What is your current role with the Surfrider Foundation and when did you get involved?
I’m the Vice Chair of the Seattle Chapter. It all started in 2023, when my New Year’s resolution was to join a community organization! As a recent grad, I was looking for an opportunity to engage in the Seattle community, meet new people, and volunteer.
I've always loved the ocean and I work in the marine industry, so I was looking for water-related groups. That's when I stumbled upon Surfrider! I joined that January. The Chair connected me to the chapter right away and my first project was to design a T-shirt. My involvement in Surfrider has since evolved, into Communications and now into the Vice Chair role!
What are some local environmental issues that you have witnessed?
Plastic pollution. We collect an incredible amount of trash during beach cleanups, especially after summer holiday weekends — bottles, zip ties, snack bags, you name it. But we can’t get it all! As a scuba diver, I see the consequences of trash that isn’t cleaned up and eventually sinks to the seafloor. Plastic pollution continues to be a challenge we face.
What Surfrider projects have you been involved with, and how have these projects impacted your community?
The Seattle Chapter is very invested in beach cleanups, with our flagship program being the Clean & Cruise series. We clean the beaches and then, weather permitting, head out for a community paddle. My favorite Clean & Cruises have been at Golden Gardens, my favorite beach in Seattle.
In recent years, we’ve expanded the definition of “beach” to include any shoreline near a waterway. Seattle has many popular parks along lakes and trails along the water, and these areas are prone to trash. When it rains, that trash enters our waterways. I’ve supported planning efforts and participated in several of these waterway cleanups, the most significant being along the Sammamish River, where volunteers collected 120 pounds of trash. The river is a major salmon run!
Aside from participating in cleanups, member engagement has been my primary contribution to the chapter. I’ve played a key role in planning chapter meetings, sustaining programs, reaching out to volunteers, and encouraging interested members to get involved with the Executive Committee (EC). In 2025, the Seattle Chapter’s core membership grew significantly, and we now have a full EC roster! It’s incredibly rewarding to see new faces at our events, and even more so when those folks come back.
Do you have any personal experiences or campaigns where social justice and environmental movements have intersected?
Not at the moment. In 2026, I’m hoping to learn more about and get involved in local policy and campaigns.
What can Surfrider do to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment?
Encourage anyone who loves the ocean, sustainability, and water recreation to join Surfrider. I’ve met many people who assume Surfrider is just a group for surfers. While it may have started that way, it has grown into so much more. Anyone who is interested in helping their community or loves water belongs in Surfrider!
What is the most important thing you tell others about Surfrider?
Surfrider is an incredible group of people. Everyone I’ve met has been so kind, passionate, and full of interesting ideas. Through my years with the Seattle Chapter, I’ve made lifelong friends and learned so much about community engagement and environmental advocacy.
What has been the highlight of your Surfrider experience?
This year’s summer social was definitely a highlight. We celebrated a summer’s worth of trash collection and the amazing Seattle Surfrider community at a local surf shop, complete with live music from a local musician and a beautiful sunset paddle over Puget Sound.
Thanks so much Diana! Is there anything else you would like to add?
I love Surfrider and I know I will be involved with the organization for a long time. The power of this activist network is incredible, and it grows every day. Now more than ever, we need people to stand up for marine protection and conservation, so the generations beyond us get to experience the Blue in all its glory!
