Welcoming Laura Johnson Back to Big Blue & You
We’re thrilled to welcome someone incredibly special back to the Big Blue & You family: Laura Johnson is officially joining our team as our Consulting Programs Manager!
But Laura isn’t new around here. She’s been part of our Big Blue story for over a decade. From her early days as a high school intern organizing Art by the Sea, to representing us on Capitol Hill, and later leading youth advocacy programs at a national level, Laura’s journey in marine conservation has been nothing short of inspiring. Her deep-rooted passion, lived experience, and unwavering dedication to youth empowerment and ocean advocacy make her the perfect fit to help us grow and evolve our impact.
In this Q&A, Laura reflects on what sparked her love for the ocean, what keeps her going in the face of climate challenges, and why coming back to Big Blue & You feels like coming home.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired your passion for marine conservation?
I was born in Texas, moved from there to Atlanta and Los Angeles, spent my schooling years in New Jersey before moving to Florida for college, and have now lived in Los Angeles since 2018. The one major through-line in all of this has been my connection to nature. I’ve always loved animals, and had the opportunity to meet Steve Irwin when I was just six years old. He was my first major catalyst into the world of conservation; he taught me to care about getting people to care. I started holding lemonade stands to raise money for manatee conservation when I was in 3rd grade after he passed away, and the rest is history.
Can you tell us about your history with Big Blue & You and how you first got involved all those years ago - and what it's like to return to the team now?
Back in 2013/2014, I was a junior in high school working on my Girl Scout Gold Award. I got in touch with Danni through my project, and she brought me on as an intern. In 2015, I attended Capitol Hill Ocean Week and the BlueVision Summit in Washington, DC, with Danni, which was my first experience in the world of policy. The next year when I moved to Florida, I started working closely with her and the rest of the team on Art by the Sea, helping to coordinate the 2016, 2017, and 2018 programs. I also served as a student delegate representing Big Blue and You in the inaugural cohort of the Sea Youth Rise Up (SYRUP) program in 2016. Since then I’ve had a myriad of other jobs in the field, but Big Blue & You has always been a huge supporter of mine. In my previous role as Youth Programs Manager for The Ocean Project, I’ve continued collaborating with them on SYRUP since 2023, and became the Lead Coordinator for the program this year, in 2025. Having both Danni and Michelle as mentors from the very start of my career has changed my life, and it’s an absolute honor to return with all the skills and knowledge that I’ve since developed on my journey. Coming back to Big Blue & You truly feels like coming home, because this team feels like family to me.
You have a lot of experience as a Programs Manager in this space - can you share some of those experiences and your favorite parts about working in this space?
My favorite moments are whenever I get to help young people experience their own power. From speaking to members of the public as an aquarium educator, managing the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council and coordinating The Ocean Project’s Youth Advocacy Training program, to leading Sea Youth Rise Up, the most rewarding feeling in the world to me is when I can help somebody realize the power they hold to make a positive difference in this world. That power lies in all of us, and to help empower someone to find their place within the movement is the joy of a lifetime.
What are some ways people can deepen their connection to the ocean?
Sit still for a moment, and take a deep breath. Exhale slowly. Think about how miraculous life on this planet is, and that if it weren’t for the ocean, we wouldn’t exist. Take a second deep breath. Think about how over 50% of the oxygen we breathe comes directly from the ocean; that was your entire second breath, and then some. Understand that it doesn’t matter where you live, who you are, or where you come from; you need the ocean, and the ocean needs you.
What excites you most about joining Big Blue & You, and what are you looking forward to in your role as Programs Manager?
The Art by the Sea activations were a flagship program back in the day, and I am very excited to help bring it back stronger than ever in 2026. Some of my fondest memories from my college days were spent pouring over that event with the team. I’m also super excited to help expand the Big Blue Crew program, build the network out and get some regular program content up and running. Consistent engagement is key to building community. We need that now more than ever, and Big Blue & You is perfectly poised to help support that in South Florida and beyond.
Marine conservation can sometimes feel overwhelming. What keeps you motivated and hopeful for the future of our oceans?
I won’t lie - things have been looking pretty bleak for a while now. Getting caught up in the excruciatingly slow (and often straight up backwards) federal policy process is hard on both the mind and soul. That being said, looking at all of the grassroots campaigns that exist in nearly every community across the country (and the world!), put together by hundreds of thousands of people who have made the conscious decision to keep caring about and fighting for a better world, is what keeps me going. There’s an MLK quote I heard shared by former Vice President Al Gore at a Climate Reality Training a few years ago that really stuck with me: “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” That moral arc bends, because people have bent it. It’s up to us. Change doesn’t just magically happen, it is created. And even if the justice I am seeking doesn’t occur in my lifetime, I’d much rather be a part of fighting for it, than just waiting around for it to happen.
If you could share one important message about marine conservation with the next generation, what would it be?
The ocean conservation movement is more often than not seen as its own entity, entirely separate from other movements like housing, gender equality, healthcare, and other seemingly “unrelated” issues. The fact of the matter is, the ocean connects us all. The ocean directly controls planetary weather systems. Think about what happens when communities hit by natural disasters (which are exacerbated by the climate crisis) don’t have access to resources they need to recover. Think about how rising temperatures impact unhoused populations, or people working in unsafe factory conditions. Think about what plastic is made out of, and how extractive industries are actively instilling cancer in not only us, but the entire planet. Think about the material conditions, the physical and economic circumstances, that impact people’s lives, and how those material conditions will be further impacted by the climate crisis. It’s all connected. Understand that those in power seek to remain in power, and they will often employ tactics with the sole purpose of distracting the general population from what is causing the root of their problems. Remain focused, work together, and remember that it’s all a marathon, not a sprint.
🌊 Quick Facts
Favorite marine animal or species: Manta ray – I have a big one tattooed on my stomach!
Favorite hobby: I love photography, painting, and going down random Wikipedia rabbit holes for hours on end.
Favorite body of water/place to be by the water: The Florida Keys will always have a very special place in my heart. I was SCUBA certified there with my brother, and grew up exploring those waters with my family. I’ve only ever found my favorite color in person there: the color of the ocean from above, on a sunny day, at about a 25–30 foot depth, over a patch of sand.
Go-to ocean conservation tip: You cannot hold the weight of the world on your own shoulders alone, and you cannot pour from an empty cup. Find your community, learn how to lean on them, and show them that they can lean on you too.
Laura’s return feels like a full-circle moment, not just for her, but for all of us at Big Blue & You. She brings with her a rich blend of experience, strategy, and heart that will help us scale our programs and nurture the next generation of ocean leaders.
Whether she’s guiding young advocates through the halls of Congress or creating meaningful community experiences through art and science, Laura reminds us that change is possible when we work together, stay grounded in our “why,” and remember that the ocean connects us all.
Welcome home, Laura. We’re so lucky to have you back. 💙🌊