María Hernández Carapia has been a resident of Nayarit, Mexico for over 20 years. She received an M.B.A. at the Universidad Anahuac, one of the most prestigious private universities in all of Mexico. Throughout her life, María has been continuously involved with helping the community through various social initiatives. She is Co-Founder of Bienestares, a nonprofit organization aimed at improving the self-esteem of local families. She has organized environmental and recycling workshops for groups of all ages and has spearheaded a number of campaigns to clean up communities in Nayarit. She founded Sin bolsa por favor, an initiative that significantly reduced plastic bag use in Punta Mita and surrounding areas. She also participated in Mita Recicla, which successfully raised awareness about waste reduction and recycling. She is currently leading the expansion of the Ocean Connectors programs in Mexico, and recently reached a record audience of over 2,300 students from 16 towns. María is certified in CPR and First Aid.
