Earth Day Is Every Day Virtual Panel

  Zach Hartman is a youth environmental leader and co-founder of the nonprofit Eco Brothers, where he leads projects focused on sustainability, reuse, and community service. Over the past nine years, his initiatives have redistributed more than 300,000 books, upcycled thousands of items for animal shelters, and kept over 125,000 pounds of reusable materials out of landfills. Zach is an Eagle Scout, a recipient of the Congressional Award Silver Medal and has been recognized by the National Society of High School Scholars with both the Good Earth Sustainability Scholarship and the 18 Under 18 Scholarship. Through his work with Zach’s Planet and Eco Brothers, he continues to inspire students across the country to take action for their communities and the environment. 

Rishi Khante is a Junior at North Creek High School in the Northshore School District with a strong interest in environmental sustainability. After noticing that sustainability education is often introduced too late, he founded Access4All, a nonprofit that provides early environmental education to elementary students, focusing on habit formation and embedding sustainability into school culture.
Through Access4All, Rishi has designed and delivered interactive, engaging lessons on clean water, ecosystems, climate responsibility, and conservation. He piloted this program at Northshore School District as well as Lake Washington School District elementary schools, using hands-on activities and storytelling to make complex environmental concepts accessible and meaningful for younger students. His work emphasizes not only awareness but also long-term behavior change.
Beyond leading his nonprofit, Rishi is actively involved in sustainability research and environmental education initiatives, collaborating with educators and community partners to expand the reach and impact of his work. He is also engaged in student advocacy, contributing to discussions on education and community priorities.
Rishi is passionate about bridging education and action, with the goal of empowering the next generation to adopt sustainable practices early and contribute to a more environmentally responsible future.

Erica Smith is an Organizational Manager, Leader, and Community Advocate. She helps small groups, organizations, and churches succeed by implementing and executing office policy and procedures, develop community projects, and team building initiatives.