Who We Are:
The Green|Spaces Youth Sustainability Board is a collective of high school leaders across Chattanooga dedicated to shaping a sustainable future. The board provides a platform for young leaders to research, design, and implement real-world sustainability initiatives that benefit our city.
Our Goals:
The opportunities available through the board are vast, ranging from research and policy projects to collaboration with the city government.
Currently, we are leading a project on net metering. Members have published policy work with organizations like the Perrin Institute, presented ideas to local leaders, and conducted policy research.
Meet The Board:
Who Can Apply?
Acceptance is open to high schoolers in the Chattanooga area who have a passion for sustainability and creating a positive change in the community.
Commitments:
Members must attend and actively participate in monthly board meetings, work with the board on projects, and contribute to awareness efforts, such as social media campaigns.
Interested in Joining?
Apply today! Acceptance is on a rolling basis. The board will review your application and connect with you as soon as possible.
Get to Know The Board:
Soham Punjani:
A youth sustainability advocate interested in the intersection of public policy, environmental studies, and media. His passion for the environment began after his family moved to Chickamauga Lake, where filming sunsets inspired a deeper appreciation for the planet and led him to create his short film One Fragile World. That experience sparked his involvement in environmental research, net metering advocacy, and youth sustainability work.
Soham plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy with a minor in Environmental Studies and hopes to build a career using research, data, and media to support practical, collaborative sustainability solutions. He believes sustainability is an active, unselfish choice and is especially passionate about net metering as a pathway to a cleaner, more accessible energy future.
Majdi Alameddine:
Brings a values-driven perspective to sustainability, rooted in faith, responsibility, and a strong sense of purpose, shaped by his Middle Eastern upbringing. An avid traveler, he hopes to one day visit Ghana, where his mother was born, to further connect with his cultural roots.
Majdi plans to pursue a B.A. in Political Science on a pre-law track and became engaged in sustainability after learning about net metering from a longtime friend, Soham. Discovering that Tennessee ranks near the bottom nationally for solar installations motivated him to take action. He believes sustainability and justice are deeply connected and is passionate about making sustainability accessible to all communities—especially those historically excluded from environmental conversations. Majdi is committed to fostering inclusivity, energy equity, and policies that consider both the communities of today and the generations to come.
Stephanie Zhong:
Driven by a belief that small actions can create meaningful change, Stephanie Zhong approaches sustainability through creativity, collaboration, and innovation. She enjoys white water rafting and hiking and has long dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, inspired by a deep appreciation for the natural world. Stephanie plans to pursue a college degree in a business-related field, where she hopes to reframe sustainability not as a cost, but as an opportunity to build ethical, forward-thinking business models.
Stephanie’s passion for sustainability grew through her participation in National Geographic’s Slingshot Challenge, where she developed a project focused on contact lens recycling. This experience deepened her understanding of microplastics, unethical energy consumption, and the power of spreading awareness. She co-founded Small Lenses, Big Change, an initiative dedicated to recycling contact lenses and reducing often-overlooked plastic waste. Stephanie sees sustainability as reciprocity—giving back to the Earth through small, conscious contributions—and values flexibility and outside-the-box thinking as key tools for creating solutions that work for everyone.
Liliana Coleman:
Coleman approaches sustainability through the lens of human health, curiosity, and responsibility for the future. She enjoys swimming and biking and dreams of visiting places like Socotra Island in Yemen for its unique biodiversity or the Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand. Liliana plans to study nutritional science and dietetics in college, with an interest in how environmental systems directly shape public health.
Her sustainability journey began unexpectedly after joining the Environmental Club, where hands-on projects and a limnology class revealed the deep connection between water quality, ecosystem stability, and human health. A study abroad experience in Botswana further solidified this passion, leading her to take on a leadership role within the Environmental Club and encourage others to explore sustainability through curiosity. Liliana is interested in public health policy focused on nutrition access, food security, and water quality, believing sustainability is essential to protecting both people and the planet. She values learning from others, collaborative leadership, and taking intentional action today to ensure dignity, health, and access to basic necessities for future generations.