NJDEP Youth Inclusion Initiative
Empowering the Next Generation:
NJDEP YII at Stevens Center for Sustainability
This summer, the Stevens Center for Sustainability (SCS) proudly partnered with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) award-winning Youth Inclusion Initiative (YII) as a Community Host Organization. YII empowers youth from overburdened communities across New Jersey by providing hands-on experiences in environmental careers and immersing them in the state’s diverse ecosystems. Believed to be the only state-led initiative of its kind in the nation, YII is a pioneering model for building a more diverse and equitable environmental workforce.
SCS welcomed its first YII cohort, offering an immersive blend of expert-led learning, local action, and leadership development. Each week, NJDEP professionals introduced students to core program areas—including water resources, air quality, state parks, site remediation, and historic preservation—providing a unique inside look at the scope of environmental work across New Jersey. At Stevens, participants collaborated with mentors and community partners on a place-based sustainability project in the City of Newark, applying their skills in learning, research, planning, teamwork, and public presentation. Alongside these experiences, students also received career guidance, resume-building support, and opportunities to connect with professional networks that will guide their next steps into the environmental field.
Highlights of the program included visits to the Pequest Trout Hatchery, Wilson Park Recreation Center, and the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center, where students learned about freshwater fisheries, endangered species protection, salt marsh ecology, and conservation practices. Beyond classroom learning, they kayaked, clammed, and observed reptiles and amphibians, connecting directly with the ecosystems they studied. In Newark, the cohort tackled stormwater management challenges by cleaning and painting storm drains to raise public awareness of pollution prevention, while also developing and presenting solutions for urban resilience in partnership with the City of Newark’s Office of Sustainability and Department of Water & Sewer Utilities.
The program culminated in student-led presentations that showcased their research, creativity, and commitment. For many participants, the combination of DEP Days, professional development days and the Newark project not only deepened their knowledge of environmental issues but also sparked new interest in sustainability careers. SCS celebrates the dedication of this year’s cohort—Morolake Abayomi, Chris Altamirano, Jessica Bodian, Victor Calvo, Keren Castillo, Jaila Jean-Charles, Sophia Rodriguez, Priscel Rodriguez, and Marco Vilet—and thanks NJDEP for its leadership in shaping this pioneering program. Special appreciation goes to Stevens faculty and staff mentors, including Dibs Sarkar, Vaishali Kushwaha, Khalid Mustafa, Mohamed Mogahed, Aamir H. Jamil, and Pam Sammarco, whose commitment made this initiative a success.
The YII experience at Stevens underscores the power of collaboration between state agencies, universities, and communities to prepare the next generation of diverse environmental leaders. Explore the full journey through the interactive StoryMap here: YII 2025 StoryMap.
