My Nonprofit Reviews

Our Children's Trust (OCT) is showing leadership and foresight in its efforts to create a meaningful shift in the status quo by pushing for systemic change, change that will positively impact the youth and the generations to come. OCT's legal approaches in arguing for the right of young people to a stable climate are compelling, persuasive, and innovative. The passion stems from Julia Olson and her team, who care deeply about the youth that they represent and who are fully invested in the organization's mission to advance the youth's legal rights. The OCT team members effectively collaborate and support each other as they forge ahead to fight for the youth that they represent.

Through its legal claims and grass roots advocacy, the organization is strengthening the intersectionality between youth rights, civil rights, and environmental rights. These young people have brought important, valid claims regarding harms that they are suffering due to the current climate crisis and the actions of the government causing these harms. It is time the courts allow these young people to advance their claims in the courtrooms and stop pointing to the ballot boxes. Many of the youth are not even old enough to vote! These young people are knocking on the doors of our country's courtrooms demanding justice and not being allowed to enter.

As a legal clerk with OCT, I am able to see the team's passion and hard work firsthand. In the public realm, I am witnessing the momentum build. Supporters recognize that this fight is not only for the benefit of the youth in the lawsuits. It is for the benefit of ALL young people. The fight is for all of our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbor children, students, any young people that we love. It is for those yet to be born, the ones that are just a twinkle in our eyes. I encourage everyone to join in supporting OCT's efforts to protect the plight of our youth and our planet.

“One of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change. Every society has its protectors of status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.” Martin Luther King, Jr.