Aguamigos Launch: An Innovative Bilingual Eco-Education Series

Miami, FL.—August 2, 2024—Miami Waterkeeper, a leading environmental organization, has joined forces with renowned journalist and executive producer Mariana Atencio to create Aguamigos: a six-part bilingual video series. The aim of this first collaboration is to help engage South Florida's Spanish-speaking communities with the critical environmental issues the region is facing.

In Miami-Dade county, according to the United States Census Bureau, 73% of residents identify as “Hispanic or Latino” and 66% speak Spanish at home. Despite these statistics, most news coverage and content—particularly about environmental issues—is exclusively in English. 

Recognizing the need to bridge this language gap, Atencio and Dr. Rachel Silverstein (Chief Executive Officer and Miami Waterkeeper) are joining forces to engage the Spanish-speaking community and equip them with the necessary tools and resources to protect the water they love. 

The collaboration between Silverstein and Atencio was sparked during the Aspen Ideas Festival's Climate Summit earlier this year, which Atencio hosted and where Silverstein was a featured speaker. As locals living in Miami, their conversation turned toward ideas for fostering both community and climate resilience, and they quickly identified the need for more robust Spanish-language outreach and content.  

The result was a dual-language series covering a range of pressing environmental topics, including: water pollution, sea-level rise, stormwater management, threats to Biscayne Bay, and the preservation of coral reefs.

The content is tailored to accommodate both long-form videos and shorter, easily shareable snippets—suitable for platforms like Instagram and TikTok—in Spanish and English. “From the beginning, we wanted a multi-language, multi-platform, multi-audience approach,” Atencio said. “The climate crisis requires all hands on deck, and that means meeting the community where they are.”  

Atencio, a rare talent who has the attention of global audiences in both Spanish and English, successfully transitioned from Univision to NBC before founding her own media company, Go Like Media.  She brings a unique perspective and expertise to the project. 

Dr. Rachel Silverstein, serving as Miami’s Waterkeeper for the last 10 years,  has a Ph.D. in coral reef ecology and is a winner of the international Elevate Prize and the Miami Herald’s Visionary Award, among others. 

Silverstein expressed her excitement about the partnership, stating, “Miami is uniquely multilingual  and multinational. We are not a ‘one size fits all’ community, and our messages need to reflect that diversity. We hope to continue this partnership to tell more bilingual stories of Miami’s climate challenges and solutions.”

This innovative collaboration between Miami Waterkeeper and Mariana Atencio focuses not only on climate challenges, but also solutions. This series is a step in the journey to engage Miami's Spanish-speaking communities in environmental conservation and the climate conversation. 

The videos will begin rolling out on Miami Waterkeeper’s social media channels August 2, and the entire series is available at https://www.miamiwaterkeeper.org/series-aguamigos-bilingual

About Mariana Atencio

Mariana Atencio is a Peabody Award winning journalist, author, executive producer, and media founder. Originally from Venezuela, she became anchor at Univision and a national correspondent at NBC News. Mariana has reported on some of the most volatile conflicts of our time, like the earthquake recovery in Haiti, the refugee crisis at the Syrian border, and the Umbrella Revolution in China. She has been honored with a Peabody Award, a Gracie Award, three national Emmy nominations, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Presidential Award. In 2020, she founded Go Like, an award-winning content media house focused on authentic storytelling. For more information, please visit https://mariana-atencio.com

About Go Like Media

Go Like Media is an award-winning, female-led content media house founded by journalist Mariana Atencio. Dedicated to a global audience of seekers, leaders, and game changers, Go Like Media has partnered with industry leaders such as Microsoft, Accenture, and NBC/Telemundo to craft narratives and co-create content and multi-platform experiences that address the challenges of the 21st century. Highlights include: Microsoft “Envision,” a digital show tailored for business leaders, providing insights and strategies to navigate the evolving business landscape, and “Lost in Panama,” a gripping true-crime series that delves into the mysterious disappearances of women and girls. This investigative show made headlines by solving the case of two missing female tourists in the Panamanian jungle and earned a spot in Apple Podcasts' top 10 list during its release week. At Go Like Media, we are redefining storytelling through a strategic approach to content creation. Our mission is to produce powerful, thought-provoking global content that bridges cultures, connects people, and inspires meaningful change.

About Rachel Silverstein, Ph.D.

Prior to joining MWK, Silverstein was a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow and Professional Staff for the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard. Silverstein graduated cum laude from Columbia University, and in 2012 received a Ph.D. in the Department of Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School for Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. Her research focused on the effect of climate change on reef corals (genetic methods to answer ecological questions).  Silverstein has delivered keynote addresses and has been quoted in hundreds of press articles, including multiple pieces in the New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, the Today Show, Bloomberg, and more. She has also published many Op-Eds and peer-reviewed scientific literature. Silverstein has been awarded the international Elevate Prize, the Miami Herald’s Visionary Award, the Florida Wildlife Federation’s Water Conservationist of the Year, the University of Miami Abess Center’s Reitmeister Award, and others. 

About Miami Waterkeeper
Miami Waterkeeper is a non-profit organization that develops local solutions to global challenges and protects South Florida’s waters by advocating for resilient solutions grounded in science, rooted in nature, and driven by community. As a leader in environmental advocacy in South Florida, Miami Waterkeeper envisions a resilient South Florida that is a global leader in clean water solutions, where thriving communities and nature coexist. For more information, please visit www.miamiwaterkeeper.org.

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Rebecca Sharpe. Chief Marketing Officer. +1 (305) 905 0856. Email: [email protected]