On February 24, the local non-profit Leaders of the Next Generation (LNG) hosted an event to teach kids about the importance of recycling.
Co-founded by Sameera Madan (16) and Jacklyn Pizzella (17), LNG is a youth-led non-profit (501(c)3) committed to environmental awareness and providing access to education.
The two high school juniors partnered with the Greenwich Audubon to host a family event that was geared towards teaching families how to repurpose in fun, creative ways. Sameera and Jackie reached out to the Audubon last November and, since then, have been planning their first large-scale event – where over 100 people attended.
The event featured nine stations, seven of which were organized by Sameera and Jackie. Some of these stations were:
1. Magazine collages – using recycled magazines, kids made cards to donate to underprivileged children
2. Mini plants – with recycled jars and plastic containers, kids made and took home indoor plants
3. Bird beak simulation – plastic utensils were used to show natural selection regarding bird beads 4. Bird Feeders – collected plastic water bottles were used to make bird feeders that the kids took home
Upcoming:
This summer, Sameera and Jackie are working with two other high-schoolers to create summer programs that are accessible to everyone.
Miller Fishback:
Miller Fishback (16) is a sophomore at Greenwich High School. He recently came in contact with Sameera and Jackie in regards to his potential participation in the Green Guardians event. Before even meeting Sameera and Jackie in person, Miller was provided with volunteering opportunities, internship ideas, and—most importantly—an outlet to put one of his dreams to practice: a music production summer camp. From a young age, Miller has been devoted to music production, as it is his main hobby and ultimate source of joy. In the last couple of years, he decided that he wanted to spread this joy to kids in his community. Before LNG, Miller had no idea how to put this idea to practice. As of now, they are speaking with many different coordinators around town in order to find the best way to make this dream a reality. Please reach out for more details if you have a kid who might be interested (miller.fishback@gmail.com).
Ryan Wadhwa:
Ryan Wadhwa (16) is a sophomore at Greenwich High School. When he had the opportunity to create his own robotics project during one of his summers in middle school, he was filled with joy. Inspired by this, he wants to share his passion by allowing other students to immerse themselves into robotics just like he has and stimulating young minds to create wonders in the world of hardware and software. His summer program is tailored for middle-school students who will build their own passion project in a fun, encouraging environment while also learning the fundamentals of technology and robotics. Direction and mentorship will be provided by Ryan Wadhwa and LNG to guide students into understanding electronic components, circuits, and assembling them into a working model. As they work through their project, they will learn the fundamentals of engineering, building and troubleshooting. They’ll continue to face challenges within their projects, and learn how to persevere through those issues. Please reach out if you are interested (ryan.wadhwa12@gmail.com).
High School Leadership:
LNG also aims to provide leadership opportunities for high-schoolers that would not otherwise be available to them.
Two ambassadors at LNG are Jillian Jinete and Jeremy Buss.
Jeremy Buss:
Jeremy Buss (17) is a Junior at Greenwich High School. He has been involved with The Leaders of the Next Generation since October 2023. He is the Co-President of Greenwich High School’s Environmental Action Club. Last summer, Jeremy went on a month-long backpacking trip in the Alaskan Wilderness, which taught him to care for and appreciate the environment. Through LNG, he wants to share this passion with kids and inspire people to protect our planet.
Jillian Jinete:
Jillian Jinete (16) is a student at Greenwich High School, and diligently works as the marketing ambassador for Leaders of the next Generation. She works to effectively advertise and market events for LNG. She first learned about LNG from Sameera Madan at a meeting about how to benefit student programs at Greenwich Historical Society. She quickly learned about the goals of LNG, and that she was eager to help accelerate a more sustainable future. Outside of LNG Jillian is focused on obtaining a career in law and business. Jillian is President of her club Packages sent to Soar, which assembles care packages for children in need. She is also an active member of the Model United Nations club. Through LNG, Jillian hopes to inspire the youth on the importance of environmental sustainability and preservation. She also hopes to incorporate environmental sustainability within business.
Contact LNG at leadersofthenextgeneration@gmail.com.
