Lea Graham, COAST Intern Shares Her MPA Story

My name is Lea Graham, I’m a fourth-year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in Environmental Management and Protection. This summer I had the incredible opportunity to serve as the Policy and Civic Engagement Intern with the Marine Protected Area Collaborative Network through the CSU COAST program! Over the course of my internship, I was fortunate enough to work alongside inspiring people and contribute to some truly impactful projects at the intersection of marine conservation and community engagement.

Outreach and Education

One highlight of my internship took place in my college town of San Luis Obispo, where I had the opportunity to participate in Snapshot Cal Coast: a community science initiative that collects coastal biodiversity data through an online network called iNaturalist. This was definitely one of my favorite days of my internship because I got to explore tidepools and learn about some fascinating creatures! Later on, I received training in the Trident Mini remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), which are underwater drones used by collaborative members to explore or study MPAs. I then assisted with a training for SLO Collaborative members, which helped expand the network of those equipped to utilize this useful technology.

Policy, Permitting, and Civic Engagement

A significant portion of my internship revolved around the intersection of state agencies and public involvement. I attended and observed several Fish and Game Commission (FGC) meetings, followed by non-governmental organization (NGO) MPA working group sessions to debrief those agency discussions. I also got to meet with FGC staff members and discuss commission logistics and decision-making protocols, specifically when it comes to involving underrepresented or historically marginalized communities. Through these discussions, paired with my personal observations, I came to recognize just how intimidating civic engagement can be, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the process. Historically underrepresented communities have faced even more roadblocks to decision-making accessibility. In response, I created a “Go-to guide on how to make public comment,” designed to demystify the process of civic engagement and encourage all voices regardless of background or expertise. Once completed, I presented this project through public comment at the August 2025 FGC meeting, encouraging its use by the agency, partners, or community members. In addition, I compiled a civic engagement and an upcoming meetings flyer, both of which were made to promote more awareness of agency meetings and encourage public involvement.

Pathways Program

Finally, the Pathways Program is a project that has been very dear to me as a Filipina in the environmental field, where minority communities have been historically underrepresented. Drawing from the annual summaries of the AAPI, Black, and Latine pathways groups, I compiled a recommendations report for our agency and decision-making partners, which included strategies to strengthen connections with underserved communities and advance JEDIA (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and access).

As someone who identifies with the AAPI community, I was also able to join the AAPI pathways affinity and working group. We focused on assessing data taken from an AAPI engagement survey sent out to Collaborative members and utilizing those statistics in a research report discussing the history, gaps, and paths forward for meaningful AAPI engagement in marine stewardship. I plan to continue my work with this pathways group long after my internship ends! Please visit the Pathways page to learn more!