Estrellas Marinas: Upholding the Values of Ocean Justice for Coastal and Inland Communities
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For Release
Monday, May 15th, 2023
Media Contacts
Maeve Stewart, maeve@equitablecomms.com
Betsy López-Wagner, betsy@equitablecomms.com
Estrellas Marinas: Upholding the Values of Ocean Justice for Coastal and Inland Communities
San Francisco, CA (May 12, 2023) – California State Senator Lena Gonzalez, Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice, Tribal Affairs & Border Relations Moisés Moreno-Rivera of the California Environmental Protection Agency, and California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon were recently honored for their steadfast commitment to uphold the values of ocean justice for coastal and inland communities and protect el mar.
Azul’s fifth annual Estrella Marina awards were presented recently in the state’s capital in Sacramento. The awards were presented during the 18th annual California Ocean Day in April in mid-May, just before the start of World Ocean Month and Semana Azul, quickly approaching this June.
“Senator Gonzalez, Deputy Secretary Moreno-Rivera, and Assembly Speaker Rendon bring passion and determination into their daily work to disrupt environmental injustices, moving with communities most impacted by climate change and plastics pollution,” said Azul Founder and Executive Director, Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš. “We are so proud to honor them with Azul’s Estrella Marina awards for their work on ocean protection and coastal access. They truly exemplify the gente-powered and Latinx-led leadership we have inspired since our founding in 2011.”
Senator Lena Gonzalez poses with Azul Founder and Executive Director, Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš after receiving her Estrella Marina award on California Ocean Day in Sacramento, California. Photo credit: Azul
Upon receiving the coveted Estrella Marina award, Senator Gonzalez said, “Our ocean is incredibly important for our survival and our economy. It helps us breathe by making at least half of the oxygen on Earth and is home to a vast number of sea creatures. They improve our livelihood by generating millions of jobs and by providing numerous recreational experiences throughout our coastline. We must take care of our ocean because it takes care of us, and it is part of the healthy, sustainable, livable planet we want to ensure for future generations. I am thankful to Azul for their work to protect our ocean and I am deeply honored to receive their Estrella Marina award.”
Deputy Secretary Moreno-Rivera poses with Azul Founder and Executive Director, Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš after receiving his Estrella Marina award on California Ocean Day in Sacramento, California in April 2023. Photo credit: Azul.
“Azul’s contributions to protect our coast and ocean extends far beyond the boundaries of California. Decision-makers and communities across the globe are impacted by their commitment to accountability to bring about justice to people and the environment we all cherish, especially our beautiful California Coast,” said Deputy Secretary Moreno-Rivera. “As such, receiving the ‘Estrella Marina’ award from them for working to protect our communities, ocean, and coasts in California and nationwide, is such an honor. This award to me is a welcomed pulse-check that the work I am contributing to aligns with the concerns from those on the ground and a reminder that we have much more work to do. ¡Gracias totales!”
Assembly Speaker Rendon meets with Azul Founder and Executive Director, Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš to receive his Estrella Marina award at his office in Sacramento, California May 10, 2023. Photo credit: Azul.
Assembly Speaker Rendon expressed his gratitude upon receiving the award, “I am humbled and grateful to receive this award from Azul, especially given their focus to engage the Latinx community. Climate change and how it affects our oceans, is an existential threat to our planet, and the work of grassroots organizations like Azul is critical to fighting this battle. I am proud of the legislation the Assembly has recently passed on climate change, but the work is far from done. I look forward to continuing this work with my Assembly colleagues and strong grassroots organizations like Azul.”
Gonzalez, Moreno-Rivera, and Rendon, join the likes of California State Senator Monique Limón and California State Representatives Luz Rivas and Ash Kalra.
The Estrella Marina awards were launched in 2019 by Azul to celebrate the remarkable people working to protect our communities, ocean and coasts in California and nationwide. Two of the three awards were presented while hundreds of ocean advocates from across the state gathered to talk to state lawmakers, with several dozen Latinos Marinos – advocates within Azul’s network – in attendance. The awards delivery coincided with Azul’s delegation meeting with representatives from more than 21 California elected offices. Together, they offered approaches and new policies that can advance environmental justice and protect the ocean. On the same day, Azul and the Monterey Bay Aquarium co-hosted the 18th annual California Ocean Day event in Sacramento where they presented legislators, Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley) and Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), with the 2023 California Ocean Champion Awards for their significant contributions to ocean conservation and coastal leadership.
The third award, delivered to Speaker Rendon was presented on May 10th, 2023, the same day Azul’s Founder and Executive Director Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš was sworn in to serve her second term on the California Coastal Conservancy Board.
On behalf of Azul and the Latinos Marinos network, we applaud past and present winners, and the growing community of ocean justice of advocates and volunteers they continue to inspire – mil gracias.
About the awardees:
Senator Gonzalez was awarded an Estrella Marina for her environmental justice work and her role in helping to establish an Ocean Conservation Corps to inspire a new generation of young leaders to advocate for ocean justice. Gonzalez represents the nearly 1 million residents in Southeast Los Angeles, Signal Hill, portions of South Los Angeles, Lakewood, and her hometown of Long Beach. She consistently advocates for environmental justice policies including putting an end to neighborhood oil and gas drilling.
Deputy Secretary Moreno-Rivera was awarded an Estrella Marina for his work to ensure California’s ocean, coast and beaches are safe, joyful places that are accessible to families and communities. Originally from the East Coachella Valley, bordering California’s Salton Sea, Moreno-Rivera established California Natural Resource Association’s equity and environmental justice framework and has applied it to his work at the state level.
Assembly Speaker Rendon was awarded an Estrella Marina for his work to make sure California’s leadership reflects the rich diversity of the state. He appointed several committed advocates to the California Coastal Commission who have made protecting the environment while ensuring coastal access for all Californians, including people of color, is a priority.
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.