This blog post was written by Nya Washington, a 2024 Blue Carbon Ambassador Ambassador.

Before becoming a Blue Carbon Ambassador, I was an entirely different person. I had no familiarity with the Blue Carbon term or description. While establishing experience in the fish tank hobby and caring for aquatic life, I often overlooked the marine ecosystems in my community. However, when I considered a specific water source in my area where freshwater organisms were being affected by climate change and pollution, the reality and results of both issues overwhelmed me. The lack of environmental progress in my area ushered me directionless when resorting to using my voice as an advocacy mechanism. Attending the last two retreats has enlightened me to speak not only with my voice but with an influence. This summer, I evolved and became familiarized with the blue carbon ecosystems in my community, new backgrounds, friendships, and opportunities. Alongside everything this summer has had to offer, I developed a fresh motivation.

My term as a Blue Carbon Ambassador has been an engaging journey filled with knowledge, encouragement, and experience. Understanding the various Blue Carbon terms and definitions pushed me to implement blue carbon advocacy in my community. By accepting advocacy opportunities and involving myself with the marine ecosystems around me, I acknowledge my role as an ambassador in my community. Becoming a Blue Carbon Ambassador includes networking opportunities with experts in the marine biology occupation alongside 16 innovative BIPOCs from the North American region. Discussions with the additional ambassadors developed mutual memories and shared understandings. During virtual meetings together, we worked on our Blue Carbon projects and workshops with visionary thinking and collaboration. During our sessions, we networked with expert policy organizers, entrepreneurs, and marine scientists who would advise us on approaches we should use to impact our communities through advocacy/policy work, direct restoration, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

My time at the New York and Seattle retreats boosted my hope for the local marine environments as well as remaining influenced. The New York retreat consisted of guest speakers from environmental organizations and previous ambassador programs. Shifting through workshops that engineered our project outlines, we had opportunities to take breaks and view the city from Pier 57. The Seattle retreat included similar opportunities to New York, except this duration included other ambassador groups. Together, we calculated bull kelp bulbs at the Elliot Bay Waterfront Park while also discovering the green impact in Seattle. Afterward, we probed the Seattle Aquarium for behind-the-scenes information on aquatics with exploration time remaining. Utilizing the remaining time at the retreat, we listened to several presenters and finalized our project ideas. The abundance of support from staff and peers existed unconditionally, and I never found myself overwhelmed by the knowledge or climate anxiety. On my plane from the Seattle retreat home, I drew encouragement from mixed ambassador groups and studied methods necessary to take action in my area. It still is refreshing to see peers as young as me eager to learn more about their communities and the stories behind their motives. The most absorbing part about networking is understanding why these young adults prefer to listen to the issues in their communities instead of ignoring them. 

One minor detail I noticed between the programs was the difference in environments. The first retreat was in the big city of New York, which is notably known for lacking environmental “consciousness”. The streets were loud and scattered with trash and sound pollution. However, Seattle was almost the complete opposite. The city was quieter, more environmentally conscious, and included compostable utensils. Composting my food scraps and utensils took minor adjusting, and recognizing the importance of the distinction between the cities became mind-altering. The compostable utensils meant there was still hope for greener cities and conscious plastic use. 

Throughout my experience at both retreats, I gathered extensive information on the different types of blue carbon in my region and paths using advocacy as community communication. Additionally, I gained enthusiasm for the future of blue carbon education and advocacy in Virginia. Although Virginia is known for Virginia Beach, ocean advocacy isn't as typical as you would assume. That explains why I'm enthusiastic about getting Virginia residents to understand that the nearby oceans work as climate allies. Furthermore, I anticipate the future with Earth Echo and enjoy witnessing the advancement of projects from my peers, the lessons, and the connections we all continue to make with each other. The future for Blue Carbon is beginning to emerge with optimism, and I trust the youth will come up with great adaptations and concepts. Continuing to educate myself and others won't only support advocacy but also support a sustainable goal.

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