A chant rings through Garfield Avenue, starting just outside of Pasadena City Hall: “Carbon Free by 2030.” Westridge students hoist signs that say “Cancel Carbon” and “Go Green. Stay Clean.” As Lindsay C. ’25, the 2025 Rose Queen and a Green Guerrillas Co-Head, takes to the podium, cheers erupt through the crowd.

“In times like this, we must remember that climate change isn’t just about infrastructure or policy, but people,” Lindsay said. Lindsay was one of around 200 people who gathered outside of City Hall to commemorate the second anniversary of passing Resolution 9977 on January 30, 2023.

Pasadena 100, a coalition of environmental advocacy groups, organized the candlelight vigil on January 30, 2025. In addition to Westridge senior Lindsay, the event included several speakers like Polytechnic School junior Audrey Ma, Pasadena weatherman Edgar McGregor, and council member Jason Lyon. They all reflected on the recent, devastating Eaton fire, the role climate change had in fueling the flames, and a more environmentally friendly future for Pasadena. 

Pasadena-area U.S. Representative Judy Chu and Pasadena Vice Mayor Jess Rivas were also in attendance. 

Student-leader Ma, from Polytechnic School, attended the event as representative of the Pasadena 100 advocacy group, as she has been an avid member since she was 11 years old and has spoken at their events before. She rallied the crowd together, starting chants multiple times. In her speech, she said, “We can be the change we want to see, so today let us begin.” 

In the weeks post-fires and leading up to the vigil, the Green Guerrillas, led by Upper School Service and Community Engagement Coordinator Ms. Erica St. John, advertised the event to Westridge students. During Upper School students’ lunchtime, club members crowded STEAMWorks Studio to design signs to display throughout the vigil, and at the beginning of the event, they enjoyed Tomato Pie pizza.

Lily J. ’25, the other Green Guerrillas Co-Head, wanted the event to foster camaraderie among Westridge student environmentalists. “While they already passed the resolution, it is important to remind [Pasadena] to follow through on their goals and make sure they stay on the right path, and I think it is important for Westridge students to understand the significance of showing up to the vigil,” said Lily. 

Senior Audrey B. also attended the vigil and explained that she went because, “I’m a member of Green Guerrillas and I feel very passionate about sustainability and saving our climate. So, when Ms. St. John [suggested the idea], I was looking forward to it for the rest of the week.” 

Walking away feeling inspired to make continued environmental change off and on-campus, the Green Guerrillas are looking toward their Earth Week initiatives this April 16 to 22. Hosting annual events like the clothing swap and seed planting, they are also eager for Westridge to do its first ever energy audit. 

In a perfect coincidence, the Green Guerrillas ran into Westridge alumna Lauren Siegel ’97 who put Ms. St. John in contact with a man who performs free audits. To her, a force for environmental change at Westridge is important. “It is really exciting to see the younger generation at Westridge be as impassioned as I am to make Pasadena’s climate resilient to the next 100 years,” Siegel said. 

Moving forward, Lily, Lindsay, and the rest of the Green Guerrillas hope to make Westridge an impactful force in Pasadena’s carbon free journey. “Our shared determination is a powerful force. Now, more than ever, it is important we realize and embrace the strength we hold as a community. We need to continue to fight for not only our future, but the futures of our friends, our children, and the generations to follow,” said Lindsay C. in her speech.