Jhaylin Cruz is a driven young advocate and scholar who is committed towards environmental justice, sustainability, and awareness. He was born and raised in the beautiful island of Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a U.S. territory north of Guam.

He is experienced in youth centered advocacy as he was previously a Creating Awareness for Resilience and Empowerment (CARE) Youth Advocate through his local Division of Youth Services in his hometown of Saipan, which has equipped him with the knowledge to spearhead advocacy and awareness through grassroots initiatives.

Furthermore, Jhaylin understands the necessity for protecting maritime communities and environments as he was previously an avid paddler and swimmer, and has worked with the CLD TEAMS Project in collaboration with the University of Hawai’i at Hilo to design 3D models of the traditional Chamorro and Carolinian canoes, nurturing his understanding of the cultural, academic, and environmental implications of the ocean towards the people Marianas.

Now he is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Global Studies as a QuestBridge scholar at Colby College in Waterville, ME. Jhaylin is deeply passionate about his connection to the ocean and is determined to inspire environmental stewardship.