Lauren Ritchie is a 19-year-old climate activist, writer, podcast host, and student from The Bahamas studying Sustainable Development and Political Science at Columbia University. She is the creator of The Eco Gal (@itsecogal), a digital platform that educates on global climate justice, promotes intersectional climate action, and seeks to make sustainable living more accessible and inclusive by amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. She is also a writer and content strategist for Brown Girl Green, a Youth Ambassador for Plastic Pollution Coalition, and the co-host of the podcast Black Girl Blueprint (@blackgirlblueprint), a platform to center the voices and celebrate the accomplishments of young Black women in a vast array of fields.