Azul Announces Policy Staff Promotion & Chief of Staff Hire
For Immediate Release
Monday, April 11, 2022
Media Contact
Betsy López-Wagner, López-Wagner Strategies, betsy@equitablecomms.com
Azul Announces Policy Staff Promotion & Chief of Staff Hire
The grassroots environmental justice organization is elevating the leadership of a key staffer of color – it also recently hired to prepare for further organizational growth in 2022
WASHINGTON, DC (April 11, 2022) – Azul is announcing the elevation of Latinx leadership and the expansion of its bi-coastal team. Founded in 2011 to bring Latinx perspectives and participation to ocean conservation, Azul has long advocated for environmental justice and equity policies in the state of California, across the nation, and at international levels.
“As the only ocean conservation organization in the nation focusing specifically on working with Latinx communities, Azul has been growing internally and externally following our 10-year anniversary,” said Azul’s Executive Director and Founder Marce Gutierrez-Graudiņš. “These strategic changes are a reflection of our growth and our commitment to continue growing in the future.”
The elevation of Carlos Ochoa to Azul’s national policy manager, recognizes the leadership he’s shown on the hill and in advancing support for ocean conservation policy, Gutierrez-Graudiņš said. Ochoa joined Azul in the spring of 2021 as National Policy Associate. He most recently worked as a field organizer for the Arizona Democratic Party and previously served as a legislative intern in the office of Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), when she was a member of the House of Representatives as recently as May 2018. In his new role, Ochoa is directly responsible for leading and managing Azul’s strategic policy plan and advocating for policy solutions that support the achievement of its conservation goals.
“Growing up, as the son of immigrant parents, I saw firsthand the physical, financial, legal, and psychological barriers that we, like people in my community, faced when attempting to access the coast and ocean areas,” said Carlos Ochoa, Azul’s national policy manager. “I am honored to bring my lived experience to this elevated role with Azul, because I know firsthand our Latinx communities are important in a truly inclusive ocean conservation space.”
Azul is also announcing the hire of May Bazito as Azul’s Chief of Staff, a new role as the organization experiences a growth spurt following a decade of instrumental successes including (in California alone), the California plastic bag ban, shark fin ban, and in expanding access to the state’s coasts.
Bazito, whose professional background is in operations and project management and prior to Azul worked in the supply chain management industry, joined the team in winter 2021. In her senior role with Azul, she is responsible for developing and guiding the implementation of Azul’s mission-related projects and serves as a strategic thought partner on the planning and coordination of scientific and conservation-based strategies which support the mission and overarching priorities of Azul.
“My love for the ocean started at a very early age during family road trips along the coast of Brazil — where I am originally from. I fondly remember my sense of wonder and belonging while swimming in those waters and with their inhabitants,” said May Bazito, Azul’s Chief of Staff. “I carried that love into volunteerism and activism during my adulthood. I am deeply honored to bring my years of experience into this role to support the advancement of ocean justice.”
Azul’s expanded advocacy work can also be seen at the international level with engagements in the co-authorship with the UN Environment Programme on the March 2021 release of Neglected: Environmental Justice Impacts of Plastic Pollution, a report which was an available field resource in advance of pre-negotiations in Nairobi last month in support of a UN Plastics Treaty mandate.
Next up for Azul in 2022, is hiring for a digital strategist, communications manager, and a program manager.
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Azul is a Latinx-led grassroots environmental justice organization focused on stewardship to conserve the ocean and coasts. Follow Azul on Twitter at @AzulDotOrg or on its website at www.azul.org.