At a glance
The Climate Action Mentorship for Bilingual Instruction and Outreach (CAMBIO) is a new UW student-led group creating Spanish-… Read full summary
- Funding received
- 2024-2025
- Large
- Awarded
- $23,551
- Funding partners
-
- Services and Activities Fee (SAF)
The Climate Action Mentorship for Bilingual Instruction and Outreach (CAMBIO) is a new UW student-led group creating Spanish-language educational materials on climate justice and resilience. Partnering with organizations like Front and Centered and El Centro de la Raza, CAMBIO connects UW students with communities across Washington while deepening their own understanding of climate justice. In its first phase, the group will recruit bilingual students, build digital infrastructure, and pilot materials at El Centro de la Raza’s youth programs. These efforts will serve as proof-of-concept, laying the foundation for an enduring, student-driven initiative.
We are launching a new UW group, Climate Action Mentorship for Bilingual Instruction and Outreach (CAMBIO), that will create Spanish-language educational materials about climate justice and resilience. These will be shared with community members across the state, through off-campus partner organizations (Front and Centered, and El Centro de la Raza) and other connections of our members. This will allow UW students to utilize their language skills while also increasing their own knowledge of climate justice. It will also strengthen ties between UW students and community organizations across Washington.
In the initial phase of this project, we will recruit UW students who have Spanish language proficiency and interest in learning about climate justice. We will additionally create digital infrastructure for future creation and sharing of educational materials.
This summer, we will present our newly created materials at a summer program for middle- and high school-age youth hosted at El Centro de la Raza's two sites (in south Seattle and in Federal Way). This will aid a project developed by Front and Centered, a Washington state environmental justice organization, and educators at University of Washington. This will additionally serve as a proof-of-concept for the type of educational experiences that our group can provide.
Following these experiences, UW students will then co-design Spanish language materials based on their own interests in climate justice, and their interactions with community groups. We expect that the seed funding from CSF will allow this organization to grow and thrive on its own in future years.
Tawni Rodriguez Ng
Project lead
- trng2038@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Student
- Years
- 1.5 year(s) remaining at UW
- Affiliated groups
- Greener Pastures, GeneLab, ASGSR
Dargan Frierson
Team member
- dargan@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Faculty
- Affiliated groups
- Atmospheric and Climate Science
Damien Beecroft
Team member
- dob1998@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Student
- Years
- 1.5 year(s) remaining at UW
- Affiliated groups
- Applied and Computational Mathematics
We are planning on co-creating Spanish-language educational materials about environmental justice and resilience with two community organizations in the Seattle area: Front and Centered and El Centro de la Raza. This will allow Latin@ community members at UW to utilize their language skills while also learning about community-oriented climate justice resilience.
The educational materials will be co-created with community members and high school students from summer programs with El Centro de la Raza. We will present students and community members with material from Frierson's Climate, Justice and Energy Solutions class (ATM S 100), and will also use climate justice education materials designed by Front and Centered's educational lead Isabel Carrera Zamanillo. The students will then co-design Spanish language materials based on their own interests in climate justice.
This project will serve to strengthen ties between UW and two important community organizations. It will also expose Seattle area youth to the UW community. Finally, there is a severe lack of climate education materials in languages other than English. We will aid this by creating Spanish language materials that could be used by others.
Our off-campus collaborators on the project are Isabel Carrera Zamanillo at Front and Centered, and Maria Casarez and Mimi Santos at El Centro de la Raza.
Dargan Frierson
Faculty Advisor
- dargan@uw.edu
- Affiliation and department
- Atmospheric and Climate Science
Request amount and budget
$9,850: student wages for participating in co-design sessions with Front and Centered and El Centro de la Raza.
$7,500: funds for Front and Centered to participate in the project activities
$7,500: funds for El Centro de la Raza to participate in the project activities
$150: background checks for student employees
How the project will react to funding reductions
Although we consider it important to compensate the community organizations for their time, they have agreed to work with us in-kind. So budget cuts could reduce or eliminate our proposed budget for them (10%). Further reductions (20% and 50%) would decrease the number of student assistants that would support our activities, and the number of hours that they work.
Plans for financial longevity
After this initial investment and successful completion of outreach activities with Front and Centered and El Centro de la Raza, we will be able to seek out additional funding opportunities for continued funding of our group. We also expect to be able to recruit some students to work on a volunteer basis. Additionally, all Spanish-language climate justice materials developed will be published in UW's digital repositories with Creative Commons licensing; these materials will be maintained by Prof. Frierson as part of their existing educational resources infrastructure. We are also implementing a “train-the-trainer” model where high school participants develop skills to become climate justice advocates in their communities, creating a multiplier effect that extends beyond the program reach without additional funding. Dr. Frierson will incorporate CAMBIO materials into his ATM S courses, creating pathways for future UW students to build upon this work. Finally, we will develop a “CAMBIO Implementation Guide” that documents processes and best practices, enabling future student leaders to revive or adapt the program as new funding opportunities arise.
Summer 2025 (June 15-September 15): plan and host co-design sessions with El Centro de la Raza and Front and Centered. We will work with their summer youth program participants as well as community members. We will run events on the UW Seattle campus.
Plans for long-term project management
We will seek out student members who are in a variety of stages in their UW career. Officers will be chosen each year in a way that will allow for training of future members.
Problem statement
CAMBIO aims to address two intersecting sustainability challenges that the University of Washington is currently facing:
- A significant gap in accessible Spanish-language climate education materials in the United States
- Insufficient career development pathways for bilingual students in STEM and environmental fields
Despite Washington's growing Spanish-speaking population, climate education resources in the U.S. remain overwhelmingly English-only; this inequity is expected to worsen as budget cuts and political instability continue. While robust climate science occurs throughout Latin America, linguistic barriers and academic publishing hierarchies often prevent this knowledge from circulating within U.S. educational contexts, creating a false impression that climate solutions originate primarily from English-speaking institutions.
This linguistic exclusion mirrors broader patterns of environmental injustice where vulnerable populations bear climate burdens while having limited access to solutions. Spanish-speaking communities are disproportionately impacted by climate change yet systematically excluded from the very conversations and resources meant to address these challenges.
Simultaneously, UW's bilingual students face a significant skills development gap. While their linguistic abilities represent a valuable asset in addressing environmental challenges, they lack structured opportunities to develop professional capabilities that leverage their bilingual skills in the workplace. Current academic programs rarely incorporate language justice frameworks or provide mentorship experiences that prepare students for careers bridging environmental science and community engagement.
This disconnect was illuminated in Dr. Dargan M.W. Frierson's ATM S 100 course, where he highlighted successful grassroots climate initiatives throughout North and South America—community-led transformations embodying the concept of CAMBIO (change). Students in this course repeatedly noted the knowledge gap between Spanish and English climate resources, with valuable research and innovation happening in Spanish-speaking regions often remaining unavailable or unrecognized within U.S. academic contexts. Many students discovered climate adaptation projects that, though not explicitly labeled as "climate science," demonstrate innovative approaches to challenges like food security, urban resilience, and community adaptation.
CAMBIO responds to these needs through a workforce development approach that creates multiple reinforcing benefits:
For UW students, the program provides paid professional experience developing specialized skills in science communication, cultural competency, and project management— capabilities increasingly valued in environmental and sustainability careers. By serving as mentors, UW students build leadership capacity while expanding their professional networks to include community organizations and governmental partners.
For high school participants, the program offers climate literacy, university connections, and pathways to higher education in environmental fields. Through collaborative translation and content creation, both groups produce urgently needed educational materials while building a model for climate communication that recognizes and amplifies diverse knowledge sources.
By addressing linguistic barriers in climate education while creating professional development pathways for bilingual students, CAMBIO transforms sustainability challenges into opportunities for institutional leadership and community impact.
Problem context
We will connect with existing environmental organizations at UW such as Institutional Climate Action, UW Solar, UW Farm, ASUW Student Food Co-Op, and SEED. Participating in teach-in events with these groups can be an effective way of spreading the work across the UW Sustainability ecosystem, while additionally learning from other RSOs. We will additionally connect with Latine student groups such as the Latine Student Union and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicane de Aztlan. There are currently no Latine-specific environmental groups at UW.
Measure the impacts
| Impact / goal | Metric(s) of success | UW stakeholders impacted |
|---|---|---|
| Creating climate justice knowledge banks in Spanish | 10 lessons created, construction of digital archive for sharing these | Undergraduate, Graduate |
| Skill building of UW students: climate justice knowledge, mentorship skills, cross-cultural communication skills, interdisciplinary connections | 25 students participating, 10 presentations given | Undergraduate, Graduate |
Education and outreach goals
CAMBIO: Climate Action Mentorship for Bilingual Instruction and Outreach will implement a comprehensive education and outreach strategy designed to maximize engagement, ensure program sustainability, and create lasting impact.
RECRUITMENT & OUTREACH STRATEGY
CAMBIO will recruit 8-12 UW Student Mentors through a multi-channel approach targeting students with interest in climate justice and Spanish language skills.
- Departmental outreach through established channels in Atmospheric Sciences, Biology, Spanish Language, Public Health, Earth and Space Sciences.
- Presentations at relevant student organizations, particularly those serving Latine students.
- Direct outreach to past students and alumni of similarly-focused courses.
- Collaboration with UW’s Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity.
We will emphasize the workforce development benefits, including professional networking opportunities with guest speakers from organizations like Microsoft and state agencies, marketing and public speaking skills, product and project management skills, and teaching. Marketing materials will highlight CAMBIO as a professional opportunity rather than purely an academic experience.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RECRUITMENT
To reach bilingual and Spanish-speaking high school students, we will implement a three-tiered approach:
- Community Organization Partnerships: Working through El Centro de la Raza and Front and Centered, we will reach students already connected to these trusted community stewards with their existing youth programs.
- Direct School Visits: The CAMBIO team will conduct in-person visits to 20+ public and private schools in Washington, speaking with staff about the opportunity. If time and resources allow, presentations may be booked.
- Digital Campaign: We will develop bilingual social media content and a dedicated program webpage highlight the program benefits, featuring testimonials from community leaders and explaining how participation enhances college applications and career opportunities
All recruitment materials will emphasize CAMBIO as a professional development opportunity that builds workforce skills while addressing community concerns, rather than positioning itself as remedial education.
EDUCATIONAL GOALS and ASSESSMENT
CAMBIO’s educational goals prioritize both skill development and community impact.
For UW Student Mentors:
- Develop professional level bilingual science communication skills
- Gain experience in curriculum development and educational material design
- Build mentorship and leadership capabilities
- Expand professional networks through interactions with guest speakers
- Connect academic knowledge to community-based applications
For High School Participants:
- Increase understanding of climate science fundamentals
- Develop critical thinking skills about environmental science & justice
- Enhance public speaking and presentation skills
- Create connections to potential academic/career pathways
- Build confidence in bringing climate knowledge/activism back to their communities
For the Broader UW Community:
- Create accessible Spanish-language climate education resources
- Establish a replicable model for bilingual science education
- Strengthen university-community relationships
- Demonstrate University of Washington’s commitment to environmental justice and minority voices
We will assess these goals through pre and post-program surveys, skill demonstrations through final projects, and follow-up engagements.
RESOURCE DISSEMINATION PLAN:
The Spanish language educational materials created through CAMBIO will reach beyond direct program participants through a comprehensive dissemination strategy
Digital Repository:
- All translated and newly created materials will be hosted on a dedicated section of the UW Pressbooks.
- Materials will be organized by topic and tagged with appropriate metadata to enhance searchability via the web.
- Creative Commons licensing will enable broad re-use while maintaining attribution.
Academic Integration:
- Materials will be made available to UW instructors teaching relevant courses.
- We will create a faculty guide demonstrating how to incorporate these resources into existing curricula.
Community Distribution:
- Partner organizations will receive complete materials sets for use in their programming.
- We will develop a “community educator guide” to help non-academic user effectively utilize the materials.
Media and Publications:
- We will submit articles about the program to campus and Seattle publications.
- Environmental education journals will be targets for scholarly articles about the program methodology.
- Annual impact reports will highlight program achievements and material usage.
Sustainability Conference Presentations:
- The CAMBIO team will seek to present program outcomes at regional sustainability conferences.
- Students participants will be encouraged to present their final projects at appropriate venues, continue their work outside the program.
- We will develop a “program blueprint” to enable replication at other institutions.
Through this comprehensive approach, CAMBIO will not only deliver immediate educational benefits to participants, but also create lasting resources that extend beyond initial impact. By framing climate education as workforce development and emphasizing professional skills, CAMBIO positions itself as a bridge between academic knowledge and community needs, preparing the next generation of bilingual climate professionals while addressing the critical sustainability challenges facing our communities.
Student involvement
- Mentorship Development
- Students will gain hands-on experience mentoring high school students, developing leadership skills that are valuable across careers and difficult to acquire in traditional classroom settings.
- Cross-Cultural Communication Skills:
- Working in bilingual environments with diverse participants will strengthen students' ability to communicate complex concepts across language and cultural barriers.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
- By bringing together students from multiple departments (ATM S, BIO, SPAN, Public Health), participants will develop collaborative skills across academic disciplines that mirror real-world professional environments.
- Professional Network Expansion:
- Students will connect with community organizations (Front and Centered, El Centro de la Raza), guest speakers from various fields, and other professionals, building valuable networks for future career opportunities.
- Portfolio Development:
- Creating high-quality Spanish-language educational materials provides tangible work products that students can showcase to future employers or graduate programs.
- Project Management Experience:
- Guiding high school students through a multi-week project provides practical experience in timeline management, stakeholder coordination, and deliverable production.
- Climate Justice Expertise:
- Students will deepen their understanding of climate justice principles through the process of translating and teaching these concepts, reinforcing their own knowledge.
- Teaching Experience:
- For students considering careers in education, this provides supervised teaching experience in a supportive environment.
- Community Engagement Skills:
- Students will learn how to effectively engage with community members on complex scientific topics– valuable in many environmental & public health careers.
- Resume Enhancement:
- Experience demonstrates initiative, cultural competence, and commitment to climate justice.
- Spanish Language Skills:
- For those with Spanish language backgrounds, this program provides an opportunity to utilize and strengthen professional and technical language skills that many academic programs don't address.