Celebrating our culture and roots year-round with #LatinosMarinos
For many organizations and businesses, the celebration of our culture and traditions ended on October 15 when Hispanic Heritage Month officially came to a close.
At Azul, we celebrate our culture and roots every single day.
We know that our culture can inspire our conservation efforts, and this was highlighted throughout our #LatinosMarinos series for Hispanic Heritage Month. We heard from Latinos across the country and learned of the many ways we can work to protect our ocean and advocate for environmental justice.
Most importantly, we saw how the ocean conservation space is changing with new faces, and how it must continue to change in order to welcome all of our communities, not just a few. The series featured Latinos across the country and celebrated our whole, authentic selves – as queer people, as people of Black and Indigenous descent, as people who immigrated, and more.
In their own words, advocates celebrated the progress we have made in making ocean conservation truly reflective of our communities, and inspired us to stay the course in our mission for ocean justice. They pointed to opportunities, offered solutions, and urged us to imagine a world where our conservation efforts are led by those directly impacted and rooted deeply in culture.
But this month of celebration and reflection was not without its challenges. We were reminded again of the deep-seeded beliefs of anti-Blackness, anti-Indigenity, and homophobia that still exist within our Latino communities. As communities, we should not wait for public incidents to initiate these conversations within our circles. We know we each have a duty to unroot these beliefs – from public office to the dinner table – and as an organization and individuals, we’re committed to carrying out this work tirelessly.
And because the work is year-round and not contained to a single month or holiday – we’re excited to continue our #LatinosMarinos profile series all year long! Every month, we will spotlight community members who are working to protect and conserve el Mar in their own way.
Do you have a story to share with us? Share your story with us and we may feature you in our blog!
Need some inspiration? Check out this round-up of our first round of #LatinosMarinos profiles!
Erica Nuñez is the Program Officer for plastics at the The Ocean Foundation! Her work focuses on international governance & policy regarding plastic pollution.
Erica’s work includes managing the organization’s scientific & policy activities related to combating plastic pollution, including leading their engagement in the UN Environment Programme & upcoming plastics’ treaty negotiations.
“I hope that I can serve as an example for other people of color, especially women, that our voices & perspectives in this space matter & not to let anyone make us feel otherwise.”
Maria Rodriguez is an environmental scientist & the Climate & Environmental Justice Program Manager at the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC)
She leads the agency’s strategic priorities related to climate change, equity & environmental justice to advance more equitable & comprehensive ocean & coastal science research, policies & programs that better reflect the connection between people, communities, & natural systems.
Maria urges ocean conservationists to prioritize social equity as a core principle of all conservation policies & actions:
“This means examining unjust practices, policies, & actions that continue to impact Tribal communities & communities of color.”
Jessica Loya is the co-founder of Rooted & Reimagined Strategies, a Latina-owned & operated consulting firm that supports BIPOC organizations.
Through her work & advocacy, Jessica wants future generations of urban youth to know that the ocean, coast & beaches are not some far away place, but instead places where they belong & have access.
She wants them to experience it & know they are on the right path.
She knew she was on the right path when she learned the monarch butterflies migrating to the coast were from the same region in Michoacán where her family is from.
“It was then & there that Madre Tierra spoke to me & told me I was right where I needed to be.”
Bocafloja is an Interdisciplinary Artist, Documentary Filmmaker, Musician, Writer & Independent Scholar!
He directed #EnClave, an Azul film released this year that explores the history & geopolitics of our ocean!
Bocafloja reminds us that the “historical abuse of our ecosystems is interconnected to most forms of systemic oppression…By directing ‘EnClave,’ I was able to assume a more direct responsibility in terms of utilizing my artistic language as a platform of political discussion in regards ocean conservation.”
He knew it was important to be involved since the great majority of artistic and political initiatives associated with ocean conservation often exclude racialized voices, perspectives and experiences.
“As a person of African & Indigenous descent, the ocean represents a powerful figure that impacts our subjectivities from every angle imaginable; from collective memories to political possibilities, it is a crucial entity in the process of shaping our conditions of existence”
Arlis Reynolds is a City Councilmember in her hometown of Costa Mesa, where she represents the neighborhood she grew up in!
City Councilmember Arlis Reynolds works in clean energy – supporting strategies to eliminate emissions from the energy sector & to help meet California’s aggressive clean energy & decarbonization goals!
She treasures sunsets over the Pacific: “It’s a magical moment (that happens every day!) when the world seems to slow down for a moment as friends & strangers share in the joy & beauty of a California sunset!”
Ava Ibanez Amador is an Associate Attorney for the EarthJustice Oceans Program, where she works on international and domestic matters.
Before becoming an attorney, she was first engaged in ocean conservation work as a scientist. Throughout her career, Ava has held various positions in science, law, and policy to advance ocean conservation.
Ava knows the ocean is not only life-sustaining but also life-inspiring. She urges ocean conservationists to ensure the work is community-inspired at every step.
“Ocean conservation is a wide space that needs people with different experiences.”
Melvin Alvarez works in ocean conservation philanthropy with 11th Hour Racing, where he collaborates with ocean leaders & advocates!
Melvin, who is Honduran & lives in Providence, Rhode Island near the Narragansett Bay, was involved in social justice movements in high school & transitioned to conservation in college because he was tired of the narrative that BIPOC communities are not interested in environmental issues.
“I felt this narrative was wrong and I wanted to voice my personal, family’s, and community’s experience with nature stewardship.”
He hopes his legacy in ocean conservation is helping change the way future generations engage & think about the ocean.
Dr. Jenny de la Hoz works at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and leads an amazing group of educators working with the next generation of ocean advocates.
Growing up in New Jersey to immigrant parents who could very rarely take vacation, going to the beach, or the shore as they called it in Jersey, was a HUGE deal. It was on one of those trips that she saw a horseshoe crab – a living fossil – for the first time & was hooked!
She wants other #LatinosMarinos to know that the next generation of ocean conservationists will look different than the ones we have today.
“So bring your whole, authentic self to this space and don’t let anyone tell you you don’t belong!”
Do you have a story to share with us? Share your story with us and we may feature you in our blog!