Case Study 2: Surfrider South Bay
Surfrider South Bay is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to protecting and enjoying the ocean, waves, and beaches through a powerful activist network. The goal of this project was to increase community engagement, amplify local advocacy efforts, and refine the chapter’s voice—not just by sharing environmental news, but by fostering a deeper connection between volunteers and the mission.
My role involved developing an energetic, community-driven brand voice, strengthening local partnerships, capturing the impact of cleanups through event photography, and crafting engaging content that mobilized volunteers, encouraged advocacy, and celebrated our shared love for the ocean.















My Role & Implementation
Developing a Clear & Engaging Brand Voice:
I refined Surfrider South Bay’s messaging to be informative, action-driven, and full of stoke, ensuring it resonated with volunteers, members, and local advocates. Through storytelling, event promotion, and educational content, I helped bring more people into the movement while keeping it fun, engaging, and community-centered.
Sharing the Stoke & Mobilizing Volunteers:
A huge part of my role is sharing the stoke—energizing our community through social media, emails, and direct outreach that inspires people to show up, get involved, and protect what they love. From highlighting epic beach cleanups to celebrating local wins, I help make environmental advocacy feel like something you want to be part of.
Capturing Content that Shares the Impact:
I captured high-energy photos at cleanups, volunteer events, and advocacy gatherings, visually showcasing the difference we’re making. These images were used to inspire more participation, highlight the dedication of our volunteers, and show the tangible impact of our work on social media and newsletters.
Designing Impactful Event & Advocacy Materials:
I create fun event flyers, social media graphics, and digital content that make it easy for people to join in, whether it’s for a cleanup, an advocacy campaign, or a Surfrider meetup. Everything I design reflects the energy and passion behind our mission.
Keeping Our Community Informed:
I share critical updates on local environmental ordinances, water quality reports, and policy initiatives, making sure our community knows what’s happening and how they can take action.
Recruiting & Strengthening Leadership:
Surfrider South Bay is all about building a movement, and I’ve played a key role in recruiting new board members and growing our leadership team, ensuring we have a passionate, engaged group of people driving our chapter forward.
Measurable Results
Expanded Volunteer Participation:
Since I joined Surfrider South Bay, we have engaged 1,622 participants in cleanups, advocacy events, and community initiatives, strengthening our local network of ocean advocates.
Consistent Community Action:
Volunteers have completed 827 cleanup sessions, dedicating 1,430 aggregate hours to protecting our coastline and promoting sustainable change.
Tangible Environmental & Economic Impact:
The volunteer hours contributed since my involvement are valued at $53,452.51, demonstrating the real-world power of community-led action and the effectiveness of our outreach efforts.
Source: Golden Volunteer Database Insights