Hi, I’m Jaidon Santos-Volpe. I’m a senior at ETHS, born in Evanston. My favorite project that I’m working on is promoting community solar at the Evanston Farmers’ Market, where we help people reduce their carbon footprint easily through their electricity source. It’s also fun to talk to a variety of people and to promote a way for everyone to help the environment. My advice to future CAE interns is to get involved in your community and find any ways to fight climate change. Anything helps. My favorite sustainability topic is green architecture. I think it's both a very interesting and important topic that will need to be addressed in the future. My favorite spot in Evanston is Lake Michigan. It’s super nice to have such a great body of water so close!

Hello! My name is Izzy Franconeri- I’m an Evanston native and will be a Senior at ETHS this fall. My favorite spot in Evanston is the lakefront. I love to go for runs, hammock, or hang out with friends there. I’ve been active in E-Town Sunrise since my freshman year, a student-led climate activist group at ETHS– I will be the Hub Coordinator this year! I’m also a student Board Member of CAE. My favorite projects have always been in-person gatherings such as Climate Action Accelerators and community Teach-Ins. I believe climate work presents us with a unique opportunity to right historical wrongs and bring underrepresented voices to the table. Seeing so much engagement from Evanstonians of all kinds, especially youth, gives me hope for our future. Working with CAE has not only been a way to make a difference in my community but also to expand our work at E-Town Sunrise and learn from folks of different backgrounds. Even as a volunteer I've learned many soft skills and am much better prepared to approach leading E-Town Sunrise this year and eventually my professional career. I encourage any future interns to approach this as both an opportunity to do some good in our community and develop the skills you need to succeed in higher education and professional spaces. If you’re a future or current ETHS student I’d love to see you at E-Town Sunrise this year!

Hi, I’m Mary McDonald, and I’m one of the ETHS iKit interns at CAE! I grew up here in Evanston, and I’m getting ready to start my first year at Oakton. I’m currently working on collecting data on the enormous amount of trash thrown out at the end of the year at Northwestern. Some advice I have for future interns is to take notes and attend as many meetings and events as possible. It’s so helpful to be able to see these things firsthand. The sustainability issue most important to me is community outreach and engagement—there are only so many things a small group of people can do. To make big changes, you need the support of your whole community!

Hi, I’m Tom Prince, and I’m one of the ETHS iKit interns at CAE! I am originally from Manly, Australia. This fall, I am beginning my first year at Beloit College, majoring in History and Anthropology. I’m currently writing a report and roundtable article with fellow ETHS iKit intern Mary McDonald on the waste produced during Northwestern move-out. I am also heading up a tree-planting event with the Natural Habitat Evanston initiative Fifth Ward Trees. The biggest tip I have for future interns is to be a sponge and absorb as much information as humanly possible, take notes, go to meetings, and listen. My favorite sustainability topic is Indigenous Sustainability. My favorite place in Evanston is South Blvd. Beach.

Hello Everyone! My name is Jordan Crumpton. I am a rising Junior at Northwestern University studying environmental policy and political science. I was born and raised in Evanston, where I graduated from Evanston Township High School in 2023. Throughout my childhood, I was highly engaged in both Soccer and Track and Field. My favorite project that I am currently working on at Climate Action Evanston is developing our Environmental Justice Coalition. This coalition will bring together people and organizations from across Evanston to address environmental injustices that exist in our community, as well as work to prevent future injustices. The sustainability issues that are most important to me revolve around clean air and clean water. I believe access to clean air and water is a basic human right that has been put under threat by the climate crisis. I would advise future CAE interns to prioritize organization and professional communication, as CAE has many important operations going at the same time. When we are organized, we can accomplish a lot.

Hi, I’m Kunjal Bastola and I’m CAE’s Communications & Videographer Intern! I am a rising senior at Northwestern University studying journalism, political science, and environmental policy and culture. I was born and raised in Chicago, IL, but my family now lives in Charlotte, NC. I am currently working on creating a video to highlight all of the work that current and past interns have done, which has been super cool as I get to see all the work that youth in Evanston are doing to support local climate action. My advice to other students is that no matter what sustainability issue you are interested in, you can take the initiative to do something about it in your community. Local action is so important in the climate fight! I am interested in environmental justice issues, particularly ensuring that marginalized voices are represented in discussions around climate solutions. My favorite spot in Evanston is under the trees on Deering Meadow!

Hi, I’m Vinicius Petrus, CAE’s Kellogg MBA summer intern. I’m originally from Curitiba, Brazil, and I’m heading into my second year at Kellogg, where I’m majoring in Finance and Strategy. This summer, I’ve been working on analyzing and refining CAE’s strategic plan to align it better with current priorities and future goals. I’m especially interested in the energy transition - solutions like virtual power plants (VPPs) give me hope by making electricity grids more resilient and equitable. My advice for future interns is to be intentional, stay flexible, and explore opportunities beyond your comfort zone - you’ll learn a lot! I love spending time at the beach by the lake. Clark Street Beach is for sure my favorite spot in Evanston to relax.