State: Florida
Years on RSYC: 2021–2026
Will protects and advocates for the environment locally and globally through his innovative One Million Mangroves initiative.
As the founder of the We Are Forces of Nature group, Will leads efforts to restore mangroves in his home state and globally, with the goal of planting one million mangroves by 2030.
Starting as a local project in Florida, Will’s network now reaches from Virginia to Peru. His initiative has restored six miles of mangroves, educated over 10,000 individuals, and was featured in a micro-documentary viewed by over 30,000 people. Will’s efforts have earned him prestigious awards like the Brower Youth Award and the Presidential Youth Award for the Southeastern United States.
Will studies Energy and Engineering in his second year of college and enjoys freediving along the Florida coast. Will’s environmental work extends beyond Roots & Shoots; he is currently the North American Co-Lead for the World Ocean Youth Advisory Council, where he collaboratively organizes youth-driven ocean and climate initiatives.
Will emphasizes the importance of bravery: “Start where you are, with what you love, and don’t wait for permission to begin.”
