Youth Environmental Health Ambassadors (YEHA)
The Youth Environmental Health Ambassadors (YEHA) program, created by CHARRS, empowers youth with the knowledge and tools to understand environmental health issues and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Students gain exposure to science, math, and real-world systems while building leadership skills, increasing social mobility, and serving their communities.
program pillars
1
community outreach & engagement
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Help plan, set up & execute community meetings
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Indoor/Outdoor Air Quality training
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Environmental Justice & Social Determinants of Health
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Climate Change
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Emergency Preparedness
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GIS & Modified Ethics
2
Engagement Opportunities
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Atlanta Repair Café — Waste Diversion
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Health Impact Assessment Administration
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Working alongside college students
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Meeting public officials
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Networking with nonprofit leaders
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Leading in their own communities
3
Specific Opportunities
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Community meetings
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Stormwater projects
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Air monitoring projects
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Gardening projects
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Emergency preparedness
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Social media & peer presentations
Removing Barriers to participation
Youth from marginalized communities often lack access to the same social networks as their peers — connections to decision-makers, mentors, and professionals that open doors to jobs, internships, and recommendations. CHARRS actively bridges this gap by creating intentional spaces where young people can meet and learn from leaders, officials, and community changemakers in meaningful, real-world settings.
CAPACITY BUILDING & RECOGNITION
YEHA participants choose how to share what they've learned — with peers, with seniors and elders, or with younger students. Approved ideas are funded by CHARRS. This same model extends to adults through the Community Environmental Health Workers program.