Michaela Harrison, a singer, composer, and whale advocate, will be featured in an Ocean Steward Spotlight conversation. Discover her unique musical practice, which involves collaborating with researchers and humpback whales.

Her work explores themes of healing, conservation, and the importance of listening to nature. Support Michaela's efforts by visiting her website: www.michaelaharrison.org.

Mariana Del Valle Prieto Cervantes dedicates her life to advocating for and representing the Latinx community within the environmental movement. Raised on California’s central coast, she holds a degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Communities.

Her career began at a local aquarium, where she gained experience in public education and community engagement. As Bilingual Program Specialist, Mariana developed and implemented bilingual programs, serving Latinx visitors and fostering a more diverse and inclusive organization.

Support Mariana: greenlatinos.org

Zelalem Adefris, Vice President of Policy & Advocacy at Catalyst Miami, champions climate resilience and justice in South Florida.

Her advocacy focuses on building a more equitable and sustainable future for the region.

Support her work: catalystmiami.org

In Chile, opt for refillable soft drink bottles instead of single-use plastic. This convenient and safe choice significantly benefits our oceans.

To learn more and join the #RefillAgain movement, visit http://refill-again.com/. #RegresenLosRetornables

Jackie Nuñez, founder of The Last Plastic Straw and Advocacy Manager at the Plastic Pollution Coalition, works to combat plastic pollution and raise awareness about this global crisis.

Learn about her efforts and support her work here: plasticpollutioncoalition.org

Aubra and Erik Denson co-founded DIVERSe Orlando. Aubra is a PADI Master SCUBA Diver with over 300 global dives, and Erik serves as NASA's Chief Electrical Engineer.

Together, they promote scuba diving, water skills, and environmental awareness within the African American community. #OceanStewardSpotlight #DivingWithaPurpose

Marilyn Hemmingway, Founder of the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce, is a passionate advocate for social entrepreneurship, business development, and economic vibrancy. Her work focuses on supporting coastal communities and protecting our oceans.

Learn more and support her initiatives by visiting the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce website: www.gullahgeecheechamber.org

Oceans need our help.

This Earth Day, join Oceana to support our vital work protecting and restoring the world's oceans.

In 2022, Coca-Cola reintroduced refillable bottles in the U.S. for the first time in over a decade, starting in El Paso, Texas. This marked a significant step towards sustainable packaging.

To advocate for more refillable options nationwide, visit www.oceana.org/RefillNow. Join Oceana in urging leading soft drink companies to #RefillAgain!

Makeda Okolo, Southeast and Caribbean Regional Lead for NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, will be featured in an Ocean Steward Spotlight. Join the conversation to learn about her work establishing an Environmental Justice Community of Practice in the US Caribbean and South.

Learn more about Makeda's initiatives and support her work by visiting the NOAA in Caribbean Leadership page.

Helen Ladson founded F.R.E.S.H Drip, an initiative focused on Fundamentally Restoring Ecological Stewardship Holistically.

Support her work by contacting her at HRladson@gmail.com.

Sharon Lavigne, founder of the faith-based environmental justice group Rise St. James, was the 2021 North American winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize. She received the award for her work fighting chemical plants in St. James Parish, Louisiana.

Support Sharon's efforts: Rise St. James

Chelalakem Pamela Bond serves on the Snohomish Tribal Council as a Councilwoman and the Tribe's Fish, Wildlife, and Environment Director. She is also the Founder and Co-Director of Salish Sea Environmental Education and Action.

Bond is a Cultural Educator and Traditional Teacher for the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, specializing in traditional plant medicine and food. Support her work: PayPal.

Dr. Nevada Winrow, a Pediatric Neuropsychologist, is the Founder & CEO of Black Girls Dive Foundation. She brings over a decade of experience from clinical practice, academia, and higher education administration.

A PADI Master Scuba Diver, Dr. Winrow is a member of the Women's Diving Hall of Fame and the American Academy of Underwater Sciences. She also serves as the National Chairwoman of Youth programs for the National Association of Black Scuba Divers.

Support her work: Black Girls Dive Foundation

Andrew Otazo has spent the past four years removing over 14,500 pounds of trash from South Florida’s mangrove swamps and ocean. He currently works in public relations and frequently lectures on grassroots activism.

Previously, Otazo served as the Cuba Study Group’s Executive Director. Before that, he implemented U.S. foreign policy with Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia at the State Department.

His earlier career also includes working as Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s assistant.

Natalia Teryda, a PhD student at the University of Florida, has dedicated herself to marine conservation since age fourteen. She earned a Master's in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego as a Fulbright Grantee, following her BS in Biology from Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.

Originally from Mar del Plata, Argentina, Natalia was selected by the US Embassy in Argentina to be an Argentinean Youth Ambassador for the "Our Oceans, Young Ambassadors" program, organized by the US Department of State.

Shima Abadi is a Professor of Oceanography, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Washington. Her research primarily focuses on ocean noise.

Her work encompasses sound source localization, acoustical imaging, and animal bioacoustics. An award recipient from the Acoustical Society of America, Dr. Abadi is currently developing algorithms for underwater network data analysis, mitigating seismic airgun noise, and analyzing ocean ambient noise.

Diana Pacin deGongora, a mechanical engineer, previously worked in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry during its transition from ozone-depleting refrigerants. Later, as a professor at Miami-Dade College, she contributed to the Earth Ethics Institute, which integrated Earth Literacy into the college's curriculum and operations.

Currently, Diana focuses on educating her community about the harms of single-use plastic. She collaborates with the South Florida Plastic Coalition, advocating for reduced single-use plastic use in her county.

Support Diana's efforts: plasticfreefl.org

Aaron McCall serves as EnviroVoters' Federal Advocacy Coordinator, focusing on building grassroots support for federal climate legislation and ensuring California's elected officials lead the way.

He began his activism in Orange County, chairing Indivisible OC 48 and continuing to advance local conservation and climate action. McCall was honored as the 2019 OC League of Conservation Voters Activist of the Year. Support Aaron here: https://envirovoters.org/