Leslieann Peers-Roman is a 19-year-old born in Puerto Rico but raised in Brooklyn, New York. Currently, she is studying under the Macaulay Honors Program at Brooklyn College. Since she was a young girl, Leslieann has been passionate about the ocean and its marine life. She has used her passion to connect with multiple programs in the Wildlife Conservation Society, including being a Discovery Guide Volunteer, where she speaks to guests about crucial environmental impacts. She has also served as a Youth Ocean Advocate, where she developed material for the public to help people see they too can take action to help. Leslieann has used her experience and knowledge from these programs to spread awareness in schools and conferences, speaking about important places like the Hudson Canyon. While working on the petition to make the Hudson Canyon a National Marine Sanctuary, Leslieann saw the positive impact that words can have when used to advocate for the environment. This experience led her to join as an Ocean Protection Ambassador with EarthEcho International, to empower the next generation of environmental activists to find hope in saving our planet through action and public appreciation of our environment.

Campaign Impact

For her campaign project, Leslieann Peers-Roman created a summer camp activity for the New York Aquarium. The activity was specifically crafted for the Shark Camp group, which consisted of kids from 6th to 8th grade. In this activity, Leslieann created a role-playing game where the campers were asked to take on roles as members of a Sanctuary Advisory Council. The reenactment allowed the students to learn about the importance of the Sanctuary Advisory Council and its crucial role it plays in determining the acceptance of a National Marine Sanctuary like the Hudson Canyon. Leslieann created this project to represent the importance of people's voices in the National Marine Sanctuary process, whether you are a kid in middle school or a commercial fisherman every voice is crucial. With this in mind, Leslieann also created a video highlighting the Hudson Canyon and the reason for protecting it. Lesliean is currently making plans to showcase this video in Times Square before the last public comment period to gain more public attention toward this very important place and help push it over the finish line to become a National Marine Sanctuary. From seeing the huge support over social media, about her campaign, Leslieann is very hopeful that the billboard video will push it over the top and the Hudson Canyon will be the talk of the town.

“My experience as an Ocean Protection Ambassador has been life-changing. As an island girl raised in a city, I was also gravitating back to the ocean. The ocean has always felt like home and becoming an Ambassador has meant the world to me. I was able to express my passion and expertise on the Hudson Canyon to many wonderful and distinguished people in the ocean field. As well as, having the opportunity to work with the most intelligent group of youth ambassadors I have ever met. I will forever be grateful for this experience and will be sure to take everything I have learned to continue protecting the ocean and all the amazing sea creatures in it.”

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