Volunteer Spotlight: Shamak Gowda
By: Sanjana Avileli and Shiloh Netala
Shamak Gowda is a member of the Silicon Valley East chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby and the co-leader for the NYAT Actions team. He has helped his community in various ways and made a positive impact in CCL for over 2 years now. If you want to learn more about Shamak Gowda, continue reading!
Shamak Gowda, NYAT Actions Working Team Co-Leader and member of Silicon Valley East CCL chapter.
Shamak’s interest in CCL began after he unknowingly signed up for the wrong local CCL Chapter. It was inactive at the time, and he was looking for a way to get involved. The Youth Action Team was perfect because he felt that he could immediately start working, no matter where he was located.
As the co-leader for the NYAT Actions team, Shamak creates, plans and contributes to the Youth Lobby Trainings. Over the past two years he’s planned 4 Youth Lobby Trainings! He was a lead member of the GOAT Campaign Team with Higher Education, aiming to encourage individuals to vote for climate advocacy through students. In his local chapter, he was a member of the team that first rolled out of the Great School Electriciation Challenge. He even lobbied his Member of Congress Representative Eric Swalwell!
His future goals for this organization focus mostly on local chapter teams. He hopes the NYAT keeps growing and involves more youth. Furthermore, he would like to initiate more local youth chapters all around the world to be able to push all NYAT initiatives at the local level.
Shamak is also an active member of the Castro Valley California CCL Chapter. Shamak’s favorite memory with his local chapter is when he played Climate Anxiety Doctor on Earth Day.
We appreciate everything Shamak has contributed to CCL, and we can’t wait to see what he has to offer us this year. We wish him the best during his senior year and future adventures!
Sanjana Avileli is a member of the National Youth Climate Change Lobby and is part of the Communications Team. She is also an active member and student leader for North Carolina CCL. She enjoys debating about many different topics such as climate change, global warming, and ocean pollution. She outreaches youth in her community that are interested in climate change advocacy.
Shiloh Netala is a member of the National Youth Climate Change Lobby and is part of the Communications Team. She outreaches young people and provides an opportunity to voice their concerns about climate change. Also, she is an active member of her Richmond chapter in Virginia.
