At Surfrider Santa Cruz, we believe that the future of coastal protection depends on collaboration, creativity, and the next generation of environmental leaders. That’s why we’re excited to be building a new partnership with San José State University.
Surfrider Santa Cruz & SJSU JMC Jams Podcast
Recently, Trace Laskey, a dedicated volunteer of our chapter had the opportunity to connect with John Delacruz, the Director of School of Journalism and Mass Communications at SJSU through a podcast conversation highlighting the work we’re doing here in Santa Cruz—from beach cleanups and water quality monitoring to advocacy and community engagement.
This conversation was a great chance to share not only what we do, but why it matters. Protecting our ocean, waves, and beaches takes all of us, and it was inspiring to connect with students who are passionate about making a difference.
Looking Ahead: Collaboration in Action
This is just the beginning.
We’re excited to continue working with SJSU students on upcoming projects, creating opportunities for hands-on involvement in coastal protection efforts. Whether it’s supporting cleanups, contributing to research and data efforts, or helping advance local campaigns, we see a lot of potential in this collaboration.
Partnerships like this help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world impact—and we’re looking forward to seeing what we can build together.
Get Involved: Start a Student Club
We’d also love to grow this connection even further by supporting the creation of a Surfrider student club at SJSU.
Student clubs are a powerful way to bring people together around ocean and environmental advocacy, while building leadership skills and community on campus. If you’re a student (or know someone who might be interested), we’d love to connect and help make it happen.
To learn more or get involved, reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator volunteercoordinator@santacruz.surfrider.org.
Together, we can protect what we love—and it starts with building strong, local connections.