Our team

Born in Loíza, Puerto Rico, the daughter of a man from Ponce and a woman from Santurce. She holds an interdisciplinary Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences with an emphasis on Latin American and Caribbean Studies, a Master's in Cultural Management and Administration from the University of Puerto Rico, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law. Vanessa has worked on multiple sociocultural projects and non-profit organizations as an artist, coordinator, and director for over eleven years. She has distinguished herself in ecological movements, as a popular educator in human rights and environmental, climate justice, and particularly in defense of beaches as public spaces and ecosystems of resistance to colonialism.

She enjoys the beach and natural spaces, cooking, playing with her dogs Gramsçi and Gaia, and co-inspiring to build spaces for collective action. She dreams of liberation for the Islands of Puerto Rico and decolonization of the Caribbean.

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She enjoys the beach, and natural spaces, cooking, playing with her dogchildren Gramsçi and Gaia, along with co-inspire to build spaces for collective actions. She dreams with the liberation of the islands of Puerto Rico and a decolonized Caribbean. 

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She dreams of being a hummingbird. She is a lover of the beach, perreo, fried chicken, and birds. She's a tree hugger. Her greatest fear is contemplating a future without play and enjoyment.

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Along with this, Gabriela studied geography in Puerto Rico and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Gender, Women and Citizenship in Barcelona. She has been working with Amigxs del M.A.R. for three years and has been in charge of several projects, including Community Mapping Workshops and the 2023 Coastal Map.

She considers herself a person in constant learning alongside Amaru, whom she has the great task of caring for and mothering. At Amigxs del M.A.R., she focuses on Project Coordination, providing spaces for dialogue, organization, planning, and flexibility to the various tasks of all the people that make up the team. She is known for taking photos and videos of birds and environmental disasters, editing videos, collaborating on emotional health research, conducting workshops in schools, planning budgets, and she loves excel tables. She loves creating spaces within AdMAR to develop connections with nature alongside children and youth, practicing environmental justice, accompanying and learning from the community, and taking direct action against injustice. Regarding her studies, she is doing a doctorate in psychology at UPRRP. What brings her the most joy is seeing children smile, the sense of adventure, and learning in everyday life. She appreciates spending time with family, co-creating with friends, and hugging furry animals (dogs and cats). She persists in dreaming of emotional and colonial liberation of the islands of Borikén and the Caribbean.

She was raised in the town of Quebradillas, Puerto Rico, known as La Guarida Pirata. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensic Investigation and is currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Carlos Albizu University in Puerto Rico. Venecia is the Coordinator of Ecopsychosocial Support, acting as a liaison and facilitator of spaces of reflection for the communities. In the organization she is also a promoter and the head researcher of the development of research on the climate crisis and emotional health of Puerto Ricans. Venecia enjoys nature, bragging about Quebradillas, spending quality time with her family and friends, playing with her nieces and nephews, experiencing live music and cruising along the northwest coast of Puerto Rico. She aspires for the liberation of the islands of Borikén (Puerto Rico) and the decolonization of the Caribbean.

Son of a woman from Isabela and a man from Río Piedras, he was raised in the towns of Isabela and Aguadilla in a home where nature and its enjoyment have always been present. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Curricular Sequence in International Relations from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, or affectionately, 'el Colegio'. He has been collaborating with Amigxs del M.A.R for a year, where he is currently the Public Policy Analyst, familiarizing himself with environmental laws, drafting papers on them, participating in community supports, and conducting community lobbying workshops. He will soon begin a new stage in his life by starting his graduate studies in Madrid, Spain. Carlos plays the drums and has been a musician since he was 12 years old, and three years ago he began practicing 'bodysurfing'. He loves music, the beach (especially those in his hometown of Isabela), time with his friends and family, and Puerto Rico and its people. He dreams of freedom and self-determination for Puerto Rico.

He currently works as a high school teacher. He has been collaborating with Amigxs del M.A.R. for over 10 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in  education, with a concentration in history, and is currently pursuing his master's degree in comparative literature.

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He enjoys natural spaces, and spending time with his plants. He likes reading, live music, and often tries to climb trees he sees for recreation. He believes in the liberation of the Caribbean, and defends nature from his home in the islands of Puerto Rico.