From Idea to Reality: The Evolution of Earth SOS Miami

Earth SOS Miami is a student-led non-profit organization. It was created by a senior at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Amanda Collazo. Collazo has always cared deeply about the environment. She notices the trash washed up on the beach every time she is there with family or friends. Organizing and hosting events is not an easy task and Amanda was in dire need of help. She called over a good friend, who she knew also cared a great deal about the environment, Ana Luisa Frable. Frable became Vice President of the organization.

The name Earth SOS Miami stems from the idea that the world needs urgent action in order to be saved. Collazo began the organization after feeling distraught with the raging news of numerous natural disasters and the planet-warming at such drastic measures. Collazo says, "There is no planet B, and I wanted to have a future in the home I live in." The idea behind Earth SOS Miami is to go beyond beach cleanups. Collazo wanted to implement gardening events. She wanted to raise awareness and spread information on ways to improve the planet.

Earth SOS Miami is more of a small organization that works mainly with Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, but they hope to expand to be known throughout state parks in South Florida. Collazo's goal for the organization for the next few years is to expand into different chapters and have an Earth SOS Tampa and Jacksonville, for example, or even to expand to an Earth SOS Puerto Rico. A measured subgoal for this major goal would be to implement the organization throughout schools nationwide. "We may be a small organization, but I know we are making a difference," Frable said. Frable believes strongly that with organizations, we as a generation are making a change in the world. Every bit of plastic we pick, we are saving a bird, a turtle, and a fish. The organization as a whole aims to be recognized by Miami-Dade and be able to collaborate with bigger organizations.

Amanda Collazo (Left), Ana Luisa Frable (Right)