Laura J. Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

In addition to responsibilities from previous roles below:- Develop and execute strategic plans to enhance the effectiveness and reach of youth programs; Identify emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in youth engagement and environmental advocacy, adapting strategies accordingly.- Ensure program activities align with organizational objectives and values. Monitor program outcomes and assess their impact on youth empowerment and environmental conservation efforts.- Support program associate and intern projects within the youth initiative framework, particularly those that aim to foster connections around the world and expand our youth global network.- Provide mentorship, guidance, and professional development opportunities to youth participants, fostering their leadership skills and passion for environmental stewardship.- Advocate for the recognition and inclusion of youth perspectives in decision-making processes within the organization and beyond.- Represent the organization at relevant forums, conferences, and meetings to advocate for youth engagement and promote the organization's mission and initiatives.

In addition to responsibilities from previous role below:- Specialized project management, including but not limited to: organizational partnerships and network collaboration, grants & funding opportunities, and social media outreach strategies.- Identifies and communicates developmental and organizational needs; Provides guidance, support, and strategic advising to the team.- Manages activities of the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council & their reciprocal relationship between staff and the organization.- Builds and strengthens collaborative connections between youth leaders and conservation organizations, events, and opportunities around the world.- Served as co-lead coordinator for Sea Youth Rise Up (see below), a collaborative effort with EarthEcho International and Big Blue & You, that brough 10 youth leaders from around the country to Washington, DC, for Capitol Hill Ocean Week in June 2023. Assisted in preparation and development of the program. Organizational point-person while on the ground in DC. Participated in and helped students prepare for Congressional lobby meetings, a group discussion with the State Department's Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs JR Littlejohn, and a meeting with the White House Council of Environmental Quality to discuss the purpose, content, and scope of the national Ocean Justice Strategy.

- Provide organizational support, insight, and decision-making for the Youth Initiative.- Manage the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council, offering direct support to Council members for their personal conservation projects and World Ocean Day campaigns. Coordinate programming for each Council term, manage the annual global application process, and coordinate the Council alumni network.- Coordinate the monthly Rising Blue Network Newsletter, which includes youth conservation events and opportunities, reaching approximately 6800+ individuals and organizations worldwide.- Organize Youth Advocacy Training, a free 4-week virtual program designed to develop and refine advocacy skills among youth leaders for strengthened collective ocean & climate action.- Coordinate the Youth Opportunity Webinar Series, hosting individual issue-focused webinars with different youth speakers sharing their expertise in conservation advocacy.

Los Angeles, California, United States

Consultation on development of ocean conservation educational curriculum for students ages 6-18. Assistant coordination of surfing & outdoor adventure camp incorporating art and science as a catalyst for action for the planet.

Long Beach, California

Engaging in on-the-floor science communication with guests, leading behind-the-scenes tours, daily presentations with divers & mammal trainers inside exhibits.Covid-related termination.

Culver City

Assistance in coordinating global database of pelagic microplastics.Lead educational citizen science expeditions w/ schools and other groups based in Los Angeles; Event tabling; Assistant coordination of Trawl Share & Trash Blitz projects.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Miami, Florida

Coordination of Youth Ambassador Program & other youth initiatives. Assistant to co-founder Danni Washington.Social media content creation & management; Assistance with funding proposals/grants, digital & traditional marketing, organizational infrastructure, volunteer coordination, & event planning; Attended BlueVision Summits 5 & 6 in Washington, DC, June 2015 & 2017, respectively; Youth Ocean Conservation Summit in Sarasota, FL, November 2017; Breaking Free from Plastic Summit in Charleston, SC, March 2017; and Ocean Heroes Bootcamp in New Orleans, LA, June 2018.

Boca Raton, Florida

Studied healing capabilities of bottlenose dolphins from dermal diseases & skin lesions; Lab work included data entry & analysis, organization of 20+ year old image archive with over 30k files.

RSMAS Shark Research & Conservation ProgramLab work including assisting grad students’ projects with assays, sample sorting, blood work, Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) analysis.Field work including animal morphology, biopsy collection, tagging, data logging, fish counting, deployment of instruments, photography.Lab work including assisting grad students’ projects with assays, sample sorting, blood work, Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) analysis. Field work including animal morphology, biopsy collection, tagging, data logging, fish counting, deployment of instruments, photography. Edit public profile & URLAdd profile in another language

SYRUp is a collaborative effort facilitated by The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Day network in partnership with Big Blue & You and EarthEcho International, and previously as a founding partner with the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit. The program works to empower and mobilize young people from around the country to stand up for the ocean and climate, on World Ocean Day and during Capitol Hill Ocean Week. The campaign selects the best and brightest youth leaders from around the globe and gives them the resources through which to impassion their peers. SYRUp creates catalysts for change and provides a platform for youth to express their ideas and magnify their environmental advocacy efforts.In 2016, was a student delegate in the inaugural class of the program. Met w/ Obama’s White House Council on Enviro. Quality: Influenced implementation of New England Coral Canyons & Seamounts Marine Protected Area; Attended World Ocean Day celebration at the United Nations headquarters in NYC; Speaker during World Ocean Day livestream at the New York Aquarium, with over 250k social media impressions. Returned to the program in 2018 as a student mentor while continuing internship at Big Blue & You; Assisted with in-person coordination while on the ground in DC.Returned once again as co-lead of the program in 2023, in Youth Program Supervisor role at The Ocean Project; Continuing to coordinate planning of the 2024 program ahead.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Marine Biology & Sustainable Aquaculture, Minor In Environmental Justice & Social Change

Certificate, Climate Change Communication

Cerificate, Environmental Education

Associate Degree