New Jersey’s waters are a valuable and vulnerable resource. For the past 25 years, the
AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program has played an important role in
raising awareness of how human activities can affect water quality, especially in the most
densely populated state in the nation. Each year, a new group of 20 Watershed Ambassadors are
each assigned to a watershed management area to engage with community members and channel
awareness into action. For the first time in this ‘24-‘25 program year, 3 Source Water Protection
Ambassadors (SWP’s) are assigned to the Northern, Central and Southern regions of NJ. SWP’s
conduct education and stewardship projects that relate to sources of drinking water.
The AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program is administered by the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Monitoring, Standards and Pesticide
Control. The goals of the program are to promote watershed stewardship through education and
direct community involvement.

AmeriCorps is a national service initiative that engages more than 70,000 Americans each year
in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, homeland security,
and the environment. Created in 1993, AmeriCorps is a part of the Corporation for National and
Community Service, which engages more than 2 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds
in service each year. For more information on the national AmeriCorps program, please visit
their Web site at www.americorps.gov.

Emily Vasquez is the AmeriCorps Source Water Protection Ambassador for Northern NJ. She
graduated from Monmouth University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine and
Environmental Biology and Policy. Her previous work experience includes: Greenhouse
Assistant, Fisheries Researcher, Gardening Landscaper, and Environmental Scientist Field
Technician sampling air, water, soil and hazardous waste. She currently volunteers in Fair Lawn
as a member of the Environmental Commission, Shade Tree Committee, Sustainable Jersey
Subcommittee, Green Team, and Garden Committee.