Shared Rivers

“Demystifying waterways, uniting communities through art, ecology, and culture.“

Mission

Shared Rivers is a collective of artists, ecologists, and educators dedicated to fostering deeper connections between people, waterways, and cultures. Through immersive events that merge art, ecology, music, gastronomy, and education, we create spaces for dialogue, solidarity, and action. By blending storytelling, research, and lived experience, we seek to transform relationships between communities and the natural world while supporting critical environmental and humanitarian efforts.

Vision

We envision a world where waterways are seen not as borders or resources to be exploited, but as living connectors of people, histories, and ecosystems. Through our work, we aim to build a global network of creative, social, and ecological collaboration—one that uplifts marginalized voices, fosters cross-cultural solidarity, and inspires collective stewardship of our shared environments.

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Project Narrative (Brief)

Shared Rivers is a collective or artists, ecologists, and educators that seeks to transform the way we relate to ourselves, our communities, and the ecology through storytelling of different waterways. Through our CONFLUENCES series, we merge culinary artistry, musical performances, and educational programming to create immersive events that are as enriching as they are engaging. By linking ecological research with cultural narratives, we provide a platform for community dialogue, personal development, and public impact—all while raising funds to support critical humanitarian causes in the US and abroad.

Public Benefit of Project

Our programming is designed to provide tangible public benefits by engaging a broad audience—from local community members and artists to global audiences interested in environmental justice and cultural innovation. Every event is conceived as a public performance and exhibition, offering accessible entry points to discussions on river ecology, water rights, and social equity. In addition to raising funds for humanitarian relief, our initiatives build skills, foster cultural exchange, and strengthen community resilience. By highlighting the interconnections between art, nature, and society, Shared Rivers enriches public understanding and supports the wellbeing of diverse populations.

Project Narrative (Full)

Shared Rivers is a multidisciplinary collective of artists, ecologists, and educators dedicated to demystifying waterways and deepening connections between people and the natural world. Through immersive experiences that fuse art, ecology, music, gastronomy, and education, we spark dialogue and build solidarity across diverse communities.

Our flagship project series, CONFLUENCES, curates dynamic events that range from culinary workshops and pop-ups to musical performances and interactive educational sessions. This April, we are hosting three Culinary Confluences events in Mexico City, blending Ethiopian culinary traditions with local Mexican ingredients, interwoven with ecological storytelling and an East African DJ set. These gatherings serve as both vibrant cultural exchanges and fundraisers supporting Tigray relief efforts.

In March, we are organizing two Congo DRC relief fundraisers and dance workshops in Brooklyn, NY, featuring renowned Latin American DJs from Haiti, El Salvador, Ecuador, Mexico, and Colombia. These events highlight unexpected but deeply rooted connections between Afro-diasporic and Latin American musical traditions, forced migrations, and culinary histories. One such connection is the “Lumumba”, a drink uniting Mesoamerican cacao with Indo-Afro-Caribbean rum—reimagined with a vegan coconut cream twist—to celebrate cultural resilience, expand palates, and raise critical funds.

With many similar events in the works, CONFLUENCES will continue to bridge histories, geographies, and disciplines—creating spaces where culture, community, and ecological awareness merge into meaningful action.

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Maya Godoy, co-founder of Shared Rivers (shout out Melat Hagos), has led dozens of solidarity events across New York City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Brazil—raising funds and awareness about local and global socio-ecological issues. Their recent projects include pop-up cooking workshop events that fuse Ethiopian and Mexican culinary traditions with Congo-inspired beverages, designed both to educate about diverse cultures and to support relief efforts in Congo, Sudan, and Tigray. These events have united a diverse roster of DJs from various Global South countries and with diverse gender identities, who are multidisciplinary digital and analog artists, as well ad community organizations, and neighborhood groups, collectively raising thousands of dollars for critical causes.

In addition to their hands-on work in event production, Maya is in the process of becoming a member of the IUCN as an Otter Specialist. They have been DJing and performing as a multi-instrumentalist since their teenage years, collaborating with award-winning musicians at hundreds of live events. Their creative portfolio spans published scientific papers on otter enrichment and conservation, a bilingual children’s book about ecology, several music albums blending multi-ethnic instruments with eco-acoustic recordings of various locations, and a range of short films and multimedia projects across genres. For over six years, Maya has also specialized in data analysis, science, and program evaluation at a foster-youth focused nonprofit, further deepening their commitment to impactful, research-based community work.

Having lived in six countries and achieved proficiency in five languages, Maya has collaborated with youth, migrants, farmers, elders, fishers, students, artists, kids, dancers, and more. Their extensive experience in music, event productions, and holistic community building—through accessible open mic nights, open stages, open kitchens, open galleries, and open turn-tables—has enriched local cultures and fostered a global network of creative, social, and ecological workers.

Our Core Values