Ana Lucía Pérez Escalera

2025 Eco-Hero

DR. MARY GRIFFIN-JONES AWARD

Ana Lucía Pérez Escalera
Age 13
Salinas, Puerto Rico
De a Pokito por Puerto Rico: Educating for a Healthier Planet Through STEAM

At just 13, Ana Lucía Pérez Escalera is an extraordinary force for environmental change in Puerto Rico. Her organization, "De a Pokito por Puerto Rico" (Little by Little for Puerto Rico), embodies her powerful mission: to educate about the critical importance of caring for the environment and its ecosystems through a unique blend of Art, Science, and Technology. Deeply saddened by ecosystem destruction, Ana Lucía is driven by the conviction that "a healthy environment equals a healthy society," and she refuses to "sit idly by."

Ana Lucía's project, which she began at age 11, focuses on eradicating improper waste management, promoting recycling, reusing, and especially reducing waste, while also inspiring young people towards STEAM careers that serve the environment. Her reach is astonishing: she has directly impacted more than 100,000 people through a relentless schedule of talks, fair presentations, beach cleanups, and a significant media presence that includes a regular segment on a live television show, as well as appearances on TV, radio, and newspaper interviews.

A cornerstone of her innovative approach is BrainyHacks PR, a one-day hackathon she organizes for young people aged 12-16. Here, participants learn to code apps with MIT App Inventor, leveraging Science, Satellite Data, Art, and Technology to create groundbreaking solutions for environmental challenges like waste management, composting, and climate change. Ana Lucía is also a proactive advocate for environmental justice, ensuring her activities empower people to understand their right to a healthy environment, regardless of social status, race, age, or gender. This commitment extends to legislative action, as she has actively worked on an amendment to a Puerto Rico law to promote reusable containers in restaurants and is drafting a law to prohibit outdoor balloon releases.

Ana Lucía is a NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador, scientific and environmental ambassador for the Ecoexploratorio: Museum of Science of Puerto Rico, and also collaborates with other organizations, constantly seeking new ways to learn and lead. Despite being homeschooled, she actively seeks mentorship from professionals and scientists, building a network to support her initiatives. Her reference, municipal legislator Ada Ramona Miranda Alvarado, calls her "an inspiration for both young people and all those who pursue the life goal of doing their best to continue caring for our Mother Earth." Ana Lucía is most proud of starting her work at such a young age and witnessing the dedication of other young people who are eager to be part of the solution.

Looking to the future, Ana Lucía plans to launch her first book on conservation, continue empowering young people through "De a Pokito por Puerto Rico" programs, and tirelessly work to get protective measures approved for natural resources. She envisions a future where "there will be no beach cleanups because they understand that polluting our natural resources is threatening our health." With her passion for Science, Art, and Technology, Ana Lucía Pérez Escalera is a true eco-hero, demonstrating that "little by little" with consistent action, even a young voice can create monumental change for the planet's well-being.

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