With generous support from the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition, MiCAN mentors sets of three local storytellers through the Climate Influencer Cohort to become messengers creating climate, culture, and decarbonization content.
Young BIPOC Michiganders are undeniably the group most affected by climate change, yet historically have been left out of the conversation. We're passing the mic to diverse (racial, geographic, economic, etc.) youth (aged 18-25) whose voices will resonate with Millennial, Gen Z, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA2S+ followers, to do our part in changing the face of the climate movement to center the most marginalized.
Participants in the 12-week, paid program gain close guidance from MiCAN staff, exposure to other members of Michigan's environmental justice movement, and climate communications experience and credibility, all while helping MiCAN reach new audiences by cultivating dialogue within their own communities, informing their peers in Michigan how they can become more climate resilient.
May - August 2024 Cohort
Mia Breznau
Mia is a dedicated climate activist from the Kalamazoo area with a lifelong passion for Nature. Despite her age, she is a prominent leader in Michigan’s climate advocacy community and has played a pivotal role in advancing climate literacy legislation and passing Michigan’s recent Clean Energy Plan—you may recognize her as MiCAN’s 2023 Youth Climate Leader of the Year!
Outside of the Climate Influencers Program, Mia is a co-founder of National Youth for the Climate Emergency (NYCE) and this past year a Senior Leader of SW Michigan’s most prestigious youth activism group, the Ardea Youth Climate Coalition.
Though her activism work focuses mainly on climate education, clean energy, conservation, and regenerative agriculture, her core mission is to help foster connections between her peers and Nature and empower others to recognize the power of their voices in the fight for a sustainable future. She is excited to share her passions with a new audience and inspire others to action as one of MiCAN’s new Climate Influencers!
Madi Burt
Madi is a vegan, community activist, and local creative. They are the manager of Metro Detroit’s first zero waste store, Walking Lightly, where they’re able to share resources and be present for the community through the collective effort to reduce waste and keep single-use plastics out of the waste stream. Their work doesn’t exclusively focus on personal consumption choices; Madi and the small-but-mighty Walking Lightly crew organize community outreach events like trash cleanups and educational workshops. Madi believes strongly in the power of individual choices and the change that follows those actions.
Outside of the local refill shop, Madi is pursuing their BFA in Acting at Wayne State University. On and off the stage, she hopes to make a positive impact. Madi loves exploring the intersection they’ve found between sustainability and creativity. Upcycling, altering, and making clothes from secondhand fabrics for herself and others. Making candles in repurposed vessels. If it’s creatively fulfilling and good for the environment, you can bet Madi has dabbled. Madi hopes this incredible opportunity with MiCAN will help her expand their skill set to better share, support, and connect with others about climate justice and beyond.
Angel Linear
Angel Linear, a dedicated Environmental Science student hailing from the bustling urban landscape of Detroit, is driven by a profound curiosity about the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the forces shaping our natural world. This passion has led her to pursue a degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Physics.
Alongside her academic pursuits, Angel actively engages in informing communities about climate change, natural disaster preparedness, and resilience. Through hands-on fieldwork, impactful research projects, and community initiatives, she advocates for sustainability, conservation, and the mitigation of climate change-related challenges. With a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship, Angel aspires to make meaningful contributions toward a healthier planet for generations to come.
January - March 2024 Cohort
Mickkayla Callahan
Mickkayla is a passionate climate activist with an education in digital marketing. She has found that her marketing interests and education can make a significant impact on climate change. Weekly, she uses graphics, literature, and other visual aids to spread awareness of climate change and encourage others to take action, via her climate action council and personal endeavors. Mickkayla is a Steering Committee member of White Lake Area Climate Action Council (WLACAC) and does most of her climate work with the council. With WLACAC since its inception, she has helped it successfully encourage climate declarations, host climate scientist education series, give back to the community, and more. The council's goal is to reach net zero by 2040. Mickkayla believes her work with MICAN will enable her to use and enhance her marketing skills to guide herself and others toward net zero.
Kam Gardner
As a Community Engagement Program Manager specializing in recycling, Kam merges her passion for digital climate communications with a focus on fostering sustainable lifestyles. In her role, she intertwines her enthusiasm for recycling with a love for fashion and art to advocate for a circular economy, transforming the perception of "trash." She has a passion for educating youth through recognizable items, particularly in fashion, which allows her to present sustainability in a fresh perspective! Kam earned a Bachelor's in Environmental Studies and Sustainability from Michigan State University, and is dedicated to enhancing Detroit's environmental health. She looks for ways to support sustainable initiatives that align with her commitment to the city's well-being. Creatively expressing herself through painting, drawing, and upcycling clothing, Kam believes in preserving nature's beauty for future generations, urging conscious steps to protect our environment.
Lyla Hollis
Lyla is passionate about digital climate communications because she loves using her photography to capture and share nature around her. Not only does photography exemplify the beauty of our planet, but also the importance of maintaining and protecting Earth’s many ecosystems. With social media being so prevalent in today’s society, it is important that there is a message behind each media post. Working with MiCAN allows Lyla to inform her platforms of the various ways they can positively impact their Michigan community, while exhibiting her own creative pieces to provide motivation. Lyla's goal during her time as a climate influencer is to showcase the beauty of Michigan through social media, while encouraging change and perseverance for a better future.