“My advice to young change makers is to get involved in every way possible. Many kids get stuck when they are thinking of project ideas and try to bit off more than they can chew. It’s ok to start small and with what you know.”
Grade: College—first-year student
History with Roots & Shoots: Four years with Roots & Shoots; RSYC member 2019-2023
Maddy’s hometown is San Marino, California, and she is helping local pollinators thrive! While much of her time on the council has been during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maddy had a lot of fun meeting her fellow council members at the RSYC summit in DC. She even got to take home some honey from the bee hives at National Geographic’s headquarters, where she presented on her favorite Roots & Shoots project, The Thriving Hive Project! For this work, she brings awareness about native pollinators to her community, sells merchandise to raise funds for pollinators, and starts drought-resistant pollinator gardens in the area! In addition to this continued work, she works hard creating a compost culture in her community, which only serves to benefit the pollinator gardens! For fun, Maddy plays varsity water polo, volunteers at various local nonprofits, and settles down to watch feel good movies while eating some homey food!
