Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailey Hoyle.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a conservation practitioner and science communicator. I have spent much of my career designing and managing biodiversity conservation and climate resilience programs in some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. For instance, in Southern Africa, I collaborated with park rangers, forensic scientists, enviornmental lawyers and community groups to expand and fund initiatives that reduced wildlife poaching and trafficking. In Timor-Leste, a small island nation in the Coral Triangle, I worked with marine biologists, fisheries experts, and youth-led conservation teams among others to co-design initiatives protecting and restoring seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and coral reefs.
In early 2025, the U.S. government unexpectedly dissolved the U.S. Agency for International Development. In a flash, diverse programs from those distributing life-saving medical aid to sharing critical data on famine early warning indicators shut down, as well as those advancing Indigenous-led carbon projects, coral reef restoration, and anti-poaching initiatives. Myself and colleagues lost our jobs instantly.
I turned to the ocean, observing marine life and listening for inspiration. That reflection gave rise to Sea:Grass Sessions, intimate storytelling gatherings across San Diego—think cozy backyards and living rooms, yoga studios, porches, and seaside cafes—where local changemakers share hope-filled stories about regenerating nature and community, from the sea to the grass beneath our feet. As the amazing Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson reminds us: “We need storytelling about how the Earth takes care of us and how we can take care of her.” That is what Sea:Grass Sessions is for: to inspire Earth optimism through stories of reciprocity and regeneration. To remember that caring for nature is caring for ourselves, and caring for ourselves and each other is caring for nature.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The sudden dissolution of USAID in early 2025 undermined years of cross-border and cross-ocean collaborations that conservation practitioners had nurtured with local communities, governments, and partners around the world. Programs advancing biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation were halted, setting back hard-won climate and nature progress.
It continues to be painful to witness the ripple effects on livelihoods, jobs, species and community initiatives. I had to ask myself how to restore my sense of purpose and grounding through nature, to rebuild connection, clarity, and importantly, hope, before moving forward. Turning to the natural world to center myself has always been a reliable source of resilience. Exploring the magnificent marine creatures hidden beneath rocks and tide pools, reading under the branches of a weeping willow, or taking a barefoot walk, that is my center. In addition to founding Sea:Grass Sessions, I am deeply fulfilled by substitute teaching at Rad Roots Nature School here in San Diego, teaching children about native plants and wildlife.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a biodiversity conservationist and science communicator, specializing in facilitating inclusive conservation dialogues that center biodiversity outcomes, environmental justice, and consensus-building. I have led workshops and multi-session trainings that bring together diverse stakeholders—from park rangers to Indigenous leaders, scientists to youth innovators—to develop collaborative solutions to complex conservation challenges.
At the 2022 UNLEASH Innovation Lab in Greenland, I mentored youth entrepreneurs developing climate resilience solutions and moderated the opening panel on climate action and social justice, featuring prominent Indigenous activists. I have also applied storytelling to conservation, co-scripting a documentary on community-led carbon projects in Colombia and managing global networks of conservation practitioners through Arizona State University’s Conservation Solutions Lab.
I am most proud of my ability to facilitate inclusive dialogues and build consensus around approaches to tackle threats to natural resources, reduce biodiversity loss, and strengthen resilience to climate vulnerabilities, creating spaces where collaboration and shared understanding lead to meaningful action. I also am a proponent of integrating scientific dialogue with inspiring stories of personal and spiritual connection to nature, of which we are all a part.
What does success mean to you?
To me, success is reciprocity. It is about recognizing what you can offer in the present moment and applying your authentic self to share it with your colleagues, your community, and the ecosystems you are part of. Success is knowing your neighbor as truly as you know your local forest, wetland, or coastline. It is about caring for nature, caring for your community, and caring for yourself, all in harmony.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hailey.earth/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seagrass.sessions
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hdougherty6/
- Other: https://www.seagrasssessions.com/
