Divyansh AgrawalÂ
Courtesy of KidsRights
Environmental Champion
A Dublin teen is making a name for himself on the world stage. Dublin High School senior Divyansh Agrawal was one of the top three finalists for the International Children’s Peace Prize awarded in November, selected from over 200 nominations. Past winners of the honor include such luminaries as Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai. The 16-year-old was recognized for his climate justice work with the Junior Philanthropists Foundation, a youth-led nonprofit he began that has helped pass nearly 20 major legislative measures in California in support of the environment. He also spoke at the United Nations Climate Conference of Youth in 2024, among other accomplishments. Syrian teen Bana Alabed received the International Children’s Peace Prize at a ceremony held in Stockholm, Sweden, for her advocacy efforts on behalf of children impacted by war.
KidStrong will bring youth programming to Walnut Creek.
Courtesy of Kidstrong
Supporting Fitness for Kids
Building confidence and physical activity can shape a child’s entire future, says Ajit Sidhu, a Livermore resident who is opening a new KidStrong franchise in downtown Walnut Creek this spring. Growing up in the Bay Area, Sidhu recalls lacking “self-confidence and physical strength”—gaps he didn’t bridge until discovering fitness at age 17. KidStrong aims to give children that foundation sooner through a science-based curriculum focused on “strong body, strong mind, and strong character.” Expert-led 45-minute classes—geared toward children who are walking age through 11—blend athletic play, cognitive skill building, and parent involvement. The result for many kids is increased self-assurance and social abilities. “[Coming out of COVID-19], a lot of kids are lacking a lot of social skills and self-confidence,” says Sidhu. For the first few sessions, “kids will be super shy and not want to participate much. By the time they’ve [taken classes regularly, they] are high-fiving the coaches, high-fiving the other kids, shaking hands, and looking people straight in the eye with full confidence.”
Sporting News
Furthering its commitment to local sports, the entrepreneurs behind the Oakland Ballers baseball team announced a new endeavor in October. The Oakland Sports Group is an advocacy collective that includes representatives from the Ballers, the Oakland Marathon, the Oakland Roots, the Oakland Soul, the Oakland 68’s, and Oaklandish. The group celebrated its launch with a fan tailgate party at the Oakland Coliseum. In more tragic news, the Town’s sports community was hit hard in November when Laney College athletic director and retired football coach John Beam was shot and killed on the Oakland campus, allegedly by a former football player (though not one Beam coached). Beam is also known for appearing in season five of the Netflix docuseries Last Chance U, which follows the Laney College football team.
Rachel Orvino
Photo Contest
This old tractor can be found at a local vineyard. Do you know the name of the winery?
Go to diablomag.com/contests and enter your guess. One correct response will receive dinner at an East Bay restaurant.