In April 2024, Allentown received $50,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies to administer a Youth Climate Action Fund to support youth and youth-serving groups in designing and implementing climate action projects. In January 2025, Allentown received an additional $100,000 to support even more youth to realize their visions for Allentown. This round of funding aims to activate young people ages 15 – 24 to co-design, co-produce, and co-govern urgent climate solutions in cities across the globe. Allentown joins the program alongside over 90 cities from around the world, spanning across five continents.

Early 2025, Allentown was selected to continue the Youth Climate Action Fund in 2025 with an additional $100,000 in funding. >/p>

Now, the City of Allentown is excited to announce the second round of awardees for its Youth Climate Action Fund.

The Round 2 selection committee has awarded grants to 15 new youth-led projects, each receiving funding of up to $5,000. These creative and community-rooted efforts span education, environmental stewardship, public art, sustainability, and advocacy.

ROUND 2 AWARD RECIPIENTS:

• Allentown School District Tree Equity at STREAM Academy – $3,318
  Educates students and families on the value of trees through hands-on learning, native sapling distribution, and interactive environmental activities during the school’s annual block party.
• Boys and Girls Club of Allentown BGCA Bike and Walk Campaign – $3,150
  A teen-led campaign featuring a park clean-up, tree planting, and public outreach to promote biking and walking as environmentally friendly alternatives.
• Communities in Schools Trexler Middle School Outdoor Classroom – $5,000
  Partners with Lehigh University to transform green space into an engaging outdoor classroom that promotes environmental learning and stewardship.
• Community Bike Works Free Community Bike Tune-Up Day – $5,000
  Youth mechanics host a citywide bike repair event promoting sustainability and access to healthy, emission-free transportation.
• Holy District Brethren in Christ Church Garden City Green Space Revitalization – $5,000
  Converts a vacant space into a green gathering spot for youth-led education and stewardship with a focus on gardening and climate action.
• Juan Sanchez Baseball League Manos Que Reciclan, Mundo Que Respira – $5,000
  Young artists will create recycled-material art installations that raise awareness about climate change and recycling.
• Generational Guidance Reworked Goods – $5,000
  A community upcycling initiative that teaches youth and families to transform used clothing into new garments, reducing textile waste and fast fashion’s environmental impact.
• Movement Moves Media Environmental Spoken Word and Live Performances – $5,000
  A youth-led spoken word and music project that will culminate in a three-stop performance tour in downtown Allentown.
• Muhlenberg College Beyond Books – $5,000
  Students will design and distribute sustainability-focused lending kits through the Allentown Public Library, guided by community feedback.
• Muhlenberg College Radical Hospitality – White Oak Grove – $5,000
  Establishes a new oak grove on campus as a welcoming green space for community members and local wildlife, emphasizing inclusivity and ecological restoration.
• Nurture Nature Center Amirah’s Hope Organization – $4,300
  Implements AI-powered hydroponic systems and youth training programs in sustainable agriculture and environmental technology.
• Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley Youth Environmental Stewardship Initiative – $5,000
  Offers hands-on service opportunities for youth in urban agriculture and environmental conservation.
• Valley Youth House Know Your Soil: Urban and Indoor Gardening at Home – $5,000
  Provides workshops and tools to help youth and families test, improve, and maintain healthy soil while learning how to grow food at home.
• West End Park Civic Association West Park Pollinators and YOU! – $5,000
  A youth-led pollinator garden project in West Park that incorporates environmental education, placards, and QR codes for interactive community learning.

All funded projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2025, and additional award announcements are expected in the coming months.