Students Working Towards a More Sustainable Future for All
Alyna Esteem
As a Chancellor's Student Fellow, Alyna is working on the Clean California project at her home campus of Riverside City College. She also works on spreading this project to other community college campuses in California. Through collaboration with the Chancellor's Office Alyna works on educating students about the importance of sustainability and climate action, most notably at the 2025 C3 Convergence with the creation of Click, Save, Sustain a workshop focused on the environmental impacts of AI and E-waste. Acknowledging the need for more diversity within climate discussions, Alyna moderated the student panel at the conference, emphasizing the voices of students in sustainability work.
Projects
Clean California
The Clean California Project is a transformative statewide initiative to enhance the state's public spaces, reduce litter, and foster community engagement. Through projects such as coordinated clean up efforts and community education the initiative not only promotes environmental stewardship but also improves the overall quality of life for Californians. The Clean California Project isn’t just a statewide initiative it’s a movement, and it starts with you. Every neighborhood, block, and community has the power to be part of this transformation.
Student Climate Convergence
Recognizing the importance of student voices, with the aid of advisor Tonya Huff and other fellows, Alyna is currently organizing a student focused conference at Riverside City College. This conference is student led and promotes student perspectives on climate action and sustainability. As the effects of climate change accelerate, young people are not just the inheritors of the crisis,they are the innovators and advocates creating solutions. This event will bring together students, professionals, and community members to explore major urgent intersections of climate and sustainability such as the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, the culture of overconsumption, and promotion of the Clean California initiative.
Understanding AI
In collaboration with Joana Tavares-Reager, Alyna explores how students understand, use, and feel about artificial intelligence in their academic and everyday lives. Through a structured survey, we gather insights into student perspectives on AI’s benefits, challenges, and ethical implications. The findings from this initiative will contribute to an upcoming research paper aimed at better understanding the evolving relationship between students and emerging AI technologies.