Ariel Maldonado is a hispanic artist and environmental social media influencer/strategist with nearly 50K followers on instagram. Standing as an example that one does not have to have a nature-oriented childhood or education to become an environmentalist, Ariel did not post her first image on gogreensavegreen until the spring she graduated from college. With a newly developed interest in making budget-friendly environmental choices, she was able to use her lifelong passion of sharing information with people around her to find her place in the environmental movement.
A Gateway Into Caring
Men often apply to jobs they feel only 60% qualified for, while women will typically only apply if they feel 100% qualified. This is exactly what inspired Ariel to break that chain and dive head first into the realm of environmentalism and educate the public that everyday people making their own sustainable decisions are environmentalists as well.
“I’m not hoping to talk to just people who are in the business already, or living perfect zero-waste lives, or educators or academics, I love the work that they’re doing, but I also realize that we need more everyday people to care, and we need more people to act. So I am hoping to act as a kind of gateway for people that never thought of themselves as environmentalists, to show it can be accessible to anyone, it can be as simple as voting, or a toothbrush.”
Social Media Influencer
Reaching tens of thousands of people every single day is a large responsibility. 71% of millennials are more likely to buy a product or service that has been promoted by a trusted influencer over a celebrity. That is why it is essential for influencers to be promoting environmentally friendly brands and choices. Ariel pushes this even further by acknowledging the financial struggles many experience when attempting to shop sustainably, and informs her followers how they can also make budget-friendly environmental decisions.
Other Topics
From bamboo toothbrushes, to the importance of empathy, to why Ariel decided to open gogreensavegreen, this week's episode of Breaking Green Ceilings is packed with insightful and inspiring conversation.
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