Multicultural Education For Resource Issues Threatening Oceans

MERITO IS A 501(C)3 CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE OCEAN BY FACILITATING EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR MULTICULTURAL YOUTH AND THEIR COMMUNITIES WHILE INCREASING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OCEAN, OCEAN-RELATED THREATS, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRACTICES. MERITO ALSO STRIVES TO MOTIVATE DIVERSE YOUTH TO PURSUE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY OR ENGINEERING CAREERS THAT RELATE TO THE OCEAN.

IN 2022, MERITO ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING EXEMPT PURPOSE ACHIEVEMENTS:IMMERSED 2,338 4TH-12TH GRADE STUDENTS IN OUR VENTURA RIVER ACTION NETWORK (V-RAN), TALES OF EXPLORATION, AND CHANNEL ISLANDS HIGH SCHOOL MARINE SCIENCE ACADEMY IN-CLASS AND OUTDOOR HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO TEACH OCEAN CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ENERGY SCIENCES THROUGH PROJECT BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES. THESE PROGRAMS WERE SPONSORED BY THE VENTURA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A FISCAL ADMINISTRATOR OF A NOAA B-WET GRANT, THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, AND THE OXNARD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.INVOLVED 1,385 7TH-12TH GRADE STUDENTS IN 30 FIELD EXPERIENCES IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND HABITAT RESTORATION AT THE VENTURA RIVER ESTUARY, STATE BEACHES, CHANNEL ISLANDS, AND ORMOND BEACH THAT INCLUDED MONITORING FRESHWATER QUALITY, MICRO-PLASTICS, AND MACRO-INVERTEBRATES, BIRD IDENTIFICATION AND CENSUS, AND SANDY AND ROCKY INTER-TIDAL BEACH PROFILES.LAUNCHED A NEW OUTDOOR RECREATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, "FROM THE AVENUE TO THE CHANNEL ISLANDS," (ATCI) FOR 860 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AT DE ANZA SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY AND ARTS INVOLVING THEM IN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND PARTICIPATION IN LEADERSHIP AND CAREER PATHWAYS. THIS PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY CA STATE PARKS THROUGH AN OUTDOOR EQUITY GRANT.AS PART OF THE FIRST WORLD OCEANS DAY CELEBRATION AND OUR "TALES OF EXPLORATION" PROGRAM, 65 STUDENT YOUTH TEAMS FROM THE CITY OF OXNARD SUBMITTED DIGITAL "STORYTELLING FOR IMPACT" PROJECTS USING PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO, AUDIO, AND INFO-GRAPHICS, WITH THE TOP 12 STORIES RECEIVING $3,150 IN CASH PRIZES. THIS PROJECT WAS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, THE CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR FOUNDATION, AND THE PORT OF HUENEME.CONDUCTED 13 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN-PERSON, ON-LINE WEBINAR, AND OUTDOOR FIELD SESSIONS TO TRAIN 208 EDUCATORS FROM 4 COUNTIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL DATA COLLECTION AND "STORYTELLING FOR IMPACT" CURRICULA AS WELL AS DISTRIBUTING $23,500 IN TEACHER STIPENDS TO HELP BRING THE OCEAN INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.RECEIVED OVER 100 YOUTH CREATED PROJECTS FROM VENTURA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS TO INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, REDUCE WASTE, CONSERVE WATER, AND REDUCE THE CARBON FOOTPRINT AT THEIR SCHOOLS. AT THE ANNUAL EECCOA CHALLENGE, THE TOP TWELVE TEAMS WERE AWARDED $3,800 IN CASH PRIZES AND A TRIP TO VISIT CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK. FUNDING FOR THE EECCOA CHALLENGE AWARDS EVENT AND STUDENT CASH PRIZES WAS SPONSORED BY THE VENTURA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND VENTURA WATER.LED 9 SELECT STUDENTS FROM DE ANZA MIDDLE SCHOOL TO ATTEND CA STATE PARKS OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND LEARN CAMPING, COMMUNICATION, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND SHADOW ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS ON THEIR JOBS.ENGAGED 600 RESIDENTS FROM DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN LA COLONIA AND EL RIO IN THE CITY OF OXNARD AND THE AVENUE IN VENTURA IN CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, INFORMING THEM THROUGH CANVASING ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THE CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE AND HOW TO RECEIVE A 20% DISCOUNT ON THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS. THIS WORK WAS PERFORMED THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH THE CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE.