Our Team
Our Founders
YCAA cofounders Suman and Sahara are high school students at The Chapin School and Avenues The World School, respectively. Their shared passion for climate action, cultivated since elementary school, inspired them to create the Youth Climate Action Alliance. Through the YCAA, they combine their decade of friendship, with creativity, strategy, and dedication to climate solutions to help students lead tangible change in their schools and communities.
Suman Shah
Suman Shah is a New York City-based high school student working at the intersection of infrastructure, energy, water, and waste, with a particular interest in how these systems can be redesigned around resource conservation and circularity. Her interest in climate action began after being introduced to the climate crisis through former U.S. Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership training, which led her to explore not only the science of climate change, but also the physical and societal systems that propagate existing waste and emissions. Since then, Suman has participated in and co-led advocacy efforts around several New York clean-energy policies, including the Accelerated Solar for All (ASAP) Act, Save Our Solar Act, New York Heat Act, and Solar Up Now New York (SUNNY) Act. She conceptualized and co-founded the Youth Climate Action Alliance (YCAA) with the goal of providing structured, accessible pathways for fellow youths to translate existing climate awareness into substantial, institutional action. Alongside her climate organizing, Suman researches water systems, with a focus on the environmental implications of rapidly expanding infrastructure such as data centers; her research has been presented at major scientific conferences. She is also a mathematics researcher specializing in algebraic combinatorics, a Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassador, and a prolific public speaker.
Sahara Maazel
Sahara is a student activist and an advocate for global climate action. Visits to Central Park and natural oases in her hometown of New York City sparked her appreciation for nature and wildlife. This appreciation of our natural environment, coupled with an awareness of the devastating impacts of anthropogenic climate change, led Sahara to recognize the need to translate existing climate awareness into action. After receiving mentorship from The Climate Reality Project, the Harvard Chan Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, the Columbia Climate School, and the American Civil Liberties Union National Advocacy Institute, Sahara has led climate action efforts across her school and New York City. As the leader of the Climate Action Campaign at Avenues The World School, she has secured community solar contracts, climate education partnerships, and zero waste initiatives alongside her leadership team. Sahara’s work is grounded in the belief that the actions we take now will not only determine the future of our planet, but determine if our planet has a future.
Our Leadership Team
Eliza Malterre, Director of Outreach
Eliza is a New York City high school student whose passion for climate advocacy was sparked during her very first NYC climate march in elementary school. Witnessing the power of collective action at a young age inspired a commitment to fighting environmental degradation. Since then, she has continued her activism as an active member of the Fridays for Future New York City chapter and as a leader at her school’s sustainability department. In this department, Eliza led several initiatives, including redesigning her school’s curriculum to incorporate comprehensive sustainability education and installing solar panels on the school’s roof. Driven by a belief that impactful climate solutions require diverse perspectives, she is excited to expand her viewpoint, and collaborate with peers from all backgrounds who share her drive for a sustainable future.
Sophia Atkins, Director of Research and Policy
Sophia Atkins is a driven student activist passionate about learning about and solving climate issues such as E-Waste, plastic consumption, and waterway pollution. At Hackley School she is the co-leader of Hackley Earth Action League (HEAL) which leads initiatives such as e-waste drives, recycling & composting campaigns, and environmental fundraisers, partnering with organizations such as the Billion Oyster Project, Elian Electronics Recycling, and the Tarrytown Environmental Advisory Council. Outside of her school community, Sophia is working with a mentor researching electronic waste management, and her research with a leading automotive company is exploring AI models that will assist in identifying lithium ion battery recycling options. As Director of Policy and Research, Sophia uses her skills as a researcher to help bring attention to the most pressing environmental climate news and initiatives.
Elle Eliason, Director of Content
Elle Eliason is a student and sustainability leader in New York City. Her passion for the environment is rooted in her early experiences with outdoor education, remote expeditions, and a focus on conservation and ecological living. From these practices, she cultivated a deep appreciation for the natural world and is committed to preserving it. In doing so, Elle has become a member of the climate organization Fridays For Future, advocating for projects like the (SUNNY) Act. At school, she became the intern for sustainability, receiving mentorship from the director of sustainability as well as leading the school's sustainability council. Elle initiated projects such as a schoolwide annual Earth Day celebration to increase climate awareness and implemented a school roof garden and solar panels. She manages her school's sustainability social media account and creates musical videos that spread awareness of the climate crisis. With every action, she believes that coexistence with nature is possible with responsibility and action.
Ebenezer Hulede, Director of Finances
Ebenezer is a student from the Bronx who was inspired to value his environment and be concerned about climate change by an ecology summit. He has also witnessed the effects of climate change and the negligence of others toward their very own local environments. He is deeply dedicated to serving his community, raising awareness within it about the effects of climate change, and showing how a collective effort can make a difference in a small area and impact the entire world. He hopes to inspire others, just as he was, to care for their environment and see for themselves how truly wonderful it can be.
Helen Gimbel, Event Coordinator
Helen is a high school student at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, with a strong interest in science, the environment, and community engagement. Her experiences studying biology and engaging with environmental issues have deepened her appreciation for the connections between scientific research, healthy ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them. She is committed to translating academic curiosity into action. At The Masters School, Helen is President of the Environmental Club and a project director for MISH, a community service organization, alongside serving as a peer leader and mentor to other students. Her interest in science has also extended beyond the classroom through a summer research internship with the Campbell Laboratory at the University of Iowa. She has represented the youth perspective at events including the Green Budget Challenge, Westchester Youth Climate Summit, Dobbs Ferry Earth Day and other events. Through the Youth Climate Action Alliance, Helen hopes to bring together her interests in science, service, and environmental stewardship while helping students turn their concern about climate change into tangible action.