Stories—not just systems and statistics—defined the CIS2026 SEED Talks, where voices from across the island community transformed personal journeys into powerful calls for change. Framed as “ideas worth cultivating,” the speaker series invited participants to move beyond data and into lived experience, weaving together narratives of loss, identity, resilience, and hope. In an intimate, TED-style setting, each speaker offered a glimpse into how their own paths, shaped by culture, community, and connection to land and sea—continue to inform their work.
Held during the 17th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS2026), the CIS SEED Talks featured Kallen Perez of Guåhan Sustainable Culture, Leilani Sablan-Naden, a fishery biologist with the UOG Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant, and Frank Camacho, owner of CRANK INDUSTRIES—each bringing a distinct voice grounded in personal experience and community connection.
Opening the session, Kallen Perez shared a deeply personal journey into conservation, reflecting on how nature helped her heal and find purpose. “I’m not a researcher, I’m not a scientist, I don’t have any fancy data to share with you today, but I am a writer, I’m a mom of three, and I’m excited to share a story with you about my unlikely journey into conservation,” she said. Through her connection to Ritidian and her work with Guåhan Sustainable Culture, Perez emphasized the urgency of environmental stewardship, adding, “friends the land and sea are calling us let’s answer that call together.”
Perez traced her path from personal loss to advocacy, describing how a visit to Ritidian after the passing of both her parents sparked a deep sense of belonging and responsibility to place. That experience led her to conservation work, community advocacy, and education efforts with youth, while also shaping how she raises her own children with a strong connection to the land. She also warned of emerging threats such as deep sea mining, noting, “deep sea mining is the live fire training range of our time,” and calling for greater collective action to protect the ocean as both an ancestral source and a shared future.
Leilani Sablan-Naden followed with a talk centered on trust and relationships in fisheries science, drawing from her experience working with Guam’s fishing community. “I’ve come to believe something simple but transformative better data starts with better relationships not better spreadsheets not better software better relationships,” she said. She underscored the importance of collaboration and respect in research, noting that meaningful data emerges when communities feel seen and valued.
As a self-described introvert entering the field, Sablan-Naden recalled the uncertainty she felt approaching fishers for the first time, only to realize that trust—not technical skill—was the biggest barrier to collecting meaningful data. Over time, she built relationships by showing up consistently and connecting through her own identity as a fisherwoman. That shared experience helped transform her work from transactional data collection into a collaborative process, where fishers became active partners in research, contributing knowledge shaped by generations of experience on the water.
Closing the session, entrepreneur and former UFC fighter Frank Camacho connected sustainability to resilience and identity, particularly in the wake of recent storms across the region. “Sustainability is the ability to take a hit and stay standing sustainability is the ability to recover without losing your identity sustainability is the ability to rebuild man without losing your values,” he said. Emphasizing the strength of island communities, Camacho reminded attendees that “our real superpower is how we show up for each other,” reinforcing the role of unity and culture in shaping a sustainable future.
Drawing from his career in professional fighting and his upbringing in the Marianas, Camacho framed resilience through the lens of discipline, preparation, and community. He likened typhoons to moments in the ring that test not just strength, but character, stressing that true readiness is built long before disaster strikes. His reflections grounded sustainability in everyday island life—neighbors helping neighbors, families supporting one another, and communities coming together in times of crisis. For Camacho, the island’s greatest strength lies not just in systems, but in its people.
CIS2026 SEEDS Talk was moderated by UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant assistant science communicator and Mix96 radio personality Reese Espinosa.
“This is my second year hosting Seed Talks, and for the second time I am truly honored to be able to introduce these distinguished speakers. They highlighted not only the issues we face in our community but also the issues they may have had in their own personal lives and I truly believe that is the best way to captivate any crowd, especially when you can tell it comes from a place deep in their heart. I look forward to hearing next year’s Seed Talk ” Ideas Worth Cultivating.”