Case Study: Planet Forward amplifies 5,000+ student environmental stories and expands national reach with Adobe

Protecting the future of the planet through visual storytelling

Planet Forward, founded in 2009 at George Washington University by journalist Frank Sesno, is a student-driven platform that tackles the challenge of elevating youth voices on sustainability and environmental issues. Tasked with creating real-world learning opportunities and expanding the reach of student reporting, the initiative needed a way to harness student creativity, mentorship, and cross-campus collaboration to influence public conversation and policy.

Planet Forward built a curated digital platform and mentorship program that selects student correspondents from a 25-school consortium, equips them with Adobe Creative Cloud tools and training, and showcases work through Storyfest, an annual Summit, and media partnerships (including PBS “Peril & Promise” and Comcast). The program has published over 5,000 student stories, engages hundreds of students each year, and amplifies reporting to national audiences and partner organizations, driving awareness and real-world impact.

Planet Forward

Frank Sesno

Founder