Aquarium Guest Speaker Series to Address Voter Support for Conservation Issues Among Communities of Color

October 5, 2020

WHAT: As the election approaches, the Aquarium of the Pacific will host a lecture that will examine support for environmental issues at the ballot among communities of color. In this virtual lecture on October 8 at 7:00 p.m. from the Aquarium’s Guest Speaker Series, viewers will have the opportunity to hear from Hazel Wong, the director of Global Conservation Campaigns at The Nature Conservancy. In her presentation, Wong will highlight polling data showing attitudes among communities of color vis a vis white communities when it comes to environmental issues. She will then ask why, despite our planet’s climate and biodiversity crisis, the environment still has negligible influence on elections. Aquarium President and CEO Dr. Peter Kareiva will also talk with Wong about her background growing up in Seychelles, a group of islands of the east coast of Africa, and her connections to marine environments.

In her role at The Nature Conservancy, Wong generates public funding for natural resources protection through ballot measures at the state and local levels. To achieve this, she must motivate voters to support conservation efforts through public opinion research, strategic message development, and political campaign tactics.

During her career Wong has coordinated political candidate campaigns and has worked as an assignment editor, producer, and announcer on local television and radio. She is also currently an annual guest lecturer at Yale University in conservation financing.

The Guest Speaker Series is part of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Online Academy, which offers free live and on-demand educational resources for both kids and adults.

WHEN: Thursday, October 8, 2020, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time

WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific’s website: aquariumofpacific.org

COST: Anyone can tune in for FREE, no RSVPs required

INFO: (562) 590-3100 or aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/ dispelling_conservation_myths_about_communities_of_color/

LECTURE SERIES SPONSORS: Courtyard Long Beach Downtown and Gazette Newspapers

AQUARIUM: The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in search of sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include Shark Lagoon, the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, Lorikeet Forest, and the Molina Animal Care Center. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, including lectures by leading scientists, through its Online Academy. The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for 12 months, VIP Entrance, and other special benefits. Convenient parking is available for $8 with Aquarium validation.