EcoPower '26 · Nine Weeks
EcoPower '26
Nine weeks of environmental justice and community tech work across Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Newark — what I learned, what surprised me, and what I'm taking with me.
Takeaways
What I learned
Connected community, environment, data, tech, and storytelling
Planned and executed community-led environmental projects
Conducted user research and designed walking tours using GIS mapping
Learned soil testing, hydrophobic stenciling, and resilience planning
Turned community insights into real-world solutions
In her words
What I'm taking with me
“The Flats are a place filled with history, community, and culture, but with a changing climate, they aren't getting the support they need. Youth, like us Operator Interns, are the key to unlocking a brighter, healthier, and safer future.”
Reflections
How the summer changed things
What I Knew vs. What I Know Now
“This summer, I learned that environmental inequality affects communities beyond what I had known before. From offering support during extreme weather conditions to ensuring everyday garden and soil health, environmental justice is so important in keeping not only our planet safe, but its people.”
The Moment I Surprised Myself
“I was surprised to have contributed so much to the infrastructure walking tour map. Creating and labelling maps is not something I had ever done before, and from it I learned so much about East Flatbush and its history.”
What I Want to Build Next
“This summer has opened my eyes to just how detrimental climate change is — not just to wildlife and the environment, but to people. The repeated flash floods and tornadoes faced by New York this summer have shown me that many neighborhoods do not have the infrastructure to support themselves as extreme weather worsens. That's something I'd love to work to combat.”
Gratitude
People who shaped this work
Zalyia Grillet
COO, Brooklyn Level Up
Ndidi Chimah
Graduate Practitioner, EcoPower '26
Rose Hsu
Brand + Experience Lead
Professor Di Chiro
Swarthmore College
On the ground