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Blue has always had a great admiration for the oceans and all they do for us, along with a passion for protecting them. When Blue was 14 years old and speaking to members of her community in Arkansas (a landlockedA country that has no access to oceans or seas. state in the USA), Blue was saddened to hear how many people thought that just because they didn’t live near the ocean, that meant they didn’t add to ocean pollution. In each conversation, Blue explained that no matter where you live, some plastic you use ends up in the oceans.
But Blue realised that single conversations alone would not be enough to spread awareness of the problem. So Blue decided to host a student art show and open mic night to spread awareness about ocean pollution. She wrote to local activists, a local environment organisation (OMNI Centre for Peace, Justice, & Ecology) and local businesses to get support and sponsorship for her event.
Next, she sorted through art to pick out pieces that best suited her vision. Once all her plans were in place, Blue was ready to spread the word about the event! She made posters with the date, time and location. She stuck them all over her community – on bus stops, supermarket billboards, doctors’ waiting rooms, you name it! Blue also reached out to local radio stations, newspapers and television channels and was able to get the event advertised on all three platforms!
With the help of friends and her grandma, Blue prepared refreshments and snacks. She had left no stone unturned! Before long, the event kicked off. Hundreds of people poured through the doors, wandered the gallery and engaged in meaningful discussions inspired by the art.
After an hour of viewing the art, local activists gave short presentations on ocean pollution and what steps people could take to prevent it. Finally, musicians shared music on the topic of ocean pollution, ending the evening with a sing along and a dance. The event was a huge success, opening many eyes to the problem of plastic pollution and raising over $600 (around £440).
Blue hopes to inspire others to use their voices to spread awareness about global problems. She says, ‘When a community unites behind a cause, no problem is too big to solve. Don’t be afraid to step forward and use your voice, you might be surprised by how many join in with you.’
