If you’re concerned about climate change but haven’t found a local group to join, the students behind San Mateo’s upcoming climate rally are inviting you to meet a few.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby San Mateo Youth Group will host Stronger Together on Sunday, October 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Central Park stage, 50 East 5th Avenue. The afternoon includes a march through downtown, speeches by students and State Senator Josh Becker, and time to meet local climate organizations over food and live music. It is free, and the event page is the place to register and watch for updates.
The invitation extends to people with no experience in climate activism. You can bring a friend and a sign, or pick up an extra sign when you arrive.
A march through downtown, then back to the park
Plan to arrive at 11:15 a.m. That leaves time to meet the group before the march starts promptly at 11:30.
The route covers 12 blocks through downtown San Mateo and along El Camino Real, accompanied by a marching band and police escort. Organizers describe the pace as relaxed, and the march is scheduled to finish at noon.
Speeches begin back at the stage at 12:15 p.m. and run until 12:45. The announced speakers include Becker and CCL students.
Local climate organizations will also be there to talk with attendees about sustained involvement. The event description promises complimentary food and live music, though it does not name the participating organizations or performers.
For someone looking for a place to start, those conversations could be the most useful part of the afternoon. Ask what a group is working on, when it meets and what a new volunteer can do. You don’t need to arrive knowing which organization is right for you.
What the students do the rest of the year
The youth group is part of the San Mateo County chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan organization that helps volunteers build support for climate legislation through relationships with elected officials.
Carbon fee and dividend legislation has long been part of CCL’s work, but its policy agenda is broader. It also supports permitting reform to build and connect clean energy, healthy forest legislation and building electrification.
Locally, students take part in that advocacy directly. Each year, chapter leader and youth mentor Elaine Salinger brings students to Washington, D.C., to meet with senators and representatives. Sustainable San Mateo County recognized that work with a 2026 Sustainability Award.
The Central Park rally is the public side of that program, and this is its sixth year. The first one, in August 2021, drew about 150 people to the park, with Becker among the speakers, and he has returned most years since. The rally moved to October in 2024. The student organizers change as members graduate, which is part of why the group keeps inviting newcomers.
If you’re interested in the youth group itself, the rally is a chance to meet its members and ask how to join their next activity.
