Our Defiende Nuestra Tierra (Defend Our Land) program – focused on engaging the Latinx community in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys – continues to advocate for equitable and just public land conservation and management while building new partnerships with nonprofits, municipalities, and federal agencies.
This important – but often behind-the-scenes – work of the Defiende program includes everything from making sure the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provide Spanish translation (both of materials and in public meetings) to ensuring tailored outreach to Latinx residents was a key component of the newly formed Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative.
One very public example of Defiende’s success was our local signature event for the nationally-celebrated Latino Conservation Week. A partnership between Defiende, the White River National Forest, and the Aspen Institute’s Energy and Environment Program, this day-long celebration in July connected over 400 community members to public lands and our work to protect them. A series of events on public lands in the morning included whitewater rafting through Glenwood Canyon – a first for nearly all of the 90+ participants. The event culminated with a party at Glenwood Springs’ Two Rivers Park in the afternoon – complete with activities for families, food, booths hosted by dozens of organizations offering more opportunities to learn about and connect with nature, and of course plenty of music!
“As a member of the Defiende Advisory Board, I’m excited we’re building and growing support for public lands and their protection that we know exists within the Latinx Community. This means a lot to me and my loved ones – thank you for your support!” – Gladys Arango-Marcon, Latino Community Outreach, City of Glenwood Springs