‘Wealth Untold’ follows multigenerational network of women scientists, artists, and community leaders working to protect the Western Hemisphere’s longest barrier reef

December 3, 2025

 The URI Graduate School of Oceanography is hosting a free, public screening of “Wealth Untold,” a new documentary that chronicles the extraordinary efforts of Belizean women fighting to preserve one of the world’s most vital marine ecosystems. The film offers an intimate look at how local action and women’s leadership are driving global conservation solutions along Belize’s threatened but magnificent coastline.

The film will be shown on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m. at the Coastal Institute Auditorium, located on URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus. The screening is free; registration is requested.

Off the coast of Belize stretches the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere—a UNESCO World Heritage Site that supports over half of the country’s 400,000 residents through fishing, tourism, and cultural heritage. Yet despite national protections, this critical ecosystem faces mounting pressures from overfishing, oil exploration, invasive species, coastal development, and climate change.

“Wealth Untold” dives into the heart of this environmental challenge by following a diverse network of Belizean women—scientists, educators, policymakers, artists, and community organizers—who are leading the charge to safeguard their reef while ensuring economic prosperity for coastal communities. Told entirely through the voices of its participants without narration, the documentary creates an authentic, immersive portrait of resilience and hope.

“My first visit to Belize in 2017 left an unforgettable imprint: vibrant reefs teeming with life, and the warmth and openness of the people who call this coastal haven home,” said director Eladio Arvelo. “This film was born from a desire to elevate these voices—especially those of Belizean women—whose ingenuity, care, and quiet determination are shaping a more sustainable future for their communities and ecosystems alike.”

The film showcases how these women bring diverse perspectives and disciplines to their shared mission, challenging traditional ideas about leadership, environmental stewardship, and who gets to shape the future of natural resources. Their collaborative work addresses not just ecological pressures but also questions of community empowerment and identity in the face of environmental crisis.

“My greatest hope is that viewers come away feeling inspired—not just by the challenges we face, but by the courage and creativity already rising to meet them,” Arvelo noted. “This film is a reminder that local action can ripple outward into global change, and that we all have a role to play in restoring our connection with the natural world.”

Phil Karp, the producer of “Wealth Untold” and an ocean advocate, will be available for a post-film discussion to answer questions about the film’s themes, ocean conservation challenges, and how viewers can get involved in marine advocacy.