Alameda, Calif., Sept. 12, 2026
By 10 a.m. on Saturday, dozens of students were already spread along Seaplane Lagoon Promenade with grabbers and trash bags in hand. A few hours later, many of them were standing at a microphone, telling a room full of peers how they got started.
That mix of doing and sharing is what AquaMeridian US built its second annual Student Leadership Forum around. The event drew student leaders, families, and community partners from across the Bay Area, with six youth organizations presenting on everything from climate organizing to hands-on STEM programs for kids.
The forum grew out of something steady and hands-on. For four years, AquaMeridian has joined partners CASA (Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda) and DOER Marine every month to clean Alameda’s shoreline. Along the way, those cleanups became something East Bay students rarely find: a lasting, real way to protect the environment that they can return to again and again.
Many of the students at Saturday’s cleanup have been coming for years. They know the routine, they bring friends, and they keep showing up because the work feels like theirs. For a lot of them, it is one of the few places where they can see the difference they make with their own hands, and feel proud of it.
As always, the forum started right there, at the shoreline.
Starting at the Shore
[Number] volunteers spent the morning clearing litter from Seaplane Lagoon Promenade, collecting [amount] of trash. Once the last bags were dropped at the dumpster and the site was packed up, the group walked over together to Almanac Adventureland & Brewery.
Lunch at Almanac
For the second year in a row, Almanac Adventureland & Brewery hosted the forum, providing the event space along with a pizza lunch and drinks for everyone. After a morning on the beach, it was a welcome sight.
Midway through lunch, the big screen lit up for the otter plushie drawing. Fifteen registered students were chosen at random to take home an otter plushie. Congratulations to all of our winners!
Student Club Spotlight
Once everyone had settled in, the microphone passed to the students. Some of the same volunteers who had been picking up bottle caps that morning were now sharing the stories behind the organizations they run. Six groups presented, each showing a different way young people are stepping up:
Bay Area Youth Climate Summit (BAYCS): “Progress Over Perfection”
Chaarvi Kovuru, Bahiya Davis, and Sasha Hahn shared how BAYCS grew from a group founded during COVID into a network of 100+ workshops, 6 annual summits, and over 200 Bay Area high schools, and how connecting youth has inspired real change in their cities.Reverse Engineering Foundation: “Built to Be Broken!”
President Joshua Dong and Vice President Josh Karthikeyan talked about bringing hands-on STEM events to more than 500 kids across Fremont, Newark, and Tracy, and what they’ve learned about sparking curiosity in young students.AquaMeridian: “Our Journey of Growth at AquaMeridian”
Xiaohan Li, Outreach and Logistics Officer, and student leader Lucas shared how they grew from volunteers into leaders, turning local environmental concerns into research, education, and action.Shine4Love: “Jonathan’s Journey of Developing Leadership”
Jonathan Chen gave an honest look at his path from shy student to teen leader, and how he’s still building the confidence to guide others.Shine4Love Teens Club: “Super Simple Science Project”
Bhuvana Sai Sindu Tunuguntla, Director of Art and Design and Community Outreach, shared how her science workshop helps teens build science, communication, and project management skills while giving back to the community.Shine4Love Teens Club: “My Experience with the Congressional Award”
Timo Ye walked through what students gain from the Congressional Award, from character and practical skills to recognized personal growth, and how Shine4Love makes the award more accessible.Encinal High School Key Club, a service organization that provides volunteer opportunities for high school students
CASA/Alameda High School
Patrick Hirsch, a longtime student volunteer, leader, and advocate for CASA and DOER Marine, Patrick graduated this spring, he shared what years of showing up for the shoreline have meant to him and why more students should get involved in their local community.
Thank You
A special thank you to Almanac Adventureland & Brewery for once again giving us a home for the day, and for keeping everyone well fed. Thank you to CASA and DOER Marine for four years of partnership on the shoreline, to every student presenter for sharing your story, and to every volunteer who showed up for our beach.
