Guillerma Chong, who prefers to go by Emma, growing up had always possessed an affinity towards environmentalism and ocean conservation. Growing up in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands and being of indigenous descent has instilled a deep sense of giving back not only to her community but her surrounding natural environments. Having a background in Outrigger Canoe Paddling for the past three years has instilled a renewed passion for ocean stewardship not only because of cultural values but a profound need to make a change after seeing the effects of climate change on her home island of Saipan like the ever present danger of coastal erosion. This fall Emma will be pursuing a degree in Natural Resource Management at Northern Marianas College and has plans to pursue higher education in the Marine Science Field.

Campaign Impact

Guillerma, more widely known as Emma, Chong is a young woman from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) who was a 2024 Ocean Protection Ambassador with Earth Echo International. Through the program, Emma was able to attend Capitol Hill Ocean Week and interviewed White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Brenda Mallory during the Upwell: A Wave of Ocean Justice Conference at the beginning of June. The inspiration for Emma's campaign was mainly drawn from her indigenous heritage, choosing to draw from the aspect of oral history and storytelling in order to curate a documentary. The documentary is comprised of interviews with cultural practitioners and those who have been passionately active about ocean conservation in her local community. The main goal Emma had in mind was to promote ocean conservation within her community  by depicting that in their daily lives, a resident of the CNMI is an ocean steward who actively participates in ocean conservation with even small acts that too make a difference. And refocusing the attention on the cultural significance the ocean plays in the indigenous cultures within the CNMI as a call to action to get more individuals to actively participate in local ocean conservation efforts. Emma hopes to continue with this project even after the Ocean Protection Ambassador Program has ended, turning this singular documentary project into a series and to hold a local forum engaging the youth and elders alike in the topic of ocean conservation and its cultural significance.

“My experience as an Ocean Protection Ambassador, though shorter than I would have liked, has been profound and almost life-changing. When I initially applied I never thought that I would be able to do something, create and pursue a project that was not only meaningful to me but to my community. This program gave me a voice and a platform to do advocacy work that I had always wanted to do but never knew how to go about it. I was constantly reassured that there was help whenever it was needed and aid was always given when asked while also being fully equipped to carry my project to completion. Being a young woman from a tiny island in the Pacific, I was given a voice. Having attended CHOW (Capitol Hill Ocean Week) and being able to interview White House Council CEQ Chairwoman Brenda Mallory, it was life-changing in the sense that it showed me what I am capable of and how far I can go while allowing me to do valuable networking in fields that I hope to pursue in future careers. I will be eternally grateful for this entire experience and I am sad to see it come to an end.”