What is your current role with the Surfrider Foundation and when did you get involved?
I'm the Chair of Surfrider Los Angeles, and I joined in 2017 after Trump’s first inauguration. I grew up in LA and have always had a deep love and respect for the ocean; when I saw the headline that the Trump administration was going to open up our coastlines for drilling, I googled “how do you stop offshore oil drilling in Los Angeles?” and I found Surfrider and the Drilling is Killing campaign. I went to my first chapter meeting and it was game over, I was hooked. I met the chapter manager, EC, and volunteers, and knew that THESE were my people!!
What are some local environmental issues that you have witnessed?
Over the years, I’ve become more aware of the environmental injustices in LA. We have LOTS of neighborhood oil drilling in LA, impacting frontline black and brown communities. These oil rigs pollute the air in these communities, causing harm to the community's health and longevity. If we only care about oil drilling when it’s in the ocean and not on land, we are not holistically fighting our common enemy.
What Surfrider projects have you been involved with? How have these projects impacted your community?
Some of my favorite initiatives within Surfrider are our lobbying opportunities where we advocate to state and federal officials about environmental policies. I've participated in Hill Day and California Ocean Day for the past three years, and I always feel invigorated and confident that our representatives WORK FOR US — not the other way around — and when we organize, we have all the power. I've witnessed truly impactful policies pass, like SB54 (plastic pollution bill) and an oil drilling phase-out in LA. While it's never easy, lobbying represents our best chance to create systemic change, which gives me hope.
Do you have any personal experiences or campaigns/issues where the social justice and environmental movements have intersected?
I've recently been building relationships within our anti-oil-drilling coalition STAND LA, or Stand Together Against Neighborhood Drilling, and it's been incredibly fulfilling to advocate against Big Oil in a collaborative way. At Surfrider, we speak up against offshore oil drilling, and I get to partner with our coalition allies in LA. We're all fighting the same battle, and recognizing our common adversary makes our collective effort stronger and more powerful.
What can Surfrider do to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment?
We've seen a change in leadership in our LA chapter, where many more women have joined the EC and membership as a whole. Sometimes environmental groups, especially ones that revolve around a male-dominant sport like surfing, can create exclusive energy. In my opinion, it all comes down to representation in leadership. Folks need to see themselves in community leaders to feel welcomed, understood, and valued.
What is the most important thing you tell others about Surfrider?
I tell everyone that Surfrider is the perfect first entry point into the climate space. No matter where you're from or how you vote, we can all agree that we hate a dirty beach. While Surfrider is known for our beach cleanups, they offer a perfect family-friendly invitation to get newcomers involved in climate action. Then perhaps at a chapter meeting, they learn about petrochemicals and the environmental racism surrounding plastic pollution, with us guiding them on that journey.
It's as if everyone joins because they hate trash, but after a few months, they begin to peel back the curtain and realize what they really hate is injustice — and they discover their own role in fighting for justice.
What has been the highlight of your Surfrider experience?
Hands down, the people. Being in climate work can feel overwhelming, defeating, and heart-breaking, but when I see the spirit, motivation, and love that our chapter has, it refills my tank and keeps me going. I have learned so much about community building and organizing through our chapter, and I have so much respect for all of our members who dedicate huge chunks of their (unpaid!) time to this work, simply because they believe in it and they know what's at stake.
I've watched cement strips turn into thriving biodiversity oases, I've seen LA staple restaurants completely ditch single-use plastic, and I've seen community members pour out their hearts to elected officials telling them how much they love and depend on the ocean and why its health is crucial to all of humanity. I'm in constant, utter awe of the folks I get to do this work with, and I wholeheartedly believe that this is the type of sh*t that changes the world!
Thanks so much! Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sometimes I feel like Surfrider plays it safe because we're a 40-year-old organization and it can feel like steering a cruise ship, but the state of the world calls for all environmental organizations to take risks, be bold, and speak out and act against injustice. I am HERE for Surfrider being a bit more spicy and unhinged, and in doing so will invite other environmental organizations to follow suit.