"Like corals, humans can also live on their own, yet our spiritual nature compels us to unite and function as a community. Our lives are interconnected more than ever, and we grow stronger when we collaborate with each other, just like corals." -- Founder of the Costa Rica Networking Group NYC and President and Executive Director at Coral Communications & Design, Carol Guzowski

It is this frame of mind -- merging an appreciation for marine life with a love of Costa Rica, which has one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, along with cultural diversity and an innovative business model -- that is the inspiration for Carol Guzowski's boutique communications and design company, Coral Communications & Design, as well as the Costa Rica Networking Group NYC.

A New Community

When the Costa Rican native first moved to New York City from Boston, where she attended Simmons College, she felt the need to connect with her 'paisanos,' -- her fellow Costa Ricans. So she did what any ambitious millennial would do and used social media to make connections and build her professional network via Linkedin -- and she was selective in the process.

The impressive 25-year-old points out that what started out as something "egocentric" to expand her personal contacts grew into the realization that there was a surprising void in this very diverse city -- the collective presence of the Costa Rican community. So she spearheaded the Costa Rica Networking Group NYC, an organic, grassroots local chapter that connects Costa Ricans in New York beyond the virtual walls of the Internet.

The carefully vetted, Cost Rican-only membership has created a solid group of Costa Rican professionals who share the same mission -- "to build a strong community of successful, professional and well-connected Costa Ricans and become the 'go-to' community for new or existing Costa Rican professionals and entrepreneurs in the area." The group also hopes its members will collaborate on business development, career advancement, existing professional or personal projects, community service efforts, and friendships.

Today, the Costa Rican Networking Group's NYC chapter has grown to 160 members. In 2015, Guzowksi hopes to open chapters in Boston, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., South Florida and San Jose, Costa Rica.

"The New York chapter is a blueprint for all the other cities," Guzowski said.

The Costa Rican Networking Group NYC has even grabbed the attention of Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís, who insisted that he schedule in a visit with the group while on business in New York City in June. Not only did he stay for three hours, but he took seflies with everyone.

The group also came out in full force for the World Cup in July, an event also covered by Latin Post, and just this week it hosted a concert featuring Latin Grammy Award-winning composer Carlos José Castro and Laura Falzon, as well as other Costa Rican musicians at the Somethin' Jazz Club in New York City.

Strong Roots

"Being a Costa Rican for me is like being a citizen of the world ... It makes me feel like I am accessible. Costa Ricans are the biggest advocates of their country," Guzowski told Latin Post. "The country is really easy to brag about; it sells itself. We just need ambassadors talking about it. We just need people to put it on the map."

She commended its education system, healthcare and peaceful, diplomatic governmental approach (the country abolished its army in 1949), as well as its world-class biodiversity that draws ecotourism.

Costa Rica, which means 'rich coast' in Spanish, is indeed known for its natural riches, but this ecological gem is also known as one of the happiest places on earth. With its motto 'pura vida' or 'pure life,' Costa Rica is ranked No. 1 out of 151 countries, according to the Happy Planet Index -- its HPI score of 64.0 "reflects a high life expectancy, high levels of experienced well-being, and a moderate ecological footprint."

It's green initiatives are stellar as well -- "the government announced its plans to become the first carbon-neutral country by 2021 and Costa Rica ranked No. 1 in the Americas and No. 5 worldwide in the 2012 Environmental Performance Index."

But Guzowski also mentions the hurdles that can come along with maintaining such a thriving, biodiverse landscape. As a teen she volunteered to clean the beaches, picking up plastic water bottles and debris. Costa Rica's beaches attract hundreds of thousands of sea turtles which nest along its shores, including a critically endangered species, the Leatherback.

Costa Rica has a complicated past with these incredible, pre-historic creatures, whose eggs are fiercely sought after and sold illegally within the country and on the black market. This has led to poaching of epidemic proportions and drug-related violence, issues that the government is trying to address.

While every country has its problems, Guzowski points out that education is key when it comes to teaching Costa Rica's citizens the importance that the turtles have to the ecosystem as a whole.

A Global Family

Like the United States, Costa Rica has a lot of cultural diversity yet its doesn't have a lot of indigenous people, Guzowski points out. She identifies herself as a Jewish Costa Rican, and she has an interesting heritage and cultural background. Before World War II, her Polish grandparents sought refuge in Costa Rica, which she says welcomed them with open arms. Her maternal grandmother is an American from New Jersey who met and married her grandfather, and they lived Costa Rica.

"My grandfather destroyed his passport; he was so mad; he never spoke Polish once more in his life," Guzowski explained. "Once they got to Costa Rica, they really adored and embraced Costa Rica...I am so connected to the country even though my heritage comes from Poland."

Guzowski moved to the U.S. at age 13 and attended boarding school in Virginia, where she received a well-rounded American experience. She returned to Costa Rica to finish high school. Upon graduation, she decided to go back to the U.S. and study at Simmons College in Boston, where she found a diverse community, including Costa Ricans and Latin Jews. Guzowski points out that she was able to connect with about 20 Costa Ricans at the time.

Whether she's in Boston or New York City, Guzowski recognizes that there really is no place like home.

"We are all very European, my family, we don't feel like we're foreigners there. We feel 100 percent Costa Rican and are very proud to be Costa Rican," she said.

Check out Latin Post's sports team coverage at Legends in New York City where Costa Rica played Greece on June 29, 2014 in the FIFA World Cup -- members of the Costa Rica Networking Group NYC were there to celebrate their country and support their team.