Charlie Cordero Wins the Vital Impacts Annie Griffiths Grant

We are thrilled to announce the recipient of our latest Vital Impacts Grant funded by Annie Griffiths; Charlie Cordero. A current mentee in our Vital Impacts Mentorship Program, Cordero has been awarded this $2,000 grant for his powerful work documenting the densely populated artificial island of Santa Cruz del Isolte.

Just 1.2 hectares in size, it is home to over 780 people who are facing existential threats from climate change, including rising sea levels and coastal erosion. With the support of this grant, Cordero will document the community’s response to these challenges, focusing especially on a youth-led mangrove reforestation initiative by Eco Sabios.

With over 300 applications submitted from all over the world, the selection process was highly competitive. We thank every applicant for sharing their powerful stories, reaffirming our commitment to amplifying voices that focus on humanity’s role in environmental preservation.

"I was blown away by the number of applicants who hope to tell important stories. We need you all," shared grant sponsor and judge Annie Griffiths. "Although we sometimes compete for specific support, please keep in mind that we need each other. Look at each other's work. Share. Lift. Learn. Respect."

Vital Impacts founder Ami Vitale said, "We were so impressed by Charlie's remarkable talent. He has already dedicated significant time to this story and we're very excited to see what he creates next."