A conference where youth voices shape the environmental conversation.

BLOOM was created by Elena Krueper, a junior Wells Scholar at Indiana University Bloomington studying Environmental Sustainability and International Studies. Growing up in Elkhart, Indiana, Elena was involved with The Pennant and the Youth Environmental Press Team, where she wrote about environmental issues and helped pass a unanimous Climate Recovery Resolution in the city of Elkhart. Those experiences led her to build BLOOM as a space where other young voices can do the same.

The BLOOM Youth Journalism Northern Indiana Conference is organized by the Youth Environmental Press Team and hosted at Indiana University South Bend. It is a one-day event bringing together 150+ participants from across the northern Indiana region, including high school students from Elkhart, South Bend, Mishawaka, and Middlebury, alongside IU students, faculty, journalists, and environmental professionals.

After the recent censorship incident involving the Indiana Daily Student, supporting youth voices and free expression feels more important than ever. BLOOM is about helping students see that their perspectives matter and giving them tools to share their stories with confidence.

Our mission

To connect northern Indiana high school students with sustainability initiatives, environmental professionals, and storytelling tools, giving them the chance to engage with their communities, increase civic participation, and explore what a future in environmental communications could look like.

Conference goals

• Empower student storytellers. Teach students to create effective climate communication pieces about environmental issues affecting Indiana.
• Build professional connections. Connect youth with IU faculty, journalists, and environmental professionals through workshops and networking.
• Offer hands-on training. Run skill-building sessions in writing, photojournalism, and visual storytelling.
• Publish student work. Feature finished stories on YEPT.org and in a collaborative print magazine as part of the 89 Percent Project.

After the conference

ASIU and YEPT will pair each student with a mentor to help them refine and publish their storytelling projects. Mentors provide feedback, editing guidance, and ongoing support. Content that merits publication will be featured on YEPT.org and in a collaborative print magazine distributed across Indiana and beyond.