MERITO is the
multicultural education program for the
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) and it stands
for Multicultural Education
for Resource Issues Threatening
Oceans. MERITO (which means ‘merit’
in Spanish), began implementation at CINMS in 2006 by delivering
bilingual ocean conservation related products and services to
students, teachers, adults, and families living near the Santa
Barbara Channel region. MERITO targets mainly Hispanics, a group
that represents over one third of the Santa Barbara and Ventura
Counties’ population (according to the 2000 US Census Bureau).
Future MERITO plans will include efforts to reach additional culturally
diverse groups.
The goal of the MERITO program at CINMS
is to provide programs and products to our multicultural population
to build sanctuary stewardship, help increase understanding of
ocean-related threats, and motivate culturally diverse students
to pursue careers in marine sciences and/or resource protection
so that our entire community can actively contribute to ocean
preservation.
Background:
During
the 1999 public scoping meetings part of the CINMS management
plan review process, the public, Sanctuary Advisory Council members,
and sanctuary staff recognized a number of priorities that could
be met by the establishment and proper implementation of a multicultural
education plan.
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MERITO outreach and education programming:
• Professional development for minority serving educators
through ‘The MERITO Academy Educators Workshop’
• Student programming through in class support and in the
field instruction through ‘The MERITO Academy student program’
and other partnership programs.
• Internship and Mentorship Opportunities for bilingual
college students.
• Bilingual Outreach
• Community Based Social Marketing
MERITO products and programs inform multicultural
audiences on how to take individual action in resource and habitat
protection, and why ocean protection is a responsibility everyone
shares.
Contact us:
Rocio Lozano-Knowlton, MERITO Bilingual Program Coordinator
NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Channel Islands Harbor
3600 S. Harbor Blvd. Suite 111, Oxnard, CA 93035
(805) 382-6149 x 108 office
(805) 382-9791 fax
http://channelislands.noaa.gov
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