COCO ECO | WOMEN WE ADMIRE
DANNI WASHINGTON PHOTO BY: Rachel Bujalski
Imagine finding your passion at a young age and through hard work, making a career out of it? Pursuing her interest of oceanography, Washington worked toward becoming a marine biologist. To spread her love of the ocean and all of its inhabitants, Washington sponsors art and media projects to reach out to children. After winning the ROXY Follow Your Heart Tour in 2008, Washington and her mother founded an organization called the Big Blue & You. BB&Y’s mission is to educate youth about water conservation through service learning, visual arts and media. To raise awareness, they have hosted numerous filmmaking workshops where high school students create their own PSAs about water. BB&Y also host events like ‘Art by the Sea’-- an annual festival of dance and live music where local artists create recycled art related to the ocean. Water conservation is a critical issue and Washington believes that creative outlets are the best way to instill a passion for our planet within the next generation. Recently Danni co-hosted an educational video with Jaden Smith for his spring 2013 blockbuster film After Earth. “The opportunity to create a learning tool for teachers across the country to educate their students about global change and mass extinction was a privilege,” says Washington. Since she was seven years old, Washington has idolized Will Smith and so it was another dream come true for her to collaborate with him and his family on this project to spread such a pertinent message. www.afterearthscience.com “We are at a pivotal moment in history where the human race has a choice. Planet Earth will continue whether we’re here or not. Let’s take big steps together toward a brighter future for mankind. The moment is now and the choice is ours. “Danni is up to big things with Big Blue & You. To get involved or learn more; http://danniwashington.com and http://www. thebigblueandyou.com
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| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | July/August 2013
www.cocoecomag.com