Ocean Justice Group Azul Graduates Inaugural National Cohort of Latinx Leaders
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Media Contacts
Lucila Garcia, López-Wagner Strategies, Lucila@equitablecomms.com, 323-646-2150
Betsy López-Wagner, López-Wagner Strategies, Betsy@equitablecomms.com, 708-717-9408
Maeve Stewart, López-Wagner Strategies, Maeve@equitablecomms.com, 650-714-9583
Ocean Justice Group Azul Graduates Inaugural Cohort of Latinx Grassroots Leaders in Ocean Conservation
Azul’s Rising Leaders Initiative is bringing more Latinx community activists into ocean conservation to grow the movement for our ocean and coasts.
Washington, D.C. (June 13, 2023) – Azul announces the graduation of its first Azul Rising Leaders Initiative 14-person cohort – as leaders from Puerto Rico to Alaska return to their communities to advance ocean justice campaigns throughout 2023 and beyond.
The Latinx community-based ocean leaders gathered from across the nation for live training sessions, advocacy and activism in Washington, D.C. during Semana Azul (Blue Week, in Spanish) June 4th to June 9th with their graduation occurring in a rooftop ceremony at the Eaton Hotel mid-week following advocacy visits to Congressional and Senate offices, the Upwell Symposium, an in-person and online event hosted by Azul, the Center for American Progress, and Urban Ocean Lab on the rising tide of justice and equity in ocean policy. The Azul Rising Leaders completed their week in service on World Ocean Day at the White House by invitation of the Director of Ocean Policy Dr. Miriam Goldstein of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, who met with them Thursday.
Azul, the only U.S.-based organization specifically focused on and working with Latinxs to protect the ocean and coasts, draws on its rich history of fusing Latinx conservation traditions and environmental justice values, while building on 12 years of grassroots environmental justice organizing and ocean policy successes.
“When I started my career in ocean conservation 15 years ago, I was often the only Latina and the only Spanish-speaking person in discussions around ocean policy and coastal advocacy in the U.S. That’s no longer the case – Azul is proud to be part of the change that is showing the robust leadership of Latinx who celebrate their cultural heritage while creating ocean solutions that benefit their communities directly – whether they are coastal or inland,” said Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul’s founder and Executive Director.
“These Azul Rising Leaders are emerging ocean leaders who have committed to showing up and supporting their communities with courage, conviction, and love,” said Ernesto Vargas, Azul’s Organizing and Campaigns Director. “I am proud Azul is part of their leadership trajectory for the ocean justice movement.”
Each Azul Rising Leader was awarded a stipend of $1,200 for their time and participation. They will now advance their community-driven work, having completed a three-month program which first began in April. Quotes are available from each program participant, below. The program is open to participants 18 years of age or above; participants must reside in the U.S. and be willing to travel with expenses paid, and a stipend offered. No education or career prerequisites are required to apply to ensure greater access to ocean conservation opportunities for Latinx leaders.
The program equips its participants with learning resources, tools, and opportunities to be effective ocean conservation leaders to support ocean justice policies, as agents of change in Washington, D.C. and in their own communities. Its virtual training curriculum features experienced Latinx ocean leaders and a week of service and in-person programming for Azul Rising Leaders to implement their learnings into advocacy action. Following the program in our nation’s capital, participants will create individual work plans customized to their community needs and have the opportunity to apply for additional funds to carry out work and stewardship in their own communities.
Since its inception in 2011, Azul has mobilized community activists, Latinx leaders, and ocean justice advocates to build a strong community of #LatinosMarinos along the California coast, across the United States, and through organic international outreach.
2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative Graduate Quotes:
“I joined the Azul Rising Leaders to expand my knowledge on ocean conservation and to learn how to increase our relationship with nature through community organizing,” said Andreina Barajas Novoa of Stratford, Connecticut, graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“This [Azul Rising Leaders Initiative] is a great opportunity to represent my island and community in Puerto Rico and their concerns about ocean justice. I am here to make sure their voices are heard,” said Claudia Muñoz Colón of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“It’s crucial to prioritize our communities’ needs and demands in ocean conservation because they are the ones directly impacted by changes in the marine ecosystem and can provide invaluable insight into effective conservation strategies,” said Gabriela Vara of San Antonio, Texas, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“I joined the Azul Rising Leaders Initiative because I wanted to connect with like-minded people of my Latinx community who share my same passion for conservation, particularly ocean justice and equity,” said Andrea Vega of Key West, Florida, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“As an Azul Rising Leader, now is the time to create meaningful change in the ocean justice space – and I am looking forward to being part of that change,” said Jamileth Picavia-Salazar of Arlington, Virginia, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“It is important to ensure our communities’ needs and demands are front and center in ocean conservation so we can provide a better future for generations to come,” said Yulisma Martinez of San Diego, California, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“Our community has a unique perspective on environmental conservation, which is grounded in our cultural heritage and relationship with the ocean. As an Azul Rising Leader, I want to be an effective advocate and ensure that our future generations have access to this vital resource,” said Dennis Granados of Phoenix, Arizona, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“I’ve often found myself in environmental spaces where there seems to be a lack of people who look like me. Our ideas are welcome, but we don’t have a permanent seat at the table. As an Azul Rising Leader, I am excited to show my Latinx community that we do have a spot at the table, and even if we have to stand, that’s okay,” said Joana Lagunes Arauz of Columbia, South Carolina, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“I joined the Rising Leaders Initiative to gain greater knowledge of ocean conservation along with other members of the Latinx community so we can act together to protect our ocean,” said Regina Aragon, who is studying in Miami, Florida, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“As a member of the first Azul Rising Leaders cohort I hope to continue to create new relationships with other Latinx activists and learn more about ocean conservation,” said Jasmine Carter of Eagle River, Alaska, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“I joined the Rising Leaders Initiative to take action and be part of a Latinx group where we learn to advocate on behalf of our communities,” said Kazia Gonzalez-Salazar of Troutdale, Oregon, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“I joined the Azul Rising Leaders program because this initiative gives Latines a place at the podium to educate others of our knowledge and unique perspective to better conserve our ocean,” said Alexia Gallegos of Bonney Lake, Washington, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“I am always learning how to be a more effective leader and advocate for the ocean. I am thrilled to be a part of the Azul Rising Leader Initiative to continue my journey as an advocate for ocean justice,” said Ivon Meneses of Las Vegas, Nevada, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
“I am excited to have learned from the talented team at Azul and to advocate on behalf of my community in New York City. We have a lot of issues, particularly environmental, that have always been concerning to me, and I’m looking forward to learning how to best lift up the voices and needs of my community. We [Latinx] are an identity that keeps growing in population every day, and so we need to represent our community,” said Katherine Gomero of Staten Island, New York, a graduate of the 2023 Azul Rising Leaders Initiative.
ABOUT AZUL + REPORTER RESOURCES
Azul is a grassroots environmental justice organization working to protect the ocean and coasts. Founded in 2011 to increase opportunities for Latinx participation in ocean conservation, Azul has long advocated for environmental justice and equity in the state of California, across the nation, and at international levels. Follow Azul on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube at @AzulDotOrg, or on its website at www.azul.org.
The organization is known for its policy successes and coastal justice and access work including launching The Coastal Justice Lab with the University of California – Irvine (UCI) in a partnership program, to offer legal access and interdisciplinary research, as well as its work with the United Nations Environment Programme via its jointly authored report: Neglected: Environmental Justice Impacts of Marine Litter and Plastics Pollution. Released in 2021, Neglected is an excellent resource being used at the INC Plastic Treaty negotiations.
Fielded and released last summer, the 2022 Azul U.S. Latinos and the Ocean Poll by BSP Research is the first-of-its-kind poll confirming the U.S. Latinx segment of the United States electorate is strongly committed to reducing harms to the ocean, seeking government intervention to protect the ocean and support the prevention of plastic pollution, curbing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, and they’re willing to see the nation pay more – and are even willing to pay more themselves – to advance ocean justice. The factsheet is available in English and Spanish, as well as the full survey.
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