opened with presentations from Young and Restless, SDG Impact Alliance and GreenHouse, highlighting exciting upcoming opportunities and how to go from climate change to climate action. This was followed by an interactive activity featuring “recipes for change” where participants broke into groups to tackle a complex problem using the SDGs and their own solutions. This exercise exemplified the varied experiences and knowledge each individual brought to the table. Each group presented their solution “recipes,” which focused on community development, advocacy, reconciliation, climate action, business opportunities and more. The night closed with an inspiring new outlook on complex problems, new connections, and yet another tool in the toolbox for making a positive impact.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Zero Waste Challenge in the News

The United College Green Team's Zero Waste Challenge took center stage on CTV news. The challenge:fit one month’s worth of garbage into a one-litre mason jar.

The initiative took place in collaboration with Reep Green Solutions attracting over 100+ individuals from different age groups and communities.



Friday, February 7, 2025

W25 Climate Conference

Our team attended an interactive event featuring a dynamic keynote, workshop sessions, a student poster showcase, and panel discussions—all focused on transforming worries about climate change into opportunities for hope and career development. We learned from experts, connected with climate researchers, explored climate anxiety, and discovered active ways to collaborate for a better future. Thank you for inspiring a sense of climate hope in the attendees. We will carry this message out into the world and into our communities!

Senior Project Manager of Changemaker Labs, Lily Viggiano was interviewed by New York University’s Chapter of the Food Recovery Network. The article discusses the incredible work being done by youth-led organizations to tackle food insecurity, food waste, and unsustainable food systems. The piece highlights how young people, especially from Gen Z, are stepping up to address these challenges through initiatives like the Food Recovery Network and Food 4 Thought. It also features the work we’re doing at GreenHouse, where we’ve started a student-centered garden in University of ݮƵ to reconnect people with the food production process similar to that of their ancestors. After tearing down an old, neglected garden, we’ve grown everything from tomatoes to herbs and even hosted soup kitchen lunches. The article touches on how personal experiences, from health concerns to the impacts of the pandemic, are driving this movement, and how social media and community engagement are helping us push for systemic change.