YouthMappers at 10: A Decade of Mapping for Impact

Over the past week, YouthMappers chapters around the world gathered to commemorate our 10-year anniversary. At the same time, members of the YouthMappers Steering Committee and Alumni Network convened in New York City to celebrate this milestone together.

On Tuesday, members of our newly formed Alumni Council visited the United Nations to learn more about its work and how countries are collaborating to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. That evening, we joined Esri at the Turkish Consulate for a reception where we explored how Esri’s global programs are empowering users to apply GIS technology for good.

Wednesday featured the “YouthMappers at 10: A Decade of Mapping for Impact" Symposium, hosted at the Meta campus. Partners, collaborators, students, alumni, and leadership came together to reflect on the diverse ways YouthMappers has helped cultivate the next generation of geo-talent through real-world experience and inclusive, hands-on learning. Attendees heard how students are applying technical and professional skills to projects focused on urban sustainability, extreme heat, food and agricultural security, and more. We were honored to be joined by alumni and Alumni Council members Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, Dara Carney-Nedelman, Elodie Nix, Maliha Binte Mohiuddin, Natália da Silveira Arruda, Dr. Ebenezer Nana Kwaku Boateng, and Michael Batame.

On Thursday, Patricia Solís, Marcella Zeballos, Maliha Binte Mohiuddin, Natália da Silveira Arruda, and Temidayo Oniosun presented a panel at the American Geographical Society’s Geography 2050 conference, highlighting innovative ways YouthMappers are using GeoAI tools to map Where We Live, Where We Move, and Where We Power the Future.

We extend our sincere thanks to the sponsors who made this week possible: Esri, Meta, TomTom, and the American Geographical Society.

With every map created, every skill shared, and every partnership formed, we have built more than a global network—we have built a transformative community, one that believes every place and every person deserves to be seen.

The next decade is about scaling not just data, but impact—ensuring the maps we make reflect the communities we call home.