KEPW Youth Radio Project highlights BIPOC heroes

Kenzie: Does the name Francia Elena Márquez Mina or Francia Márquez sound familiar? Francis Márquez is an Afro-Colombian and after her recent win, she became the first Afro-Colombian vice president in the country’s history.

She is a human-rights and environmental activist as well as a lawyer, who first became involved in activism at the young age of 13 when she successfully defied the proposed construction of a hazardous dam in her community that would’ve threatened the Ovejas River—a major water source for the region.

She also received the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize for her work in stopping illegal gold mining in her community of La Toma and for her organizing efforts throughout her community.