Varshini Prakash

Varshini Prakash is an American climate activist known for her role as the founding executive director of the Sunrise Movement. Her commitment to promoting environmental consciousness is evidenced by her involvement in various climate-related activities. Prakash played a significant role in the Rachel Lears' 2022 documentary film "To the End," which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and was presented at the Tribeca Film Festival. Additionally, she is an advisory board member of Climate Power 2020, further demonstrating her dedication to climate activism.

Prakash's contributions to the climate activism movement have not gone unnoticed. In 2019, she was named on the Time 100 Next list, and shared the honor of receiving the Sierra Club John Muir Award. The following year, Prakash was called upon to serve as an adviser to Joe Biden’s climate task force, further solidifying her status as a respected voice in the fight against climate change. Her expertise in environmental issues also led her to become a co-editor of the book "Winning the Green New Deal: Why We Must, How We Can", which was released in August 2020.

Aside from her roles in various environmental organizations and initiatives, Prakash has been recognized for her individual contributions to the field. She was a candidate for the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award and is set to receive Dickinson College's Rose-Walters Prize for Environmental Activism. Her story and insights have been featured in the "How I Built This" podcast and covered by Forbes, cementing her as a prominent figure in the realm of climate activism. As of September 2023, Prakash has assumed leadership of the Sunrise Movement, setting a new chapter in her journey as a climate activist.