Meet the Next Generation Behind Big Blue & You
At Big Blue & You, we believe young people should have a seat at the table when it comes to the future of our oceans. As a youth-led organization, we’re passionate about creating opportunities for young people to find their voice, build real-world skills, and become the ocean advocates and changemakers they want to be.
Sometimes that means starting as a volunteer, sometimes as an intern, and sometimes discovering along the way that you have a much bigger role to play.
We’re excited to highlight two incredible young leaders on our team who have done exactly that. We’re celebrating Alejandro Ganaza, who has recently been promoted to Operations Coordinator, and welcoming Ericka Ortega to the team as our new Lead Intern. Both have grown with Big Blue & You in different ways, and we’re excited to see where their journeys take them next.
Meet Alejandro
Alejandro Ganaza is an incoming sophomore at Columbia University in New York City with a strong commitment to environmental advocacy and civic engagement. His journey began with Plastic Free Cities, training students to engage local businesses in adopting sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. Later, serving on the US Youth Action Council for UN Ocean Decade and Columbia Clean Energy, Alejandro continues his work with Big Blue & You as an empathetic leader, a dynamic public speaker, and a dedicated advocate for youth voices everywhere.
When did you first get involved with Big Blue & You?
I got involved with the pilot program of Plastic Free Cities at Jose Marti MAST 6-12 Academy, hosted in collaboration with Debris Free Oceans and the Ocean Conservancy.
What made you want to join the organization?
Seeing the impact on younger generations and empowering their voices to be able to have a role in important decisions. It is the hands-on experience in the lives of countless elementary, middle school, and high schoolers that makes it all worthwhile.
What are some of the biggest things you've learned? What project or experience has had the biggest impact on you?
Working with Big Blue & You for two years, I have learned adaptability in program planning and the ins and outs of social media used as a transformative tool in engaging youth. The project that has had the biggest impact on me has been Sea Youth Rise Up (SRYUP). Being an attendee for two years during Capitol Hill Oceans Week and then a third as a team member, I truly got to see the moment youth enter the conversations that are held between policymakers and how impactful our stories may be in shaping the narrative. SYRUP was truly an eye-opening experience each and every year I attended under different administrations and continues to be my absolute favorite program.
What are you most excited to take on in this new Operations Coordinator position?
As I journey through this new position, I am excited to be able to shape more conversations within the team on how to best improve our programs given the personal reflection on all the events and networks within Big Blue & You that I have been able to partake in as a student in high school. Truly amplifying the youth perspective will allow our team to be as engaging as possible in this new era of technology and bring our mission of arts, media, and storytelling to life.
Why do you think it's important for young people to have leadership opportunities?
Giving a space for young stewards to share their stories, lead, and organize can effectively show not only a different perspective, but a more necessary one as they are not only the most impacted by the current climate of our planet, but have accessibility to so much more information in their learning, making most youth disposed to pitching some, if not, the brightest ideas in many rooms.
Fun Facts About Alejandro
🐟 Favorite ocean animal: Southern Stingrays
🎨 Favorite Big Blue & You event: Art By The Sea 2026!
🧘 Favorite hobby: Hot Yoga
🌴 Favorite place to be by the water: Florida Keys
👜 Go-to ocean conservation tip: Bring a tote bag anywhere. It's stylish and not plastic!
Meet Ericka
Ericka Ortega is Miami-born and raised, a beach lover, ocean advocate, and first-year Biology (Pre-Med) student at Florida International University. Passionate about using her voice to champion both our planet and its people, she believes in science, sustainability, and the power of storytelling to drive change.
Ericka first connected with Big Blue & You through our Plastic Free Cities program while she was in high school. What started as an opportunity for extra credit quickly turned into something much more meaningful.
How did you first hear about Big Blue & You?
I first heard about Big Blue & You through Plastic Free Cities during my sophomore year of high school. I originally joined for extra credit but fell in love with advocating for the environment.
What inspired you to volunteer?
Seeing the positive impact and effects of my work is what inspired me to volunteer.
What has been your favorite Big Blue & You memory so far?
Working with the organization during Art by the Sea. It was incredibly impactful, fun, and active with art.
What are you looking forward to learning as Lead Intern?
I am looking forward to learning how to be more impactful in educating people, and understanding the programs that can help.
What does being part of a youth-led organization mean to you?
It means that young people are able to directly drive and bring about the important changes that the youth want to see.
What would you tell another young person who's considering getting involved in ocean conservation?
I would tell them that caring is the start of wanting to get involved, and there are great resources online and on Instagram to help you begin.
Fun Facts About Ericka
🦈 Favorite ocean animal: Whale shark
🎨 Favorite Big Blue & You event: Art by the Sea
🛶 Favorite hobby: Kayaking
💧 Favorite place to be by the water: Natural springs
🌎 Go-to ocean conservation tip: Start by changing small, everyday things to be more sustainable.
Growing the Next Generation of Ocean Leaders
Ericka and Alejandro's journeys are a great example of what youth leadership can look like in action. When young people are given the chance to volunteer, learn, lead, and take on real responsibility, they don't just gain experience. They become part of building the future of ocean conservation.
We’re so excited to have both of them on our team!