On March 30, 2025, Pasadena High School was filled with anticipation and awe as Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, walked onto the stage.
For the more than 1,500 students, families, and community members gathered, it was more than a lecture. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be inspired by one of the world’s most beloved voices for our planet. In partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots program, the Pasadena Unified School District, and the City of Pasadena, the Pasadena Educational Foundation welcomed Dr. Goodall to Pasadena, where she invited young people to imagine, and to build a future filled with hope.
Before the program even began, students, teachers, and families explored booths hosted by Roots & Shoots and local organizations, including Pasadena High School’s own Green Club, filling the space with energy and curiosity.
The afternoon opened with remarks from Dr. Patrick Conyers, PEF’s Executive Director, who introduced Dr. Goodall and reflected on the importance of this moment for our students:
“It is an extraordinary gift to hear directly from Dr. Goodall. Her message reminds us that education is not only about academics but about becoming engaged citizens who care for each other and our shared future.”
Lessons of Hope and Resilience
Dr. Goodall shared stories of her groundbreaking research at Gombe, the challenges she faced as a young scientist, and the lessons she has carried forward about empathy and interconnectedness. She also spoke directly to our community’s recent hardships, including the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, and praised the many “heroes” who stepped forward to protect lives, homes, animals, and landscapes, from first responders and neighbors to organizations like the Pasadena Humane Society.
Her words resonated deeply. She reminded the audience that “each of us matters” and “each of us has a role to play,” urging students to take action, no matter how small, to protect the environment and care for one another. The auditorium erupted in applause several times, especially when she emphasized that hope is not passive optimism but something built through action and persistence.
Carrying the Message Forward
For the Pasadena Educational Foundation, this gathering was about more than welcoming a global leader to our stage. It was about connecting her message to the daily experiences of Pasadena Unified students and families. It was about affirming that the work happening in classrooms, school gardens, and neighborhood projects is part of something larger, a movement toward compassion, responsibility, and care for our world.
We are grateful to Dr. Goodall for sharing her wisdom and to our partners at Roots & Shoots and PUSD for making this special day possible. The seeds of hope planted that afternoon now rest with our students, families, and community.
And as Dr. Goodall reminded us, what we do next will make all the difference.
