Big Blue & You

Established in 2008, BB&Y is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to inspiring and educating youth about marine conservation through arts and media. The Big Blue & You continues to find new, creative ways to engage kids in the conversation about the health of our oceans and other water resources. Our goals and objectives focus on education, advocacy, l... eadership, and youth development. We believe individual environmental stewardship is cultivated through education, art, film, communication, leadership, and service to the community, which will ultimately spur environmental advocacy on a global level. In August of 2008, Daniell 'Danni' Washington, a graduate of the University of Miami (double major in Marine Science & Biology), entered and won first place in the National ROXY 'Follow Your Heart' competition. She used the acquired funds to establish BB&Y. Since 2008, our programs have helped young people, especially at-risk youth in underprivileged communities, shift apathy toward environmental challenges into action. In 2009, the BB&Y partnered with a local non-profit film studio and taught teens from various parts of Miami-Dade how to produce over 25 different public service announcement videos during a series of programs called "One Water Workshops". The workshops challenge these students to write, film & edit their own 30-60 second videos in 5 days with the mentorship of local filmmakers. The BB&Y also produced a mini documentary about the impacts of the BP oil spill on the Florida Panhandle called 'Black & Blue', it featured interviews of local kids & community members & documented their perspectives on one of the largest accidental marine oil spills in history. Our efforts to raise awareness about ocean & water-related issues using video provides the opportunity for young people to express their ideas for solutions of these issues in the future. BB&Y hosted over 1,000 Miami-Dade middle and high school students at the 2012 Volvo Ocean Race Miami Stopover in Bicentennial Park where they learned about marine ...Read More