When water arrives in Southern New Mexico, it provides a special opportunity for communities to enjoy the unique amenities and recreational possibilities that the flowing river brings only for those few short months the river runs.
To kick off Latino Conservation Week, cultivate community and celebrate the flowing waters of the Rio, Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, in partnership with New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) and Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), hosted a community floating event down the Río Grande.
Growing up in the shadows of the Castner Range near El Paso, Texas, Ángel Peña saw the mountain range on his way home from elementary school every day. Where Mexican yellow poppies once bloomed every spring, he watched developments rise, with the high desert shrinking by almost half over the course of his lifetime.
The work to protect America's most special and unique landscapes starts and ends on the ground – up close and personal with the landscape itself, and the immediate communities, businesses, tribes, and local governments with the greatest stake in its future.
Fortunately, the state’s Outdoor Equity Fund — OEF — is providing grants through public and private support to expand opportunities for tens of thousands of our youth. This support means more communities have the resources and educational programming (led by New Mexicans for New Mexicans) to experience the outdoors.By establishing the OEF, New Mexico has taken a significant step toward bridging the gap in access to outdoor recreation for our youth.
In Southern New Mexico, the OEF is having a positive impact on numerous communities. Doña Ana County has been fortunate to see a substantial number of organizations successfully securing grants, and they are utilizing these funds in diverse ways across the community. By establishing the OEF, New Mexico has taken a significant step towards bridging the gap in access to outdoor recreation for our youth.
Interview with Francisco Valenzuela of the U.S. Forest Service, and Miguel Marquez a former park ranger.
Interview with Xavier Morales, Director of the Praxis Project, who talks about the health impacts and social health determinants of Latinx communities (and more!), Jose Gonzalez, Founder of Latino Outdoors, who shares with us his story about growing up in Mexico and his transition to the U.S., and we talk to Rep. Rubio about the status of the NM Outdoor Equity Fund.
Interview with Brenda Gallegos, wildlife biologist and associate director of the Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks; Norma Chairez-Hartell, museum curator, Hispanic Access Foundation fellow and founder of Murals of Las Cruces; and Johana Bencomo, director of organizing for New Mexico CAFe.
In the fall of 2021, our National Monuments Fellow Gabaccia Moreno embarked on a tour of the Continental Divide Trail in New Mexico. This is her story.