Shamon Starkey is a youth environmental advocate from Charleston whose voice is rooted in the waters, history, and resilience of his coastal home. Growing up surrounded by a city rich in culture and generational legacy, he developed a deep understanding that protecting the environment also means protecting the stories, communities, and futures connected to it. As Charleston faces rising sea levels and increasing flood threats, his passion for climate and ocean advocacy has only grown stronger.

Since he was younger, Shamon declared he wanted to “save the world” — and he has carried that purpose with him ever since. Through the South Carolina High School Internship Program, he developed leadership and advocacy skills before returning as a mentor to inspire the next generation of changemakers. His work is fueled by youth empowerment, environmental justice, and the belief that real change begins when communities stand together.

Through storytelling, activism, and public engagement, Shamon hopes to inspire collective responsibility through his message, #You.Me.WeAllAccountable. Shamon is a rising sophomore political science major at Clark Atlanta University.  He hopes to gain global advocacy experience, leadership development, and collaborative opportunities as a U.S. Ocean Protection Ambassador while pursuing his dream of becoming an environmental lawyer and policy maker dedicated to protecting threatened coastal communities — and saving the world.