Hello, my name is Francisco "Paco" Ollervides. I send you greetings from North Central Ohio, land that was originally inhabited by the Miami tribes amongst others. I'm a marine biologist and turned a grassroots activist. I'm a capacity builder and I develop leaders and networks in the environmental sector. I'm also a member of the inaugural Advisory Board for Healthy Ocean Coalition. "HOC" And you might ask, why did I accept - to play a role in this organization? And well, I'll tell you I first heard about HOC a little over three years ago when I was part of their 2020 Advocacy Academy cohort. You have no idea how much I gained from this experience in terms of building my network, learning new skills, especially in communications and the overall knowledge of ocean policy, both historically and looking forward. I was instantaneously hooked and I absolutely love what HOC stands for. Especially with Jenna, Sarah, Jen envision in terms of a healthy, resilient ocean. My values align with HOC in terms of prioritizing collaboration, listening to our networks and finding equitable solutions, especially in terms of policy. Frankly, I'm amazed of how these women are able to achieve such excellent webinars, monthly calls, and support documents that they churn day in and day out.
Their intentionality and focus on equity has yielded great results and victories in terms of including the less enfranchised from all corners of the country, engaging with politics, politicians and members of Congress. I encourage you to join this cause as a student, a colleague, a supporter, a financer. The challenge is great, but the road map is clear and achievable. Don't just do it for yourself. Do it for everyone in this planet now and for the future.
