Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund Earns Statewide Environmental Excellence Award

Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund Earns Statewide Environmental Excellence Award

The Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund (MYCAF) program received a Crescordia Award, the highest honor presented at Arizona Forward's Environmental Excellence Awards on March 21. The program was recognized in the Curriculum-Based and Youth Environmental Education category. Mayor Mark Freeman accepted the award on behalf of the City.

"Mesa is proud to be recognized by Arizona Forward. Our MYCAF program reflects our city's commitment to innovation, conservation and community collaboration," said Freeman. "This honor celebrates the young leaders whose ideas and energy are shaping a more resilient and environmentally responsible Mesa for generations to come."

MYCAF engages Mesa residents ages 15 to 24 to design and implement solutions to local climate challenges through microgrants in the amount of $1,000 to $5,000. The City of Mesa is a two-time recipient of funding for this grant program, which is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The award follows the completion of the program's second funding cycle. In 2025, Mesa awarded 18 microgrants through nine community partners, supporting youth-led projects that engaged more than 1,100 community members.

Projects addressed a range of environmental priorities, including reducing fast fashion through clothing swap events, advancing water conservation efforts and exploring agrivoltaics. Collectively, these initiatives are projected to prevent 73 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions while fostering long-term partnerships and community impact..

In addition to the environmental outcomes, MYCAF helps youth leaders develop workforce-ready skills in grant writing, budgeting, project management and community engagement. By pairing youth leadership with measurable climate action goals, the program cultivates the next generation of environmental stewards while delivering tangible benefits for the Mesa community.

Learn more about MYCAF and view the full list of projects at mesaaz.gov/MYCAF.