As part of his International Public Service Project (IPSP), Clinton School of Public Service student Jalen Humphreys partnered with Efecto Arena, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring the coral reefs in the Gulf of California in La Paz, Mexico.
A Memphis native with a background in biochemistry and sustainability, Humphreys served as a Research Intern, tasked with assessing the organization’s educational workshops. Building on the success of its intensive four-day programs, Efecto Arena wanted to assess the efficacy of its shorter, two-day workshop.
Humphreys addressed this by designing a program evaluation that featured tailored surveys for both child and adult participants. The objective was to move beyond measuring basic fact retention and instead determine if the workshops were successfully encouraging long-term environmental stewardship for coral reefs.
“It was about seeing if the two-day workshops are truly effective in helping kids and adults understand what a coral reef is and how to protect it,” Humphreys said.
Beyond evaluation, Humphreys identified a need for more consistent community involvement outside the peak time of the school year. He also developed a volunteer outreach and recruitment plan to help Efecto Arena engage with the local population year-round.
Hands-on Conservation
Humphreys participated in the workshops he was evaluating, which involved teaching the anatomy of coral and the strategies used to restore fragmented reefs. In his final week, the work became even more personal when he was invited to transplant a restored coral reef back to the ocean.
“I got a chance to put coral reef fragments in the restoration bed and then transplant one from the bed to the middle of a bay where they focus the bulk of their restoration efforts,” Humphreys said. “It was a very cool experience. At first, I helped administer the workshops, and then they asked if I’d like to plant a reef myself. It was a highlight of the summer.”
To facilitate this work, Humphreys even learned how to free dive, eventually holding his breath for a minute and a half to work alongside the native divers on the ocean floor.
While still in Mexico, Humphreys interviewed for and secured a full-time position as a Program Associate with the Arkansas Research Alliance, where he now supports an NSF funding grant and industry-academic partnerships to improve research infrastructure and outcomes in the state of Arkansas.
Humphreys emphasized that his work with the people of La Paz was the most memorable part of his IPSP experience.
“If you really engage with the community, you can leave a lasting impact with the people you meet,” Humphreys said. “For me, that was the most memorable and transformational part of the work I did. I couldn’t have wished for a better experience. I met numerous amazing individuals that embody what public service is. I’d like to give a big thanks to Fernada, Oziel, and Valeria for welcoming me to their team and the entire Efecto Arena team for imparting a piece of Paceño in me.”