Philippe Cousteau’s EarthEcho International Expands Its Network of Diverse Youth Leaders from Around the Globe

--Youth Leadership Programs to Focus on Ocean health, Water Quality and Biodiversity--

EarthEcho International, a global nonprofit founded on the belief that youth have the power to change our planet, today announced the addition of 47 new members to its dynamic youth leadership programs: the EarthEcho Youth Leadership Council (YLC) and the EarthEcho Water Challenge Ambassadors. These environmental champions, ranging in age from 14-22 and representing countries from around the globe including Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and the United States, will lend their voices and talents to EarthEcho’s initiatives and resources beginning this summer.

“Now more than ever we need leaders with passion, vision, diverse perspectives and an unwavering dedication to positive change,” said EarthEcho International founder Philippe Cousteau, Jr. “This perfectly describes the dynamic changemakers we now welcome to EarthEcho’s growing network of youth leaders worldwide.” 

Serving two-year terms, the members of the EarthEcho YLC provide guidance for the organization’s programs and resources; advise partner organizations and other external groups on the development of youth strategies; represent EarthEcho at events, conferences and trainings; and lead global initiatives focused on ocean health, water quality and biodiversity. During this time, YLC members gain valuable professional development training and are provided an opportunity to hone their leadership skills through speaking engagements and youth-led campaigns. The work of the YLC is made possible through the support of the La Mer Blue Heart Oceans Fund and the Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation.

Each of the EarthEcho YLC members have already demonstrated a dedication to addressing and working to solve a range of environmental problems through successful programs and organizations. The 16 new 2020 EarthEcho YLC members are:

Domingo Cortinez - Miami, Florida, USA

Ela Gokcigdem - Arlington, Virginia, USA

Florencia Gonzalez - Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina

Isha Sangani - Seattle, Washington, USA 

Julián Álvarez - Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador

Laura Hampton - County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Laura Park - Ewloe, United Kingdom

Lela DeVine - Hilo, Hawaii, USA

Madison Toonder - St. Augustine Beach, Florida, USA 

Mary Ann Arizaga - Talara, Piura, Peru 

Mercedes Thompson - Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Princess Powell - Los Angeles, California, USA 

Priscila Bonilla - Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador

Samhita Gattupalli - Dhahran, Eastern Province, KSA

Sergio Alvarez Gómez - Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador

Summer Snell - Plymouth, Devon, England

Visit EarthEcho’s Youth Leadership Council page to learn more about the work of the YLC and to see a full list of its members.

EarthEcho also welcomed a new class of 31 EarthEcho Water Challenge Ambassadors, a network of young leaders across the United States, who lead community-based water monitoring events that include school classroom presentations, educational outreach events and watershed restoration projects. The 2020 class includes 11 Ambassadors from Puerto Rico. The Ambassadors will guide their peers and community members through the EarthEcho Water Challenge, allowing participants to build connections to their local waterways and understand actions they can take to improve the health of their watersheds.  These programs are made possible with support from the North American Association for Environmental Education, the San Juan Bay Estuary Program and Northrop Grumman.

Please visit www.monitorwater.org/ambassadors to learn more about the Water Challenge Ambassadors and their projects.

The new members will convene virtually in August for EarthEcho’s annual Youth Leadership Summit. During the three-day event they will have the opportunity to connect with an international audience of young conservation leaders, participate in engaging sessions focused on ocean health and leadership development and build action plans for their work in the year ahead.