One Degree Campaign
Save energy, starting from a small step at home! Set thermostat 1 degree higher in summer, 1 degree lower in winter.
As of April 2023, 80 individuals and 3 companies have signed up for the pledge.
01Impact hub
Proof that youth-led work can become a public record.
The measurable record in one place: events, fundraising, awards, campaigns, partner causes, and environmental data.
Measured impact
250+
Registered members
300+
Student and family volunteers
240+
Events organized
$17.9k
Raised for nonprofits
3,000+
Pounds of trash cleared
35+
Published articles and presentations
3 years running
Constellation Community Champions
First Step Team has been named Constellation Community Champions for the third year in a row. Thank you Constellation for the grant.
Public dataResearch and data
Microplastics Mapping in Natural Waters
Microplastics Mapping in Natural Waters was part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Youth Climate Action Fund 2025 Atlanta Cohort. This is the very first public data on microplastics pollution distribution for the metro Atlanta area.
Thank you to Bloomberg and their local partners: City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Sustainability and Resilience, and 21st Century Leaders, for making this possible.
Money matters
The fundraising ledger
Yard sales, bake sales, bell ringing, and walks: small events, tallied year by year and sent to local nonprofits.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
| 2024 | $1,165 |
| 2023 | $1,000 |
| 2022 | $500 |
| 2021 | $460 |
Salvation Army
| 2024 | $3,800+ |
| 2023 | $4,000+ |
| 2022 | $2,000+ |
| 2021 | $1,500+ |
| 2020 | $1,000+ |
Campaigns
Daily choices, made visible
Keep America Beautiful Adopt A Spot
Find the link for your county, choose a spot to adopt, and start cleaning up trash. Available in DeKalb, Forsyth, North Fulton, Atlanta, and Gwinnett counties.
The Lin Family (Atlanta) has already signed up.
Water Warriors
With the future of our waterways at stake, what would happen if each and every young person living within our watershed learned how to protect their local creeks, lakes, and rivers? The goal of Water Warriors is to inspire and empower student river advocates and help them find their own personal connection to the great outdoors, including the Chattahoochee River.
Awards
Recognition, kept as evidence
Shine A Light awards and volunteer recognition are archived by year as proof that the work was seen.
2026
Shine A Light Awards
4 categories1st Grade - 3rd Grade
Leo Wang (Rising Star Award), Belina Ge (Voice Of Impact Award)
4th Grade - 5th Grade
Benjamin Lu (3rd Place), Abigail Cai (Most Memorable Voice Award)
Middle School
Blair Zhu (2nd Place), Shiou Li (Rising Star Award), Michael Chen Foley (Most Memorable Speech Award), Jolin Zhang (Most Confidence On Stage Award)
High School
Sophie Zhou (2nd Place), Mitchell Kuang (Most Memorable Speech Award), Richard Li (Best Stage Presence Award), Andrew Kuang (Inspiring Voice Award), Eric Lin (Voice of Impact Award)
2024
Shine A Light Awards
4 categoriesElementary School 4th-5th Grade
Jolin Zhang (3rd Place), Shana Ji (Outstanding), Esther Li (Outstanding)
Elementary School 1st-3rd Grade
Corey Chen (Outstanding)
High School
William Xu (1st Place), Annie Lin (3rd Place), Angela Zhou (Outstanding), Brady Zhou (Outstanding)
Middle School
Sophie Zhou (2nd Place), Shawn Ji (3rd Place), Thomas Bai (Outstanding), George Zhang (Outstanding)
2023
Shine A Light Awards
1 categoriesAll Categories
Aaron Chen, Alex Sun, Allison Yang, Angela Zhou, Anna Hu, Anna Jing, Annie Lin, Bella Jing, Brady Zhou, Chloe Lin, Claire Jing, Claire Ling, Dennis Xu, Emily Song, Erica Ng, Grace Ling, Hannah Gao, Hope Liu, Janelle Yuan, Jason Ling, Jeremy Wu, Jiayi Chen, Kellyn Fan, Kevin Fan, Mason Cao, Michelle Hu, Nathan Deng, Qiushi (Rachel) Li, Shana Ji, Shawn Ji, Shiou (Esther) Li, Sophia Zheng, Sophie Yang, Sophie Zhou, Vincent Ng
Causes we support