Growing up in California and the way the climate crisis has intensified wildfires across the state, has negatively impacted Ione’s mental health, community, and sense of safety. When Ione was just five years old, the Tubbs Fire forced her family to evacuate in the middle of the night. They lost everything that night and were displaced for six months. Then the Paradise Fire in 2018, the Kincade Fire in 2019, and the Walbridge Fires in 2020 also forced Ione and her family to evacuate their home.

The smell of smoke heightens her anxiety and causes extreme headaches that sometimes make it difficult for her to participate in school. Since the third grade, Ione has been researching and learning about climate change and hopes that sharing her story of loss and fear can prevent harm to other children.