ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2025
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. This year, 60,000+ young leaders applied to join the Class of 2025 on 7,000+ campuses across 170 nations. 290+ campuses worldwide (less than 5%) were selected to host the 4,500+ Millennium Fellows.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT EMMA MCLAUGHLIN WILBUR, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.
Northeastern University | Massachusetts, United States | Advancing SDG 10, SDG 13, SDG 6, SDG 11 & UNAI 6
" “I'm so grateful to be a Millennium Fellow because it will allow me to connect with equally passionate peers and give me the tools to make a meaningful difference in my community. I'm excited to turn my passion for the environment’s impact on public health into a project that supports the people and places I care about most. I believe protecting the environment is inseparable from protecting public health, and I'm committed to advancing initiatives that improve both for communities around the world.” "
Millennium Fellowship Project: The Clean Start Initiative
The Clean Start Initiative empowers Boston families, specifically living in low-income areas, to reduce hidden household toxins and protect child health. We translate environmental health concepts into simple, bilingual, educational Instagram explainers, “toxin of the week” posts, and provide access to a free downloadable home toolkit (English, Spanish, Portuguese), as well as links to free resources from the EPA, World Health Organization, and others. Content focuses on practical, low-cost actions on lead, mold, VOCs, CO, pesticides, mercury, arsenic, phthalates, BPA, and flame retardants, checking for lead pipes, ventilating daily, choosing low-VOC cleaners, using CO detectors, washing produce, and safer food/storage choices. The project pairs quick wins with local resource links (like inspections and replacement programs) so families can move from awareness to action. By meeting people where they already are, we aim to reduce exposure pathways, strengthen health literacy, increase healthy communities, and make healthier habits feel doable in everyday life for all people.
About the Millennium Fellow
Emma Wilbur is a second-year Environmental and Sustainability Science student at Northeastern University in Boston, MA, USA. She is passionate about the intersection of environmental health and public health, particularly the challenges communities face worldwide due to the impacts of climate change. A Rhode Island native, Emma grew up supporting local environmental organizations and working to keep her state clean and free of toxic waste that could harm community health. Her passion deepened during her semester abroad experience, where she witnessed firsthand how environmental degradation can directly affect people’s well-being. Through her project, Emma aims to promote sustainable solutions in her community that protect both the planet and the health of those who call it home.
