>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ >> GREETINGS AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF "ABLE TO RAISE."

I´M YOUR HOST AMELIA LAMONT OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND TODAY I AM SO EXCITED TO WELCOME ONE OF OUR EXCITING YUNG PEOPLE WHO IS DOING EXCITING NEW THINGS HERE IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

HER NAME IS OLIVIA WALTON AND SHE FOCUSSES ON STUDYING THE ENVIRONMENT AND AT THE MOMENT SHE´S WORKING WITH THE ST. CROIX ASSOCIATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, GOOD TO SEE YOU, AS WELL.

>> FOR THE AUDIENCE THAT MAY NOT BE AWARE OF YOUR WORK, FIRST, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU.

TELL US ABOUT OLIVIA WALTON.

>> YES, SO I AM FROM ST. CROIX.

I WAS RAISED HERE AND GREW UP PREDOMINANTLY IN FREDERICK, AND I WASN´T BORN HERE, BUT MY FAMILY ROOTS STARTED HERE IN THE ´60s WHEN MY GREAT-GREAT ANGELO MORRASCO STARTED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND EVENTUALLY TOOK THE BAND TO THE WORLD´S FAIR.

ST. CROIX HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GROWING UP HERE, AND SO NOW WORKING AS AN EDUCATION COORDINATOR FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION.

WHAT GOT YOU INTO THE ENVIRONMENT AND STUDYING THE ENVIRONMENT?

WELL, I WAS ALWAYS AN OUTDOORSY CHILD.

I WAS A BAREFOOT CHILD, AND I WAS USUALLY UP A TREE OR IN THE WATER BUT THEN I GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TO GO TO COUNTRY DAY, AND I WAS ABLE TO WHERE THEY CAN DO SERVICE, AND THE NEXT ONE I LEARNED HOW TO SCUBA DIVE, AND I WAS 12 OR 13, I THINK, AND THAT WAS IT FOR ME.

I AM NOW A CERTIFIED RESCUE DIVER GETTING TO SEE UNDER OUR OCEANS IN THAT WAY CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER, AND I´VE DECIDED I HAVE TO WORK IN AND AROUND OUTSIDE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

>> WELG, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE BEING UNDER WATER?

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, SADLY, DON´T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.

I´VE HAD IT ONCE, BUT IT´S HELPFUL TO -- HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE IT?

>> FOR ME, IT MAY SOUND CLICHE, BUT IT IS MAGICAL.

IN THE WAY THAT PEOPLE THINK OF SPACE AS THIS GREAT PLACE TO EXPLORE, DIVING IS VERY SIMILAR, AND IT´S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WORLD.

JUST WATCHING THE INTERACTIONS OF THESE CREATURES IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU´RE NEVER GOING TO GET TO SEE UNLESS YOU´RE SEEING THEM IN THEIR OWN SPACE, AND AS YOU JUST SAID, IT IS SOMETHING THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE, AND THAT´S SOMETHING I´M WORKING ON HERE, GETTING MORE KIDS IN THE WATER AND ADULTS, AS WELL, TEACHING THEM HOW TO SNORKEL AND THAT´S THE FIRST STEP TO EXPERIENCE THAT LOVE AND REPLACE OFTENTIMES A FEAR OF THE WATER.

>> RIGHT.

THAT´S A VERY REAL THING, YOU KNOW?

FEAR OF THE WATER.

WHAT KINDS OF ACTIVITIES ARE YOU ENGAGED IN RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS THOSE KINDS OF ISSUE?

>> SO OVER THE SUMMER, AFTER I CAME ON WE DID A LOT OF SNORKEL CLINICS.

OUTSIDE OF HURRICANE SEASON AND WINTER, WE DO SNORKEL CLINICS WHICH ARE FREE.

WE DO THEM ONCE A MONTH AND THEY´RE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE SHOW UP.

WE BRING ALL THE GEAR AND WE HAVE GUIDES THAT TAKE ADULTS AND SMALL CHILDREN OUT IN SMALL GROUPS AND GET THEM ACQUAINTED WITH THE BASIC SNORKELING SKILLS AND SHOW THEM AROUND AND MY SECOND TO LAST CLINIC IT WAS A SPECIAL ONE FOR ME BECAUSE WHO HAPPENED TO SHOW UP WAS AN AMAZING GROUP OF BLACK WOMEN, MANY OF THEM LOCAL WOMEN WHO, YOU KNOW, GOT OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE AND DID SOMETHING THAT THEY HADN´T TRIED BEFORE AND THAT WAS JUST A VERY PERSONAL AND AMAZING EXPERIENCE, BUT AS WELL AS THAT OVER THE SUMMER, WE HAVE A SEA CREATURES PROGRAM WHERE WE WORK WITH SUMMER CAMPS AND PROVIDE FIELD TRIPS FOR THEM, AND SO ALL SUMMER LONG I WORKED WITH THE PARKS AND REC CAMP EAST AND WEST AND SNORKELED WITH EACH GROUP ONCE A WEEK AND ABOUT 25 KIDS IN EACH GROUP AND BY THE END OF THE SUMMER THEY TOOK A FINAL TRIP TO THE ISLAND ASK THEIR COUNSELORS CAME BACK AND TOLD ME THEIR PARENTS WERE, LIKE, THEY´RE FISH.

I´VE GOT THIS, AND IT SURPRISED THEM ALL, AND IT WAS SO INSPIRING FOR ME TO HEAR.

>> SO WHEN YOU GRADUATED FROM COUNTRY DAY, THEN WHAT DID YOU DO?

>> SO AFTER MY FALLING IN LOVE WITH SCUBA I WAS SET ON BEING A MARINE BIOLOGIST, AND SO I WENT TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY IN VERY, VERY COLD ITHICA, NEW YORK, AND THERE I STUDIED NATURAL RESOURCES AND MARINE BIOLOGY AND WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO REALLY TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD AND SEE THE GREAT BARRIER REEF.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

I DID A STUDY ABROAD IN AUSTRALIA, AND I DID RESEARCH FOR THE SMITHSONIAN IN BALI, AND I FENANGLED MY WAY TO DO MY THESIS AT HOME, SO I WAS ABLE TO COME HOME FOR A SUMMER AND WORKED ON LION FISH AND ALSO SOME SEA TURTLE WORK.

YEAH, THAT WAS MY EARLY CAREER WAS REALLY IN RESEARCH, AND THROUGH THAT, I SAW THAT WE´RE FACING A LOT OF ISSUES ENVIRONMENTALLY.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE WAY I FELT I COULD MAKE THE MOST IMPACT WAS TO BECOME AN EDUCATOR, AND SO I KIND OF VEERED PAST A LITTLE BIT ONCE I GOT THAT DEGREE TO BE MORE IN OUTREACH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

>> EXCELLENT.

SO AFTER CORNELL YOU THEN PURSUED ADDITIONAL STUDIES.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES.

SO AFTER CORNELL, I ACTUALLY TOOK A BREAK FROM ACADEMIA, AND I WAS A MONTESSORI TEACHER FOR TWO YEARS, AND TEACHERS GET NICE, LONG, LENGTHY BREAKS AND SO I SPENT THAT TIME BACKPACKING AND DOING TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY UNTIL I FINALLY WENT BACK TO SCHOOL FOR MY MASTERS AT UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN WHERE I RECEIVED A FELLOWSHIP TO DO MY RESEARCH, AND I DID ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESEARCH IN THE BAHAMAS DURING THAT THESIS.

>> MY GOODNESS, HOW MANY COUNTRIES DID YOU VISIT?

I THINK -- I DON´T THINK YOU´RE EVEN 30 YET.

>> I JUST TURNED 30.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

OKAY.

>> I THINK MY COUNT IS IN THE 20s, MAYBE 25?

>> WOW.

EXCELLENT.

EXCELLENT.

SO NAME SOME OF THE PLACES YOU´VE BEEN TO.

I MEAN, THIS IS QUITE REMARKABLE.

>> YEAH.

I LOVE TRAVELING.

I WAS BIT BY THE TRAVEL BUG AT A YOUNG AGE, NOT FOR ANY REASON.

EVERYONE ALWAYS ASKS IF I HAVE PARENTS IN THE MILITARY, BUT I GREW UP WITH A SINGLE MOM AND SHE JUST LOVED TO MOVE, AND WE MOVED A LOT AND WE ALSO LIVED IN ITALY WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

I´M HALF ITALIAN, AND AFTER THAT WHEN I STARTED TRAVELING ON MY OWN I DID A THREE MONTHS BACKPACKING IN PERU, THREE MONTHS IN EUROPE.

RIGHT BEFORE COVID HIT MY WHOLE FAMILY TOOK A TRIP TO CUBA.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE COOLEST PLACES I´VE BEEN, BUT AS I SAID, INDONESIA, AUSTRALIA, BUDAPEST IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WORLD WHICH WAS VERY SURPRISING TO ME, BUT -- YEAH.

THOSE ARE A FEW -- A FEW OF THE PLACES I PERSONALLY WANT TO SEE MORE OF THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS, THOUGH.

IT´S FUNNY, SOMETIMES YOU TAKE IT FOR GRANTED AND IT´S A PLACE I´M ALWAYS IN, AND I TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT THAT´S MY NEW GOAL WHEN IT´S SAFE TO REALLY TRAVEL AGAIN, TO SEE MORE OF OUR ISLAND COMMUNITY.

RIGHT.

>> YOU TOUCHED UPON THE TOPIC THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

WHAT, SPECIFICALLY, HAVE YOU LEARN INDIVIDUAL YOUR TRAVELS WITH RESPECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW OUR SPECIES HAS IMPACTED THE ENVIRONMENT?

>> WELL, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I GET TO WORK WITH CHILDREN A LOT THAT SAVES ME FROM ALL OF THE DOOMSDAY FEELINGS.

A LOT OF WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU TRAVEL, BUT THE INTERESTING THING IS MORE SO THAN THE WESTERN WORLD, WE´RE THE ONES HAVING THE MOST EGREGIOUS IMPACTS AND IN TRAVELING THE WESTERN PLACES IS THE MOST INSPIRING THING WITH PEOPLE WHO STILL LIVE IN A VERY SUSTAINABLE WAY WITH THE EARTH.

THAT´S ALWAYS INSPIRING TO ME.

YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THERE´S CLIMATE CRISIS.

OF COURSE, YOU CAN SEE IT ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND EVEN ESPECIALLY HOME, WE HAVE A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE GOING ON IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, AS WELL.

>> GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU WOULD CHARACTERIZE OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE.

>> RIGHT.

SO PART OF THE WORK WE DO, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, WHICH IS THE FORTY AND ALSO ADVOCACY AND SO THIS YEAR, I KNOW YOU HAD KENNETH ON, AND KENNETH CAN SPEAK BETTER TO THIS THAN I CAN, AND SO CAN THE DIRECTOR BECAUSE SHE REALLY WAS IN THE NITTY-GRITTY, BUT WITH LIME TREE RE-OPENING THIS YEAR, WE REALLY SAW THE INJUSTICE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY LOWER INCOME, LOWER POPULATIONS BEING DOWNWIND FROM THAT REFINERY AND SEEING THE HEALTH IMPACTS THAT THAT WAS CAUSING NOW, BUT HAS BEEN CAUSING SINCE THE ´60s.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

UNDERSTANDABLE.

I´M SURE THERE ARE OTHER LEVELS OF -- HOW HAS IT, PERHAPS, IMPACTED OUR OCEANS.

HAVE YOU SEEN OR WITNESS GOOD CHANGES, PARTICULARLY AND I´M NOT JUST GOING TO LIMIT IT TO ONE AREA, BUT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN THREE.

I BELIEVE WHEN KENNETH SPOKE HE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE WREATHS HAVE THEIR VIABILITY HAS BEEN ERODING AND IT´S CAUSED BY WHAT, I DON´T RECALL, BUT PERHAPS YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT, AS WELL.

I MEAN, A CERTIFICATION OF THE OCEAN AND THE GENERAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND CRISIS WE´RE FACING IS IMPACTING SIGNIFICANTLY AND WITHOUT GETTING TO THE SCIENCY SIDE -- AND THE PERSONAL SIDE FOR ME IS THAT I LEARNED TO SCUBA WHEN I WAS 19, AND THE PEOPLE I WORKED WITH BEING AROUND THE BLOCK TOLD ME HOW DIFFERENT IT WAS, AND IT WAS STILL AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR ME, BUT NOW JUST STARTING MY THIRD DECADE ON THIS EARTH, I SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

I SEE THE DETERIORATION WHEN I WAS 12 TO NOW.

AGAIN, I ALWAYS TRY IT FIND THAT HOPEFUL SILVER LINING.

KENNETH SPOKE TO SOME WORK THAT´S BEING DONE TO REALLY BUILD THE REEFS BACK.

THE NATURE CONNER IS VANCY LOCALLY IS DOING A LOT OF CORAL RESEARCH, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING ON IT AND THAT ALWAYS GIVES ME HOPE.

>> WHAT OTHER THINGS IS THE ST. CROIX ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION DOING, IN ADDITION TO THE SNORKELING PIECE AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY.

SEA, COLLECT SEA.

SO, AND IT IS ONE OF MY MISSIONS AND IT´S FULLY SUPPORTIVE AND AND IT´S A SPACE THAT EDUCATED, AND ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO COMMUNITY AND DONORS AND SUCH WHAT I WANT THEM TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION AND THE LOCAL YOUTH WHO DON´T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY GET OUT IN NATURE AND HAVE MEANINGFUL, INSPIRATIONAL EXPERIENCES.

AND WE JUST RECEIVED A GRANT FROM AN ORGANIZATION THAT GAVE ME A GRANT IN GRADUATE SCHOOL AND TO DO SOME PROGRAMMING IN THE SCHOOLS AND FOR ME IT´S IMPORTANT THAT YOU WILL START WITH OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CONNECTING WITH THE TEACHERS AND MAKING SURE WE CAN PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION THAT FITS IN WITH THEIR CURRICULUM.

THROUGHOUT THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND BEYOND, AS LONG AS I AM WORKING HERE THAT´S GOING TO BE OUR MISSION AS WELL AS WE HAVE A FUN PROJECT COMING UP, WE RECEIVED ANOTHER FELLOWSHIP FROM NAAEE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS LOVE THEIR ACRONYMS, BUT THAT´S THE NORTH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND I WAS AWARDED THEIR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND FELLOWSHIP AND THROUGH THAT WE´LL DO A PROJECT OUT WEST WHICH IS NEAR TO MY HEART, THAT´S A SPACE I GREW UP IN AND WE´RE GOING TO GET SOME COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE SPACE AROUND THE FISH MARKET HELPING FACILITATE THE USE OF THAT SPACE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE EXPERIENCES OUTDOORS THAT INSPIRE THEM TO FALL IN LOVE WITH NATURE, AND THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN JANUARY AND JUNE IS WHEN WE WILL TRY TO WORK ON THE PROJECT IN THE BEGINNING PHASES RIGHT NOW.

>> HOW WILL YOU MANAGE THAT GIVEN THE PANDEMIC THAT WE´RE UNDER?

WHAT KIND OF PRECAUTIONS OR STEPS WILL BE TAKEN IN THAT REGARD.

AND SOMEONE WHO WAS THE PERSON, AND EVERYBODY HAS HAD TO RELEARN.

I WANT TO BE OUTSIDE, AND I WANT TO BE WITH THE KIDS AND WE´VE BEEN DOING MORE AND MORE VIRTUAL WORK YESTERDAY.

I WAS GIVING OUT LESSONS TO SECOND GRADERS AND WITH MRS. FLORENCE AND THEY´RE CALLED THE RESILIENT RECYCLERS, AND THEY COULD HAVE SCHOOLED ME.

IT WAS AMAZING.

THAT WAS COMPLETELY VIRTUAL, THAT LESSON PLAN, AND SO MOVING FORWARD, A LOT OF THE WORK WE DO WITH THE SCHOOLS, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF IT WOULD HAVE TO BE VIRTUAL, AND WE´RE TRYING TO GET SOME NEW TECHNOLOGIES SO YOU CAN CREATE VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS THROUGH SOME OF THE AREAS WITH SOME OF THE AMAZING BEAUTIFUL PARKS WITH THE ST. CROIX ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION WITH THE SOUTH GATE COASTAL RESERVE WHICH IS A CROSS FROM CHEESEBURGERS AND THE BAY IS ACTUALLY A COASTAL RESERVE AND WE HAVE A TRAIL WITH NATIVE PLANTS AND A BIRD LINE WHERE YOU CAN GO BIRD WATCHING AND SO TRYING TO BUILD CONTESTS THAT HIGHLIGHT THAT FEATURES CAN UTILIZE WHETHER WE´RE IN OR OUT OF SCHOOL, I´M HOPING THAT WE´LL HAVE FIELD TRIPS IN PERSON SOON AGAIN SAFELY, BUT EVEN WITH THE EVENT THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE, THAT´S ALWAYS IN OUR MIND, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS SAFELY?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT ADHERES TO COVID GUIDELINES BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE THAT COMMUNITY SPIRIT.

WE REALLY NEED THAT, WE NEED CONNECTION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT´S THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS EXERCISE.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE RESILIENT RECYCLERS.

I´M INTRIGUED.

>> OKAY, YES.

SO YESTERDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH OPERATION INSPIRE WHICH IS A VIRTUAL AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THAT´S BEEN GOING ON RECENTLY, THEY ASKED ME TO COME AS A GUEST LECTURER FOR A GROUP OF FIRST TO SECOND GRADERS AND SO, YOU KNOW, I SHOWED UP AND I GAVE THEM THE LESSON ON, YOU KNOW, RECYCLING WHICH IS HARD ON OUR ISLANDS BECAUSE WE DON´T HAVE THE RECYCLING FACILITIES WE HAVE AT SOME POINT AND YOU CAN ALWAYS REUSE THINGS AND THAT WAS MY MESSAGE TO THEM AND THEN THEIR TEACHER, MRS. FLORENCE SAID DO YOU WANT TO SEE SOME OF THE WORK THEY´VE BEEN DOING?

AND OF COURSE, THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, SHORT VIDEOS WITH COMMITMENTS OF WHAT THEY´RE GOING TO DO TO RECYCLE AND TO, YOU KNOW, SAVE OUR OCEANS AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF ST. CROIX´S ENVIRONMENT.

THEY HAD DRAWN AMAZING PICTURES THAT WERE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO RECYCLE MORE, TO PICK UP TRASH AND TO NOT LEAVE THINGS BEHIND AT THE BEACH, AND I WAS FLOORED.

I TOLD THEM YOU COULD HAVE GIVEN ME THIS LESSON.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO SEE, AND THROUGH THE UPCOMING PROGRAMS, WE WANT TO DO IN SCHOOLS, THAT´S JUST THE EXAMPLE AND ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS AND ONE OF THE GROUPS I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THAT SPIRIT AND ENCOURAGE THAT CREATIVITY IN THE MINDS OF THE YOUTH.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

THAT´S SO IMPORTANT AND THAT´S SUCH A GREAT AGE TO -- YOU KNOW, IT´S MY FAVORITE.

I´VE BEEN AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AND I WORKED WITH HIGH SCHOOLERS FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT K THROUGH 7, K THROUGH 8th, THEIR MINDS ARE JUST SO OPEN, AND IT´S AMAZING TO WORK WITH.

IT IS.

IT TRULY IS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I´VE OBSERVED WITH THE VIRGIN ISLANDS FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS AND YOU CAN ATTEST TO THIS WHICH IS HAVING THESE GREAT MINDS LEAVE AND NOT COME BACK.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO GET TO BRING BACK VIRGIN ISLANDERS WHO HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER TO OUR COMMUNITY?

WHAT -- WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE SO THAT WE -- YOU KNOW, BRING BACK OUR BRAINS, OUR SKILLS, YOU KNOW?

YOU´VE DONE IT.

WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE?

ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT AND THANKFULLY, THIS WAS SOMETHING I CHIT-CHAT WITH MY FRIENDS IN MY GENERATION ABOUT.

QUITE A FEW OF US HAVE COME HOME, BUT WE´RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE KEEP THAT GOING AND I HONESTLY DID NOT THINK I WOULD BE MOVING BACK HOME THIS EARLY IN MY CAREER.

IT WAS A DREAM OF MINE BECAUSE I WANTED TO GIVE BACK, BUT IT WASN´T UNTIL SIA APPROACHED ME SAYING WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER MOVING HOME?

YES!

BUT THE REASONING WAS I WASN´T SURE I WOULD HAVE A JOB.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU KNOW.

I THINK THE STEP WE NEED TO TAKE IS TO BRING REPRESENTATION OF LOCAL EXPERTS INTO OUR SCHOOLS MEETING STUDENTS AT A YOUNG AGE.

I KNEW IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND COUNTRY DAY WHERE I WAS AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE INTERN SHIPS WITH LOCAL EXPERTS AT DPNR, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THAT KIND OF WORK HAPPENS HERE, BUT WE HAVE AMAZING GROUPS COME TO ST. CROIX AND TEACH SOME AMAZING THING, BUT THAT REPRESENTATION PIECE NEEDS TO HAVE -- THE REPRESENTATION AND CULTURAL CONNECTION NEEDS TO BE A PIECE OF ALL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND THAT REALLY SHOWS STUDENTS AND YOUTH THAT YOU CAN DO IT AND YOU CAN DO IT AT HOME AND YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE HERE.

I THINK THAT IS A THING THAT WILL INSPIRE STUDENTS, EVEN IF THEY LEAVE TO GET AN EDUCATION AND TO WANT TO LEAVE AND COME HOME TO GIVE BACK AND KNOW THAT THERE´S SPACE FOR THEM TO DO THAT AND OPPORTUNITIES.

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW ABOUT SAFETY AND HOW DID THE CONNECTION OCCUR?

SO I ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERED WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

MY MOM IS -- DESPITE BEING A VERY BUSY SINGLE MOTHER OF FOUR DAUGHTERS, SHE ALWAYS HAD US DO COMMUNITY SERVICE.

WHEN MY FRIENDS IN COLLEGE WENT TO SPRING BREAK WE WENT TO GUATEMALA TO DO SERVICE WORK, SO I VOLUNTEERED THROUGH MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND THEY WERE ON MY RADAR THAT A FRIEND -- A COUPLE OF FRIENDS WHO WERE ON THE BOARD SEAT LET THE DIRECTOR KNOW, HEY, THERE´S A NATIVE DAUGHTER OF ST. CROIX WHO WAS RECENTLY AWARDED AN INTERNATIONAL 30 UNDER 30 AWAD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND THEY´RE LOOKING FOR AN EDUCATOR.

MAYBE LET´S TALK TO HER, AND I WAS HONORED AND SURPRISED THAT THEY REACHED OUT AND ASKED ME WOULD I COME HOME?

THERE WAS A POSITION THAT THEY BASICALLY CREATED BECAUSE IT IS A VERY SMALL ORGANIZATION AND THEY USUALLY CONTRACT THAT WORK, BUT THEY CREATED A POSITION THAT I WAS ABLE TO FILL, AND I´M VERY GRATEFUL BECAUSE I DON´T WANT TO LIVE ANYWHERE, BUT HOME.

WHAT´S IN STORE FOR YOU?

WHAT´S NEXT?

ANY SPECIAL PROJECTS YOU HAVE OR ANY IDEAS YOU HAVE?

>> I´M ON A MISSION TO BRING MORE RESOURCES INTO THE ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS GREAT WORK.

I´M READY TO REALLY START GETTING OUT THERE WITH THE YOUTH, WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND JUST FACILITATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE AMAZING NATURAL RESOURCES WE HAVE ON THESE ISLANDS AND YOU KNOW, THAT´S MY MISSION AND I´M JUST GOING TO KEEP AT IT.

>> ANYTHING ABOVE GROUND.

SAY I´M NOT A FISH, I CAN´T SWIM.

YES.

SEE, IT´S FUNNY.

WE DO MORE WORK ON LAND THAN WE DO IN THE OCEAN AND IT IS THAT I AM SO PARTIAL AND YOU CAN BARELY DRAG ME OUT OF THE OCEAN, BIWE HAVE INCREDIBLE ENDEMIC SPECIES SO THEY´RE ONLY FOUND ON ST. CROIX GROUND RESERVE AND OUR ST. CROIX AGAVE PLANT AND THOSE SPECIES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY DECLINED AND SOME OF OUR CONSERVATION WORK AND THE WORK I DO WITH STUDENTS IS TEACHING THEM ABOUT THAT, TEACHING THEM THE REASONS THEY´VE DECLINED AND ACTUALLY US GOING OUT AND PLANTING AGAVES.

US GOING OUT AND PLANTING NATIVE TREES AND OUR TWO RESERVES, ONE IS A BACK POWER AND THE OTHER IS SOUTH GATE COASTAL RESERVE AND BOTH OF THOSE HAVE AMAZING THINGS YOU CAN DO ON LAND IF YOU DON´T WANT TO GET IN THE WATER, ALTHOUGH I DON´T KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT.

>> ACTUALLY, I´M OKAY WITH THAT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

>> GOOD!

THEY´RE AMAZING NIGHT POLLINATORS.

>> THAT´S TRUE.

THAT´S TRUE.

>> AND MOSQUITOS, TOO.

>> UP TO 2,000 A NIGHT.

>> OKAY.

BACK TO YOUR PLANS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

[ LAUGHTER ] OLIVIA IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU AND I´M HAPPY TO HAVE YOUR ENERGY AND WELCOME BACK HOME TO DO WONDERFUL WORK WITH YOUR COMMUNITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU´RE DOING FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I´M HONORED TO, YOU KNOW, GET THE CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU AND HIGHLIGHT THIS WORK.

SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU FOR GINNING US ON "ABLE TO RAISE."

TAKE CARE AND WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♫♫ ♫♫ >> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.