Meet Jessica Knox!
Meet Jessica Knox! Jessica is a long time member of the Salted Roots Community (10 years!). You may have seen her in programs, frolicking in the ocean and teaching surf…OR you might have seen her in some recent advocacy work! We wanted to share with the community what she’s been up to, so grab a cup of tea as we dive in 🙂
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey with Salted Roots?
My name is Jessica Knox. I’m an Oakland native and an ocean enthusiast. I started my journey with surfing as a part of Salted Roots, formally operating as Brown Girl Surf in 2015. That following year, I would come back as a Rising Leader. Salted Roots has made such a big impact on the person I am today.
What inspired you to join the Rising Leader Youth program?
I decided to join the Rising Leader program after I experienced a year of Soul Surfer Saturdays. I wanted to find a way to be even more involved in the organization and community that had become my home.
Experience at Capitol Hill Ocean Week
How did you get involved with Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW)?
Earlier this year, I joined the advocacy side of our organization and was given the opportunity by our Executive Director,Adriana to participate!
What were some key takeaways from your participation in CHOW?
For me, the biggest takeaway from CHOW was that equitable access to the ocean looks different for everybody– that it’s just as important for someone who lives in a landlocked state, as it is for someone who lives on the California coast.
How did attending CHOW impact your perspective on ocean conservation and policy-making?
Being at CHOW and talking face-to-face with people that make the laws that govern our oceans made me realize how complicated policy and lawmaking is. On the other hand, it also made me realize that our government has made these processes as difficult as they are, to keep the average person from being able to have a voice. in the space.
Leadership Growth and Development
How has your involvement with Salted Roots helped you grow as a leader?
100% something that I think Salted Roots did for me at its core, was to provide confidence in myself. Within the last year, my role with Salted Roots has grown, and with that my personal self-confidence and ability to advocate for myself, and others has been strengthened.
Can you describe a specific moment or project within Salted Roots that significantly contributed to your leadership development?
I have two answers: On the program side of our organization…a moment I felt that really cemented myself as a leader, would be earlier this year when myself and another Rising Leader Graduate essentially ran a Soul Surfer Saturday on our own. On the advocacy side, I would say a moment would be a panel that I did for Ocean Day in Sacramento. Instead of being somebody in the audience asking questions, I was being asked questions and sitting alongside peers that are from like-minded organizations; and I didn’t feel like I was out of place.
Program Impact
How have Salted Roots’ programs influenced your understanding and passion for ocean conservation?
Salted Roots is a big part of my ocean journey and is the reason I love the ocean so much. Before I started surfing with Salted Roots Brown Girl Surf, I felt out of place in the water or at the beach. The last place I wanted to be was in a white, male-dominated space and Salted Roots showed me that the ocean was a place for anybody and everybody.
Future Aspirations and Advice
What advice would you give to other young leaders looking to get involved in ocean conservation and advocacy?
Honestly, I would say start with a workshop. Advocacy can be very intimidating and also fairly complicated. There’s always a need for more people to be in advocacy spaces and a lot of people are willing to teach.
What are your hopes for the future of ocean conservation and the role of young leaders in it?
The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow and so many of us are passionate about the ocean. We just don’t always get the opportunity to present those feelings to adults that are open to hearing them. I hope more youth are motivated to speak on ocean conservation and are involved in ocean conservation efforts and programs like Salted Roots. I hope you can be mentors for not just younger youth, but also adults as well..
Reflection and Gratitude
Looking back, what are you most grateful for in your journey with Salted Roots?
I’m most grateful that Salted Roots believed in me. I was provided a safe space to learn and make mistakes, and to pick up lifelong skills and profound confidence in myself as a leader and a mentor.
Call to Action
How can readers support the mission of Salted Roots and the work being done by young leaders like yourself?
A lot of the work that Salted Roots does is program-based. It takes a lot of people with a lot of compassion for the ocean and justice to make such a genuine and inclusive space. A lot of what we do isn’t possible without funding so donations are appreciated. Something I think is equally as important is community– so come join us for programs. Invite friends and family to join us for Soul Surfer Saturdays and tag us in the pictures you take.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the Salted Roots community and readers of this blog?
Salted Roots has made an immense impact on the person I am today and I can’t thank this organization enough. I hope I see you all in the ocean with waves and stoke!
