The ACE Blog

ACE Interview: Jorge Alvarez on Mental Health Activism and Climate Change

Victoria Whalen, Social Media Intern

Jorge Alvarez is a 23-year-old recent first-generation college graduate, mental health advocate, digital strategist, and content creator who combines his appreciation for creative storytelling and video to inspire action, empower others, and build community. Through sharing his lived experiences and the lessons learned along the way, Jorge’s content not only destigmatizes mental health but cultivates space for collective reflection, unlearning limiting beliefs, and generational healing through breaking cycles. Jorge is expanding the definition of what it means to create authentically through embracing vulnerability and his identity as a Latino/a/x man. Today, Jorge has and continues to aspire to drive social impact and change through media and strategic partnerships which spotlight underrepresented communities. Some of Jorge’s previous clients include TikTok, Instagram, Unilever (Dove), BetterHelp, non-profits, and small businesses.

Food Security and Climate Change 101

Victoria Whalen, Social Media Intern

Access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food is a fundamental right among all people. However, there is an ongoing crisis of food insecurity worldwide that is exacerbated by climate change. Whether it’s due to droughts drying out all the crops or extreme flooding blocking the only roads to the nearest grocery store, the intersection between climate change and food insecurity is affecting millions.

Representation Matters: LGBTQIA+ Creators and Activists to Follow

Victoria Whalen, Social Media Intern

Representation matters! To see someone that represents your identity overcome their challenges can inspire a whole generation. This Pride month, here are a few LGBTQIA+ content creators everyone should know about. Read through this blog and check out each content creator’s social media platform. Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, and leave a like on their posts!

Kaila on the Trans and Queer Climate

Kaila Cantens, Civic Engagement Manager,PA

Even though I was one of the lucky few that hadn’t been kicked out of my home or cut off financially from my family, many youth who identify as queer or trans face houselessness, financial instability, unemployment, or general discrimination. As a result, many also suffer from addiction and mental health issues which perpetuate their circumstances. Queer and trans folks are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change because they experience these struggles and are provided with fewer resources to become resilient against climate impacts.

Fast Fashion and Climate Change 101

Victoria Whalen, Social Media Intern

As the price of apparel gets cheaper, their quality decreases leading to ethical and sustainable issues. Fast fashion is the latest business model that is exacerbating climate change consequences. As the third-largest polluting industry in the world, the fashion supply chain must change before it’s too late.

ACE INTERVIEW: Jazmine Alcon on Mental Health in the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community

Victoria Whalen, Social Media Intern

Jazmine Alcon (she/her) is a Filipinx mental health advocate whose goal is to provide and help nourish collective healing among the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. She is one of the co-founders of the API Mental Health organization, which was started as a way to build a community for API identifying individuals to redefine the mental health conversation.

Oil Spills and Climate Change 101

Victoria Whalen, Social Media Intern

Fossil fuels are a relic of the past that continues to cause exponential harm to our planet and our health. Today, the oil industry still makes up 40% of our global energy systems and is a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions and global warming. As our environment becomes increasingly unstable, the process of oil extraction is becoming more harmful, with spills occurring everyday. How many more oil spill catastrophes must happen in order to stop fossil fuel corporate dominance?

ACE INTERVIEW: Franziska Trautmann on Glass Recycling

Gari De Ramos, Social Media Manager

Franziska Trautmann is a 24-year-old from a small town in Louisiana. She co-founded Glass Half Full (GHF) in New Orleans to recycle glass into sand for disaster relief and coastal restoration. After growing up in Louisiana, a state that is losing land at an alarming rate and faces more and more intense hurricanes, Franziska became empowered to take action to address the climate crisis.

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Youth Advisory Board Members Join ACE’s Board of Directors

Tonyisha Harris, Associate Director of Communications and Partnerships

ACE is proud to introduce the newest members of our Board of Directors, Gemma Gutierrez, and Leilina Patel! If they look familiar, that’s because they are also members of the Youth Advisory Board (YAB). ACE is committed to providing opportunities for youth to be engaged in growth, strategy, and development. We rely on youth leadership for campaign creation, coalition building, and mobilization efforts. After reflecting on our Board of Directors’ makeup, it was evident that to break down the silo between the Board and YAB was to create space for members of YAB on the Board.

Representation Matters: AAPI Creators You Should Follow

Indy Howeth, Storytelling Intern

For too long the climate movement has not reflected the leadership of those who represent the communities most affected by environmental degradation. This is both a disservice to the movement as a whole and these people and communities. Representation matters. This AAPI Heritage Month, here are just a few AAPI climate creators that should be on everyone’s radars.