James with Chandelle Wilson, Youth & Education Programs Manager
Southside Community Land Trust is proud to celebrate James Tzul Pastor of Cumberland, RI, who has been named the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association’s 2025 Youth of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who exemplify dedication and commitment to outdoor learning and recreation, and James’s journey from a participant in our youth program to environmental educator embodies the transformative power of hands-on environmental education.
James’s path in environmental work began three years ago, when they joined as a Youth Staff member in SCLT’s workforce development program. Working at our urban farm sites in Providence and Pawtucket/Central Falls, James developed skills in sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, and food system advocacy. As they progressed to become a Youth Staff Leader, James reflected on the program’s impact: “This job led me to a lot of opportunities to continue working in this field and learning what different fields I can work in. As a Youth Leader, I like leading the kids and helping them learn, especially in the urban environment.” That commitment to learning and leading others has defined James’s career trajectory ever since.
Today, James serves as Program Coordinator at longtime SCLT partner Groundwork Rhode Island. In this role, they teach teens about gardening, composting, native species, and green infrastructure, skills that mirror their own journey through our youth program. James’s leadership extends beyond the classroom and garden beds; they organize community garden events, lead stewardship of public green spaces, and present environmental issues to families and city officials, bridging the gap between grassroots action and policy advocacy.
One of James’s most impressive accomplishments came in 2024, when they coordinated a youth-driven composting initiative at a low-income housing community in Pawtucket. This project engaged residents in diverting over 1,000 pounds of food waste in just five months, demonstrating how environmental education can create tangible community impact. By empowering youth to lead this initiative, James showed that young people aren’t just the environmental leaders of tomorrow; they’re change-makers today.
James’s recognition by RIEEA validates what we’ve long believed about the power of youth-centered environmental programming. James has grown into a thoughtful leader committed to environmental justice and community care. Their career exemplifies the goals of our program: to equip young people with practical skills in sustainable farming, critical workplace competencies, and a deeper understanding of food systems and environmental issues that prepare them for careers in Rhode Island’s agriculture and environmental sectors.
As we continue to build partnerships and expand opportunities for the approximately 45 youth who participate in our program each year, James stands as an inspiration. Their journey from learning to tend crops at Galego Community Farm to coordinating programs that impact entire communities shows the ripple effect of investing in young people. Congratulations, James, on this well-deserved recognition. Thank you for showing our current Youth Staff – and all of Rhode Island – what’s possible when passion, education, and opportunity come together to create lasting environmental and social change.
