Azul Launches #LatinosMarinos Ocean Conservation Leadership Initiatives Across the U.S.
For Immediate Release
March 2, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT
Betsy López-Wagner, López-Wagner Strategies, media@azul.org
Maeve Stewart, López-Wagner Strategies, media@azul.org
Azul Launches #LatinosMarinos Ocean Conservation Leadership Initiatives Across the U.S.
Building on 12 years of community organizing success in California alongside national and international work, Azul is launching new on-the-ground programming initiatives to cultivate Latinx Leadership for ocean conservation nationwide
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – To cultivate Latinx leadership for ocean conservation and justice nationwide, Azul is announcing new initiatives to increase Latinx participation in ocean advocacy and change the narrative on who is an ocean leader.
The new programming builds on years of successful power-building in California, dating back to 2015, when Azul established #LatinosMarinos, a network and program to grow Latinx participation in California Ocean Day, a day of advocacy historically hosted by predominantly white ocean conservation organizations in the state, before Azul’s leadership changed the tide. #LatinosMarinos rapidly grew from a handful of Latinx participants in 2015 to more than 50 percent of all California Ocean Day participants by 2019. It further evolved into a program with national and international recognition for creating spaces that elevate and celebrate Latinx leadership in global conservation spaces.
“For years, early in my career, I was often the only Latina and the only Spanish-speaking advocate involved in discussions around California coastal advocacy and in working coalitions in a state where a significant portion of the population are Latinos,” said Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul’s founder and Executive Director. “#LatinosMarinos grew out of a mission to actively bring more of our communities to the spaces where decisions are made, and to show the world that our Latinx communities — here in the U.S. and abroad — are and have always been ocean leaders.”
Azul’s success in bringing together Latinx leadership was most recently felt at the Fifth Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, British Columbia, as it brought together leaders from across the Americas to celebrate Líderes Azules for a night dedicated to ocean justice and the bonds of stewardship through music and dance.
Azul is now working to build on its success, announcing a series of programs and encouraging people of all ages to get involved:
• #LatinosMarinos Rising Leaders Initiative is a new Azul leadership development program that will equip emerging Latinx leaders to become ocean champions and advocate for ocean conservation and justice policies. The program includes a virtual training curriculum with experienced Latinx ocean leaders and a week of programming in Washington, D.C. to implement their learnings into advocacy action. It culminates as we come together to celebrate their progress and accomplishments with a graduation reception. 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. The program kicks off on April 19, 2023, and runs through September. Applications will open soon and individuals can learn more by joining our email list at www.bit.ly/Azul-2023.
• #LatinosMarinos in DC for World Ocean Day: For the first time, Azul will bring a delegation of #LatinosMarinos to the nation’s capital. To elevate Latinx leadership in ocean conservation and change the face of ocean leadership, our communities must be seen and heard. While Azul staff have actively participated in World Ocean Day talks, panels and events, this new Azul initiative offers Latinx leaders an inclusive opportunity to get involved in ocean conservation activities to include meeting with Congressional offices and Federal agencies and attending the Capitol Hill Ocean Week conference in celebration of World Ocean Day on June 8, 2023. Individuals can learn more by joining our email list at www.bit.ly/Azul-2023.
• Gente-Powered Delegation: Holding true to our California Ocean Day roots and leadership, we are building a delegation across our communities to show our power this April with #LatinosMarinos at 2023 California Ocean Day. This is a day of action to talk to state lawmakers about policies that advance environmental justice and protect the ocean. California Ocean Day is an annual event hosted by leading ocean conservation organizations, including Azul. #LatinosMarinos was founded in 2015 at California Ocean Day as a caucus to grow Latinx participation during this event. This year, the event takes place in Sacramento on April 11, 2023, and is open to the public. Azul offers transportation support and training for participants joining the #LatinosMarinos delegation. Community members can learn more and register at www.bit.ly/LatinosMarinos2023.
# # #
About Azul
Azul is a Latinx-led and serving grassroots environmental justice organization working to conserve the ocean. 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.