“Young elected officials from all over the country are proposing legislation, passing laws and standing up to fight environmental injustice so we can create an inclusive clean energy economy. Young elected officials have led this country from its inception, and continue to progress our country at all levels of government,” said Mayor Svante Myrick of Ithaca, New York. “I’m encouraged by the wave of young activists demanding climate action. There is no doubt that their momentum helped New York pass the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, putting us on a path to the future.”

Mayor Myrick was elected to the Ithaca Common Council in 2007 while he was a student at Cornell University. After graduation in 2009, Myrick ran for mayor of Ithaca. Upon taking office in 2012, at age 24, Myrick became the city’s youngest mayor and its first mayor of color when he was sworn into office on January 1, 2012. He also became the youngest mayor in the history of the State of New York. He was re-elected in 2015 and 2019. He’s traveled as a guest all over the world speaking about his programs and experiences.

Svante continues to lead the Young Elected Officials network (YEO) which brings young leaders together to train them and to help build their community.