2026 Award Recipient
JuliaPromoff
Project 4 Green Futures
Project 4 Green Futures
Julia is the founder of 4 Green Futures, an organization that brings environmental education to elementary school classrooms through a network of high school mentors, turning eco-anxiety into eco-action.
Julia’s connection to the cause began at age eight, watching a public service announcement about global warming. The feelings of fear and helplessness she experienced that night stayed with her. Years later, as co-president of her high school’s environmental club, she led several initiatives including a district-wide recycling program, planting of more than 70 trees, and the removal of 1,600 pounds of trash from the Chattahoochee River. Thinking back to her own fears, Julia wanted to make sure the next generation knew how to channel fears about climate change into meaningful action.
4 Green Futures pairs high school student directors with local elementary schools, where they design and deliver hands-on environmental lessons tailored to their region’s specific issues. Workshops move from classroom instruction to interactive activities (such as simulations, scavenger hunts, art projects, or trash cleanups) and always close with a reminder that it’s never too early to take action.
4 Green Futures exists in many states, with nearly 100 student directors and volunteers reaching more than 6,000 elementary school students. The curriculum is also offered in Spanish to serve dual-language immersion classrooms.
An organization that provides community-based environmental education to elementary school students, pairing high school mentors with local classrooms to turn eco-anxiety into eco-action.
