Miss Alaska Earth USA 2021, Kimberly Keen, has been hard at work on her initiative, Oceana Project. Started as her Think Global Act Local project for the Miss Earth USA competition this January, Oceana Project has expanded into a full-blown environmental program. She started Oceana Project in response to the Huntington Beach oil spill this past October, where over 10,000 gallons of crude oil leaked into the Pacific Ocean.
“As a native Southern Californian, I knew I had to do something,” Keen said. So she did.
Just a month after the spill, she partnered with the non-profit One Digital World to hold the “Walk for Wildlife Run for Refugees” 5K in San Diego, California. Half of the proceeds went to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, California, an organisation at the forefront of wildlife recovery efforts from the spill. The other half went to One Digital world to support virtual refugee education. Runners also participated in “plogging,” an activity where one runs or jogs and picks up litter.
“The 5K was a huge success. We were able to raise funds for two great causes and clean our planet at the same time.”
Recently Keen joined the World Wildlife Fund to be a #VoiceForThePlanet, pledging to restore the environment where she lives. She has attended the Surfrider Foundation’s virtual town hall meeting to learn how to advocate for stronger laws against offshore drilling. She also led a virtual tar ball reporting mission, encouraging her Facebook followers to report oil residue along Southern California beaches.
So, what’s next? Kimberly says she plans on leading beach cleanups and teaching the public about offshore drilling. “With my background in law, I think it’s crucial that I use my skillset for good. This means engaging people in environmental issues from the bottom up – with boots on the ground and signatures on the right legislation.”
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You can follow Kimberly on Instagram here:
https://www.instagram.com/kimkeenofficial/