Ocean Justice Organization Azul Advances Latino Leadership in Ocean Conservation During World Ocean Month in June
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Ocean Justice Organization Azul Advances Latino Leadership in Ocean Conservation During World Ocean Month in June
Through local, national, and international activations, Azul is celebrating Latinos at the Forefront in the Fight for Ocean Justice
WASHINGTON (June 2, 2025) – Azul, an ocean justice organization working with Latino communities to protect coastal and marine ecosystems, is marking World Ocean Month in June with a powerful lineup of regional, national, and international activations that celebrate Latino leadership in ocean conservation.
Azul’s Ocean Month activities kick off in Washington with Semana Azul, held June 2-5. The week-long convening marks the culmination of Azul’s Rising Leaders Initiative, a landmark program for Latino ocean conservation leaders from across the nation that provides tools and opportunities for effective ocean justice advocacy. Azul’s Rising Leaders will receive ambassador training and policy briefings, meet with Congressional Offices, and a graduation ceremony that capstones their participation in the 6-week program.
“In step with Azul’s mission to amplify Latino leadership in the fight for ocean justice, we’re proud to create opportunities for Latino voices to contribute to and shape policies that protect our blue planet,” said Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, founder and executive director of Azul. “Now more than ever, it’s critical to demonstrate how Latinos are making waves to advance ocean justice and to show that we will not be deterred from keeping our ocean safe.”
On June 3, Azul will also co-host Upwell 2025: A Wave of Ocean Justice, a full day event featuring expert panelists and discussions that prioritize the experiences and voices of historically marginalized communities in ocean conservation. Gutiérrez-Graudiņš will offer remarks during the opening plenary, and Azul Conservation Manager Carlos Ochoa will moderate a panel focused on lessons learned from coastal disasters and the role of federal relief programs in building community resilience. Upwell is co-hosted by Azul, Aquarium Conservation Partnership, and Urban Ocean Lab.
Following its activities in Washington DC, Azul will attend the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) regional meeting in Panama on June 3-5, 2025. The aim of the regional convening is to support Member States in their preparations for the upcoming Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) 5.2 on Plastic Pollution scheduled for August 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Azul is encouraged by the leadership of GRULAC, where Mexico and Panama are leading bold and ambitious proposal to curb plastics pollution,” Gutiérrez-Graudiņš said.
Azul’s Ocean Month efforts will culminate at the United Nations Ocean Conference, taking place in in Nice, France. The high-level meeting, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, will focus on progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 14: conserving and sustainably using ocean resources.
“Ocean health and human rights are deeply interconnected,” Gutiérrez-Graudiņš said. “Azul is proud to celebrate the voices of Latino communities to the global stage to advocate for real, equitable solutions.”
Azul’s World Ocean Month Schedule
La Mesa Azul
Monday, June 2, 2025 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm ET | Washington D.C.
La Mesa Azul is an intergenerational gathering to catalyze connection, shared learning, and mentorship across Azul’s #LatinosMarinos network! In Azul’s mission to amplify Latino leadership, we are convening this gathering to give rising advocacy leaders a behind-the-scenes view of advancing policy issues and demystify careers in this field. The gathering will feature panels and a roundtable discussion between experienced and rising advocates to inspire honest conversations about the issues we face and, more importantly, how we can collaborate on solutions.
Upwell
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 9:30 am – 5:00 pm ET | Washington D.C.
Cofounded and co-hosted by Azul, this event will prioritize the experiences and voices of historically marginalized communities in ocean conservation discussions. The event will feature expert panels, high-level guest speakers, and much more. Ocean resources and policy influence have long been inequitable due to racism, colonialism, and industrialization. Meanwhile, marginalized coastal communities face disproportionate impacts from climate change, pollution, overfishing, habitat loss, coastal gentrification, and oil and gas activities.
Hill Day
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm ET | Washington D.C.
Azul Rising Leaders will take to the Hill to meet with Congressional offices, share stories from their communities back home, and advocate for ocean justice policies.
Graduation
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm ET | Washington D.C.
To celebrate the Azul Rising Leaders Class of 2025, Azul will host a graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening. After completing both the virtual curriculum, which began this spring and featured talks by Azul staff and guest speakers, and a week of service and in-person programming in DC, the Rising Leaders will celebrate the completion of the 2025 program.
Closing Circle
Thursday, June 5, 2025 | 8:00 am – 10:00 am ET | Washington D.C.
The Azul Rising Leaders will wrap up the event with a closing circle to share reflections and goal setting before departing Washington.
GRULAC Regional Meeting
June 3-5, 2025 | Panama City, Panama
Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC)
In preparation for INC5.2, GRULAC members are convening in Panama City, Panama, for a Regional Meeting. The aim of the regional consultations is to undertake discussions at a regional level and to support Member States in their preparations for INC-5.2, scheduled to take place from 5 to 14 August 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3)
June 9-13, 2025 | Nice, France
Azul will attend the 2025 United Nations Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held in Nice, France from June 9-13. The event brings together global stakeholders to promote sustainable ocean governance and highlights diverse voices in marine policy.
About Azul
Azul is an ocean justice organization working with Latino communities to protect our blue planet. Founded in 2011, Azul has developed and executed campaigns that achieved groundbreaking ocean conservation policy victories at local, national, and international levels.