Jerome Foster II facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jerome Foster II
Jerome Foster II, in 2022
Member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council
Incumbent
Assumed office March 29, 2021
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Office established
Personal details
Born	(2002-05-09) May 9, 2002 (age 23) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Domestic partners	Elijah McKenzie-Jackson (2021–present; engaged 2023)
Occupation	Climate Justice Activist
Signature

Jerome Foster II (born May 9, 2002) is a young American environmental activist. He is known for being the youngest White House advisor ever in the United States. He is part of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council under President Joe Biden.

Jerome is a strong voice for communities that often don't get heard, especially when it comes to social, economic, and environmental justice. He is a main organizer for Fridays for Future. He held weekly climate strikes outside the White House for over a year! When he was 16, he worked as an intern for U.S. Representative John Lewis. At 14, he was on the Washington D.C. State Board of Education's Advisory Council.

He has helped organize some of the biggest climate marches in Washington, D.C.. He has also spoken at important events like the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Youth Climate Summit. Jerome became well-known after organizing climate strikes at the White House. He was even interviewed by former Vice President Al Gore.

Early Life

Jerome Foster II was born in Washington, D.C., on May 9, 2002. His mother is René Foster, and his father is Jerome Foster Sr. He went to Washington Leadership Academy High School and finished in June 2020. In 2019, he was chosen to attend Harvard University during the summer before his senior year of high school. After high school, he started studying computer science at Pace University.

Activism for Change

Creating Virtual Worlds

When Jerome was 14, he started an organization called TAU VR. This group built virtual reality worlds. These virtual worlds helped people learn about American History, Climate Change, and immigration to the United States. In 2017, TAU VR was shown on a TV special called XQ Super School Live. This show was on major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX. It shared his story of winning 3rd place at the World Series of Entrepreneurship.

Youth Climate News

In November 2017, Jerome started The Climate Reporter. This is an international news outlet led by young people. It focuses on reporting about climate issues around the world.

White House Climate Strikes

Jerome was part of Greta Thunberg's School Strike for Climate movement. He held weekly climate strikes in front of the White House in Lafayette Square. On September 13, 2019, Greta Thunberg herself joined Jerome's White House climate strike. Thousands of people came to support them. Through these strikes, Jerome met actress Jane Fonda and has worked with her on her Fire Drill Fridays.

OneMillionOfUs

Jerome founded OneMillionOfUs in early 2019. This is an international non-profit group that helps young people vote and speak up. Its goal is to "educate, empower and mobilize" young people to be active in their communities and globally. OneMillionOfUs has brought together many groups to give young people the tools they need to create change. This organization also created a "Uniting Youth Coalition." This coalition brings together five youth movements: gun violence, climate change, immigration reform, gender equality, and racial equality. It helps them work together on events and campaigns.

Speaking Up for Rights at COP27

In July 2022, Jerome and his partner, Elijah McKenzie-Jackson, wrote a letter to the UNFCCC. They asked the United Nations to move the COP27 climate summit. They were concerned about human rights issues in Egypt, where the summit was planned. Jerome is a public advocate for human rights. He and his partner felt they might be at risk if they traveled to Sharm El-Sheikh.

The letter was sent to Patricia Espinosa, who was the UNFCCC Executive-Secretary. Important activists like Nadya Tolokonnikova and Eric Njuguna also signed it. Jerome said that not taking action would be "inherent discrimination." He believed that "critical voices will be left out" if COP27 stayed in Egypt.

Working in Politics

D.C. Education Board

When he was 15, Jerome became the only student representative on the District of Columbia State Board of Education High School Graduation Requirements Task Force. He worked to update high school graduation rules for students starting with the class of 2030.

Congressional Internship

At 16, Jerome became an intern for U.S. Representative John Lewis. During his internship, he continued to hold weekly climate rallies outside the White House on Fridays. This was part of Greta Thunberg's Fridays For Future movement. He pushed for the Climate Change Education Act. This act would add environmental education as a main subject in all American schools. It would also give money for colleges to research the climate crisis.

Biden Administration

On March 29, 2021, the White House announced that Jerome Foster would be an advisor. He joined the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. In this role, he gives advice on how to fix problems related to environmental injustice.

Personal Life

Jerome Foster has been in a relationship with British climate activist Elijah McKenzie-Jackson since 2021. They announced their engagement on June 11, 2023.

Awards and Honors

Jerome Foster II has received many awards for his work:

• World Series of Entrepreneurship – 2017
• D.C. State Board of Education Leadership and Commitment Award – 2018
• Union of Concerned Scientists' Defender of Science Award – 2019
• Audubon Naturalist Society 2020 Youth Environmental Champion Award
• Grist 50! Environmental Fixer Achievement – 2020
• The Root's Young Futurist Achievement – 2020
• Captain Planet Foundation Young Superhero for Earth Award – 2022
• Business Insider Climate Action 30 Achievement – 2022

Film and TV Appearances