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 2021, MERITO ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING EXEMPT PURPOSE ACHIEVEMENTS: LED A COMMUNITY-BASED HABITAT RESTORATION EFFORT AT THE KALORAMA WETLAND IN BUENAVENTURA STATE BEACH BY EDUCATING AND INVOLVING APPROXIMATELY 70 CHILDREN 9-12 YEARS OF AGE AND THEIR PARENTS IN THE REMOVAL OF 3000 LBS. OF INVASIVE ICE PLANT AND PLANTING 230 NATIVE PLANTS IN 2 ACRES OF LAND, CULMINATING WITH A CHUMASH BLESSING CEREMONY AT THE SITE ON MARCH 2021, THANKS TO A GRANT FROM CA STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY (SPRING 2021), A SMALLER GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION, AND PUBLIC SUPPORT.THANKS TO THE EPA AND 15 TEACHERS WHO WORKED WITH US DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MERITO FOUNDATION LED THE DESIGN OF AND SPONSORED WASTE REDUCTION PROGRAMS AT 4 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, LEMONWOOD, SUNKIST, MONTALVO, AND BERRYLWOOD, IN VENTURA COUNTY THAT ARE NOW PREVENTING 102,022LBS. (46.26 METRIC TONS) OF WASTE FROM GOING TO LANDFILLS AND 136 METRIC TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE FROM ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE. THE 18 MONTH PROJECT INVOLVED EDUCATING 240 4TH GRADE STUDENTS, THEN GUIDING THEM TO CONDUCT WASTE AUDITS, DESIGN METHODS, CALCULATE BUDGETS, AND OUTLINE COMMUNICATION PLANS, AS PART OF MERITO FOUNDATIONS BLUE GREEN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TEACHERS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND MUNICIPALITIES.THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH THE VENTURA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION ("VCOE"), MERITO FOUNDATION CONDUCTED 8 WEBINARS AND 2 IN-PERSON EDUCATORS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS IN THE VCOE'S EXPANDED LEARNING STEAM HUB PROGRAM AND PROVIDED CONTENT, CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND INCENTIVES IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF 63 IN-SERVICE TEACHERS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM EDUCATORS FROM SAN LUIS OBISPO, KERN, SANTA BARBARA, AND VENTURA COUNTIES TO INSTRUCT OCEAN, CLIMATE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE THAT INVOLVES OUTDOOR SETTINGS.MERITO FOUNDATION EDUCATED, THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, 110 CHILDREN AGES 9-12 ABOUT OCEAN SCIENCE AND ISSUES DURING OUR MARINE SCIENCE AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMPS AT THE BEACH AND AT THE CHANNEL ISLANDS THROUGH SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIPS (50%) AND PAID FEES (50%).THROUGH A GRANT FROM CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE, THE MERITO FOUNDATION INFORMED 29,048 CITIZENS OF DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES OF VENTURA COUNTY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND MOTIVATED THEM TO ENROLL IN CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE BY THE CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE AS AN ENERGY PROVIDER. THE COMMUNICATION WAS CONDUCTED PRIMARILY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, PRODUCTION OF PSAS BROADCAST ON CAPS MEDIA TV, AND BILINGUAL IN-PERSON EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NOAA B-WET PROGRAM, MERITO SPONSORED THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEAN ACIDIFICATION EECCOA CHALLENGE, EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING 102 TEAMS OF STUDENTS TO DESIGN METHODS TO REDUCE WATER CONSUMPTION, REDUCE WASTE, AND INCREASE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THEIR HOMES. THE 12 TOP PROJECTS RECEIVED $3,200 TOTAL IN CASH PRIZES AND A TRIP TO THE CHANNEL ISLANDS SPONSORED BY NOAA B-WET AND VENTURA WATER. IN ADDITION, 5 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED SPONSORED IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR PROJECTS INCLUDING COMPOSTING SYSTEMS AND WATER-SAVING APPLIANCES. THANKS TO A GRANT FROM THE EPA, MERITO SPONSORED AND LED THE STORM WATER RUNOFF PREVENTION PROGRAM AT PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY IN PORT HUENEME AS PART OF MERITO FOUNDATION'S BLUE GREEN SCHOOL INITIATIVE. 3RD-5TH GRADE STUDENTS CALCULATED THE ANNUAL RAINWATER RUN-OFF AND DESIGNED CAPTURE METHODS INCLUDING RAIN BARRELS AND A BIOSWALE. THE STUDENTS SELECTED THE NATIVE VEGETATION TO PLANT AROUND THE BIOSWALE TO ATTRACT WILDLIFE, FILTER POLLUTANTS, AND HARVEST MOISTURE FROM THE AIR. THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH UC DAVIS AND THE VENTURA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, MERITO CREATED AND LAUNCHED THE VENTURA RIVER ACTION NETWORK (V-RAN) 2021-2024 PROGRAM TO ACTIVELY INVOLVE 800-1000 VENTURA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 6TH-12TH GRADE STUDENTS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND RESTORATION OF THE VENTURA RIVER WATERSHED IN SUPPORT OF THE MATILIJA DAM REMOVAL AND IN COLLABORATION WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE VENTURA RIVER WATERSHED FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING THE VENTURA LAND TRUST, SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL KEEPERS, OJAI VALLEY LAND TRUST, AND WATERSHED PROGRESSIVE.THE MERITO ACADEMY, NOW A 16-YEAR TRADITION FOR MANY SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA, TOOK 150 5TH GRADE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS TO THE CHANNEL ISLANDS TO LEARN ABOUT AND EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ISLANDS. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR FOUNDATION, THE KINDNESS OF VOLUNTEER NATURALISTS, AND THE PERSEVERANCE OF TEACHERS, THESE TRIPS INCLUDED MANY WHO SPOKE INDIGENOUS DIALECTS SUCH AS ZAPOTEC AND MIXTEC, AND WHO HAD NEVER VISITED THE CHANNEL ISLANDS OR BEEN ON A BOAT BEFORE.IN DECEMBER 2021, MERITO LAUNCHED THE "TALES OF EXPLORATION" PROJECT, A SIX-MONTH WORLD-CLASS, STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING OPPORTUNITY SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY THAT IS OFFERING 15 TEACHERS & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM LEADERS ACCESS TO AND TRAINING ON THE USE OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICS "STORYTELLING FOR IMPACT TOOLS AND FRAMEWORK" FOR THEIR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THEIR NATURAL WORLD THROUGH GEO-INQUIRY AND TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THE IMPACT OF THEIR RESEARCH THROUGH STORYTELLING.