~ The City of Mesa has awarded $40,000 to 11 youth-led projects focused on sustainability, conservation and community resilience.

The grants were awarded through the Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund, a Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded program now in its third year. The 2026 recipients represent five Mesa high schools, universities and community groups. Projects address water stewardship, heat mitigation and materials management, and are expected to be completed by March 31, 2027.

"Young people bring fresh perspectives, creative ideas and a passion for making a difference," Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman said. The fund, he added, helps young people turn that passion into projects benefiting the community.

Projects include a water-conserving reflection garden at Benedictine University; research into drought-adapted pollinator plants at Mesa Community College; and a Monarch butterfly habitat and art installation at Dobson High School.

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Other teams plan to study whether solar panels above bodies of water can reduce evaporation, create shaded outdoor spaces, improve campus air-quality monitoring and expand food-waste composting. A project involving Mesa High School will repair water-bottle refill stations and distribute reusable bottles as part of an effort to reduce single-use plastic.

The awards also support zero-waste services at a Mesa event, a garden and hydroponic growing system at Mendoza Elementary, and research into garden layouts that support pollinators at Arizona State University's Polytechnic Campus.

Teams of at least two people ages 15 to 24 were eligible to apply, provided their projects directly benefited the Mesa community. The city said applications underwent a rigorous review process.

Bloomberg Philanthropies' Youth Climate Action Fund has expanded to 300 cities worldwide, according to the city. The program supports young people in developing and leading projects addressing local sustainability challenges.

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