On Saturday, July 26, 2025, Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) hosted a WIND Summit in Miami, Florida, designed to help youth ages 14–23 explore how the theme of WIND intersects with their lives in a coastal city. “WIND” at CPF symbolizes a circular economy and a transition away from a world of waste to one of reducing, reusing and recycling. This year’s theme encouraged Planeteers to dive into pressing issues such as fast fashion, single-use plastics, e-waste, food waste, and the broader impacts of overconsumption.
The event, held at Norwood Park in Miami Gardens, was made possible through the support of Councilwoman Katrina Baskins and Sherman Gant, Director of Education for the City. Twelve local youth received scholarships for a full-day Planeteer Alliance Bootcamp, where they earned certificates in Climate Awareness and Campaign Strategy, learning to create WIND-focused environmental campaigns for their communities.
Councilwoman Baskin gave opening remarks where she praised attendees for their commitment to the environment and civic responsibility.
Guest speaker and Gradible founder Yadira Diaz spent the day mentoring students, helping them sharpen their understanding of the issues and refine their ideas for change. “We always get further, faster, together,” Yadira reminded the attendees as they gave each other feedback throughout the day.
To spark inspiration, participants also heard success stories from other Planeteers around the globe. “I found it interesting how many of the other Planeteers are young, and they have accomplished a great amount of things,” shared attendee Isabella Pomareda, after hearing about various campaigns led by youth throughout Africa.
By the end of the day, student teams pitched actionable solutions focused on one of three strategies for change: affecting markets, behavior, or policy. Many youth pointed out the urgency of addressing overconsumption in a city like Miami, where the effects of climate change are both visible and deeply felt in everyday life. Their solutions emphasized waste reduction and resource conservation to help minimize landfill contributions and keep both the land and air cleaner.
Each year, youth involved in the Captain Planet Foundation’s Planeteer Alliance program come together to attend and host Summits around the world. These annual events take place over the last weekend in July and bring together community members and subject-matter experts to explore environmental challenges and potential solutions. This year there were 22 WIND Summits occurring in eleven countries worldwide, resulting in over 1,200 youth working to help their communities during this weekend.
“I have had solutions in my mind that I thought were too big to implement,” said attendee Jack Ramirez. “But this event has helped make solving climate problems tangible. It’s helping me realize that I can do something—even starting out as an individual.”
Looking ahead, the Captain Planet Foundation is excited to continue its partnership with Miami youth through the Green Heart STEM Challenge, which will include Miami as a focus city for 2026. The coming year’s theme will spotlight EARTH, inviting middle school teams to develop solutions for issues like food accessibility, healthy forests, and nutrient-rich soils. Finalists will be invited to pitch live at the challenge finale, attend an idea incubator, and apply for an implementation grant. Through these programs, Miami youth are building a more sustainable future, one solution at a time!
Visit our Green Heart STEM Challenge and Planeteer Alliance sites to learn more about our work in Miami and how you can make a difference in your community today!