Media Contact: Cass Bonfiglio
Red Cross of Northern Nevada
Cass.bonfiglio@redcross.org | 704-577-1808
RENO, Nev. (July 3, 2025) — Members of Red Cross clubs in three Reno-area high schools have committed to a climate change initiative called Y-Adapt, which challenges youth throughout the world to commit to activities that reduce climate change. Students will take part in a two-day workshop, beginning Monday, July 7, at 9 a.m., at the Northern Nevada Chapter office, located at 4750 Longley Lane, in Reno.
The Y-Adapt program has been implemented in over 30 National Societies around the globe, made up of 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, often referred to as National Societies, which are present in nearly every country in the world.
The Utah Nevada region is the first in the United States to implement Y-Adapt with the American Red Cross, joining other Red Cross Red Crescent youth around the world in this work.
The students represent Coral Academy, along with Galena and McQueen high schools. Their Red Cross Clubs function within the Northern Nevada Chapter of the Red Cross. According to Sam Johnson, Global Youth Action Lead for American Red Cross International Services, “it was the desire of the youth in this community to take part in this training that brought the program here. We offered it across the country, and this group of youth were the most enthusiastic and dedicated to implementing the program.”
Over the two-day workshop, students will review the ‘Y-Adapt’ curriculum, which studies climate change, extreme weather, and helps to develop awareness. They will participate in sessions that explore key concepts of climate change and the hazards that are relevant to the communities where they live.
By completing this training, they’ll be considered Y-Adapt facilitators, and will then be able to go back to the Red Cross clubs at their schools and put into action what they’ve learned to create youth-led climate action projects that will allow them to make a positive impact on their school and communities.
“Once these students are trained, they’ll be able to reach youth who may not have access to information about climate change and the role of the Red Cross,” stated Bridget Posson, executive director of the Northern Nevada Chapter. “Over the last several years, we’ve seen the devastation caused by climate change world-wide through wildfires, floods and various weather events,” Posson said. “We’ve had to respond to more disasters brought on by the effects of climate. Through Y-Adapt, students throughout our region will have a greater understanding of this issue, and the need for action to ensure that our communities are prepared and our environment is protected.”
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
