More than 100 middle school students from across Inyo and Mono Counties are slated to attend the Fourth Annual Future Green Leaders Summit on October 8, 2026. The event, held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., will take place at the Cerro Coso Community College – Eastern Sierra College Center located at 4090 W Line St in Bishop, CA. This marks the first time the annual summit will be hosted in Inyo County, specifically serving students from both Inyo and Mono Counties.
Presented by the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN), which is administered by the County of Los Angeles, the summit aims to connect students from underserved communities with early access to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) careers and sustainable technologies. The event directly engages rural schools that have historically experienced systemic resource gaps, empowering students to consider roles in a cleaner, more resilient future.
Participants will engage in a dynamic, immersive experience designed to spark passion for green careers. Activities include hands-on experience in product design, storytelling through film and music, induction cooking, and building their own dream sustainable community. The summit offers explorations into diverse career pathways in sustainability and energy efficiency, all with the goal of reducing carbon emissions and creating a healthier planet.
Students will interact directly with leaders in various fields. Among them are filmmaker Adèle Jacques, Thomas Yount with his game “Climate Cooldown,” and AY Young, a singer-songwriter, United Nations Young Leader, and founder of Battery Tour. Young utilizes music and clean-energy-powered performances to connect young people with career opportunities and technologies shaping California’s green economy. Additionally, students will explore STEAM exhibits and resource fair booths hosted by government and industry partners, alongside participating in student breakout sessions.
Michael Owh, Director of the County of Los Angeles Internal Services Department, emphasized the summit's mission, stating it is about "empowering the next generation." He added that the summit ignites curiosity and enthusiasm, ensuring every student has access to opportunities, inspiration, and the tools needed to create a cleaner, brighter future. Owh noted that leaders will showcase their crafts and collaborate with youth to envision a resilient, sustainable world, encouraging students to realize their limitless potential.
The summit is offered at no cost to participating schools and is closed to the public. It is designed as a collaboration between local government, private industry, and higher education, supporting the career readiness goals of local school districts. For many students, this annual summit represents their initial exposure to these evolving fields.
The economic landscape of Inyo and Mono counties heavily relies on tourism, outdoor recreation, and public land management. Opportunities in climate adaptation, ecosystem management, and renewable energy are expanding in these regions. Supporting jobs in these sectors is critical, especially as parts of Eastern California face socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities, including elevated pollution in agricultural and transit areas and increasing wildfire risks due to declining Sierra Nevada snowpack. These factors heighten local demand for resilient workforce skills. Statewide, clean energy employment in 2024 surpassed 551,600 workers, driven by steady growth in energy efficiency and clean technology sectors, underscoring the relevance of these career exposures.
Since its inception in 2023, the Future Green Leaders Summit, including this year's event, will have inspired a total of 2,700 students. Prior events were held in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, and San Bernardino. SoCalREN, which administers the programs and is funded by California utility ratepayers, also provides longer-term workforce education and training. Its Architecture, Construction, Engineering and Sustainability (ACES) Pathway Program connects high school students to college, career, and work-based learning opportunities. Over 11 years, ACES has engaged over 2,300 Title I high school students, who collectively earned more than $283,000 in wages through paid summer internships.
