For many University of South Florida students, involvement in student organizations is about more than making friends or building a resume. It's an opportunity to extend learning beyond the classroom and into the community, developing the leadership, advocacy, and civic engagement skills needed to create meaningful change.
One of 13 chapters of GenCLEO — the youth movement of the CLEO Institute (Climate Leadership Engagement Opportunities) — GenCLEO at USF gives students the opportunity to engage in sustainability initiatives on campus while advocating for climate policy at the local and state levels. Through their involvement, members develop leadership skills, learn how public policy is shaped, and gain firsthand experience working with elected officials and community leaders.
Recent Judy Genshaft Honors College alum Carolina Gutfreund joined GenCLEO during her second year at USF after learning about the organization while volunteering at the USF Climate Teach-In. She was drawn to the opportunity to become more involved in environmental advocacy and make a positive impact in her community.
“The main goal of GenCLEO is to empower young people and let them know that they do have the power over their future and empower them to join the fight and see that they have a voice,” Gutfreund said.
GenCLEO members work to advance climate solutions through campus initiatives and advocacy with local and state leaders. For USF student Haran Mahesh, the organization provided valuable experience researching policy, preparing legislative appeals, and speaking directly with elected officials.
“In GenCLEO, we advocate for environmental policies and climate solutions through lobbying both in our student government and to local and state leaders,” Mahesh said.
Making a Difference at the Capitol
On Earth Advocacy Day in January 2026, members of GenCLEO at USF joined students from chapters across Florida for a trip to Tallahassee to meet with policymakers and discuss legislation affecting constituents' quality of life and the state's environmental future.
Carolina Gutfreund and a student from GenCLEO at Valencia College visit the Florida State Capitol.
The two-day visit gave students the opportunity to engage with elected officials during a youth power rally and share their perspectives with the public during a press rally.
When Mahesh decided to participate in the advocacy trip, he was initially apprehensive about how GenCLEO would be received by policymakers.
“When I went up to Tallahassee, I was expecting a lot of pushback, but what I really saw was that we were able to have respectful and productive conversations,” Mahesh said.
For many students, the experience provided valuable opportunities to connect with lawmakers working on issues they cared deeply about.
“I got to meet the person who wrote the HB 1007 bill, which is about AI data centers in Florida,” Gutfreund said. “It was a very interesting conversation, and he actually was able to send us to the Senate, where I got to meet the senator from my hometown in Miami, who wrote the Senate version of this bill.”
Advocating for Change at Home
When they are not advocating in Tallahassee, GenCLEO members focus on making their university more sustainable. From supporting efforts to reinstate the USF Office of Sustainability to encouraging students to participate in the democratic process, the organization works to create meaningful change on campus.
Gutfreund encourages students interested in advocacy not to wait until after graduation
to get involved.
“Don't feel like just because you're a student or a young individual that you don't
have a say in things because, in reality, it's our life, it's our future, and it's
up to us right now,” she said.
USF student Max Merchant said students do not have to lead a movement to make a meaningful impact. Simple actions, such as exercising the right to vote, are one way every student can help shape the future.
“The power is in your hands,” Merchant said. “Go out there, vote, and get engaged because your voice matters more than you know.”