The AXIOS Project

13/10/2026

For centuries, mastiha has been one of Greece’s most distinctive natural treasures, deeply rooted in the history, culture, and economy of the island of Chios.

Produced from the resin of the mastic tree, mastiha is closely tied to the unique environmental conditions of southern Chios, where its cultivation has been passed down through generations.

In our documentary film, Greece: A Climate Hotspot, Dr. Ilias Smyrnioudis, General Director of the Chios Mastiha Growers Association, explains how the tree’s sensitivity to climate conditions raises growing concerns about the future of mastiha production.

As temperatures rise and weather patterns shift across the Mediterranean, Greece’s agricultural traditions face new challenges, with potential consequences for local economies, livelihoods, and cultural heritage.

Watch the documentary in its entirety, by clicking the link in our bio.

06/10/2026

Meet Greek America’s Forty Under 40 Class of 2026! 🇬🇷

Their achievements span the arts, science, business, public service and beyond. What brings them together is a commitment to excellence, service and making a difference.

Since 2010, the Greek America Foundation’s Forty Under 40 has celebrated outstanding Greek North Americans and the impact they make in their professions and communities. We are proud to welcome this remarkable new class and grateful to our selection committee of past honorees for their thoughtful, meticulous work.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! We look forward to celebrating you at Greek America Honors on November 20 in New York City.

Read the announcement and meet the class: https://greekamerica.org/forty-under-40-class-of-2026-celebrating-excellence/

08/09/2026

19/08/2026

In our documentary film, Greece: A Climate Hotspot, Maria Monastirioti, Founder & Managing Director of Mama’s Flavour’s, explains how olive production is intrinsically tied to climate conditions. Rainfall, drought, and increasingly extreme heat all have the power to shape a harvest — and the livelihoods and traditions that depend on it.

As Greece’s climate changes, protecting its environment also means protecting the things that have defined Greek life for centuries.

Watch the documentary in its entirety, by clicking the link in our bio.

06/08/2026

What can Greek-Americans do to protect Greece from its many environmental challenges?

Meet Eva Douzinas.

A businesswoman, philanthropist, and President of the Rauch Foundation with deep roots on the island of Poros, she wasn’t looking to become an environmental advocate. But after learning more about the expansion of industrial fish farming off the coast of Poros, she began asking questions.

What started as concern for one island soon revealed a much larger challenge facing coastal communities across Greece. Industrial fish farms are popping up across the country, vast grids of floating farm cages that increasingly dot the coast and are buoyed by many unchecked, unsustainable practices.

Rather than watching from afar, Eva got to work. She joined forces with Aktaia Alliance and has led bringing together scientists, local leaders, journalists, documentary makers, citizens, and policymakers around the future of Greece’s seas.

The has conversation grown incredibly, and today she has become one of the most prominent Greek-American voices working on environmental issues in Greece.

Last month, The AXIOS Project joined Eva and witnessed mayors from twelve islands and coastal municipalities come together to map out protecting their collective waters. And it’s just the start.

The AXIOS Project exists to tell stories like Eva’s and many others across the Greek diaspora who are working to protect the environment — in Greece and across the world.

By spotlighting these efforts, AXIOS aims not only to raise awareness, but to facilitate Greeks and Philhellenes toward high-impact projects and initiatives.

02/08/2026

28/07/2026

For thousands of years, olives have nourished Greek life. In kitchens, cultural traditions, and even in skincare, the olive remains one of Greece’s most enduring and valuable products.

But the future of this precious crop depends on the health of the land and climate it calls home. As heat waves and drought intensify, and wildfires grow more frequent and destructive, olive groves across Greece and the Mediterranean are increasingly at risk.

Addressing the root causes of extreme heat and wildfires, and supporting innovative and sustainable agricultural practices, we can help protect a crop that has shaped Greek life and culture for generations.

20/07/2026

In this clip from our documentary, Greece: A Climate Hotspot, Elissavet Bargianni, Chief Heat Officer of Athens, highlights one of the most overlooked consequences of climate change: extreme heat.

While wildfires often capture headlines, heat remains the deadliest climate risk, placing immense strain on public health, infrastructure, and communities, particularly across the Mediterranean, where temperatures are rising faster than the global average.

Understanding these risks is the first step toward building more resilient cities and protecting the people who call them home.

Watch the documentary in its entirety by visiting our website.

09/07/2026

What can the Greek diaspora do to help Greece fight its mounting environmental challenges?

Check out our answer in our new op-ed in The National Herald / Εθνικός Κήρυξ

Summer is here. Thousands of Greek-Americans are arriving in Greece—as the country has entered another likely difficult season of extreme heat and wildfires.

The extreme heat is not only intensifying more fires, but also diminishing olive and w**e production, straining freshwater reserves, and degrading ocean ecosystems.

These problems are mounting due to Greece being situated in a global “climate hotspot.” Like the Arctic, warming in the Mediterranean is occurring faster and more intensely than the global average. But while the Arctic melts, the Mediterranean burns.

Our op-ed explores how and why the Greek diaspora should step up on these critical issues.

Read the full piece:

Summer is here, and thousands of Greek-Americans have begun arriving in Greece for the holidays. They arrive as the country enters its most difficult season for extreme heat and wildfires. For us second- and third- generation Greek Americans, this time of year brings a critical question back into fo

29/06/2026

Outtakes from the Alonissos Marine Park, the Galapagos of Greece!

Incredible and rare biodiversity:

🦭 Monk seals
🐬 Dolphins
🐢 Turtles
🐳 Whales
🦅 Falcons
🐠 And fish galore

The National Marine Park of Alonissos and the Northern Sporades is Europe’s first and largest marine conservation park.

It covers a huge area, including 7 islands.

It’s divided into two zones — those that allow for supervised fishing and human activities, one for strict protection (namely to allow the monk seals to reproduce).

The monk seal’s are the park’s most iconic species and have been making a comeback from the brink of extinction (at its lowest, around 400 individuals).

It’s one of the most striking places for nature and has become a feat of ongoing philanthropy and conservation efforts.

The AXIOS Project embarked with Thalassa Foundation and partners around the park on a special tour. It was fantastic to see the remarkable beauty.