Searching for comfort, beauty, and wonder: youth and the softer side of environmental justice

Despite being often underestimated, youth possess a nuanced understanding of their needs that extends beyond basic necessities, encompassing elements of social, emotional, and cultural significance. In this article, we argue that just community development requires more engagement with notions of beauty, joy, and wonder, recognizing youth as essential voices in shaping the environments they inhabit. We also hold that environmental justice, often associated with the elimination of hazards such as pollution, heat, and flooding in neglected communities, extends beyond mitigation or adaptation strategies to encompass the creation of environments that captivate the imaginations of young individuals. Drawing on a photovoice project and walk-along exercise with high school students in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, we explore how young people articulate and advocate for the aesthetic and experiential qualities of public space, making room for narratives that expand environmental justice to include affective and sensory experiences—softer aspects often overlooked in conventional planning and community development work.