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Xiuhtezcatl Martinez

Xiuhtezcatl is a twenty-five-year-old Indigenous environmental activist, recording artist, and author. Since the age of six, he has used his voice and art to inspire a new wave of activism that centers youth and Indigenous perspectives in global climate action.
 
Xiuhtezcatl first emerged as an influential environmental activist in his childhood for protesting the fossil fuel industry in his Colorado community. At fifteen, he became the youngest person to address the United Nations General Assembly on the topic of climate change and, months later, sued the federal government for failing to act on the climate crisis in the landmark lawsuit Juliana v. United States.
 
Over the past decade, Xiuhtezcatl has delivered speeches and performed at more than one hundred conferences, schools, and institutions around the world. His two books, We Rise and Imaginary Borders, are taught in thousands of classrooms, with his work being featured on major media outlets, including The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Real Time with Bill Maher, PBS NewsHour, CNN, MSNBC, and Univision.
 
In recent years, Xiuhtezcatl has solidified his music as an extension of his activism, blending English, Spanish, and his ancestral language, Nawatl, across hip-hop, indie, and Latin genres. Named in TIME magazine’s “30 Under 30” and Rolling Stone’s “25 Under 25” lists, he is the face of global campaigns with brands like Levi’s, Nike, Dr. Martens, and Patagonia.
 
Xiuhtezcatl grew up between Colorado and his Indigenous homelands in Xochimilco, Mexico. He is now based in Los Angeles, where he is working on his upcoming album and composing for film and television. He is represented by Gifted Management, Next Models, and Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
Imaginary Borders
We Rise

Books

Imaginary Borders
We Rise

Books for Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month this February, we are highlighting essential fiction and nonfiction for students, teachers, and parents to share and discuss this month and beyond. Join Penguin Random House Education in celebrating the contributions of Black authors and illustrators by exploring the titles here: BLACK HISTORY – MIDDLE SCHOOL BLACK HISTORY –

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New Thematic Educator Guides: Teaching About Climate Change

Educating our students about climate change can literally change the future. According to a 2020 article in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, educating young people about climate change could result in them making choices to decrease greenhouse gases, reduce pollution, and increase Green programs. While science class is a natural place to address

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