As the United States reels from COVID-19, scientists and environmentalists say beefing up conservation efforts could help protect humanity from future pandemics.

Lawmakers and policy experts alike have been focused on the immediate health and economic concerns from the pandemic. But many environmental advocates say the global crisis has also laid bare the need for more proactive and integrated measures over the long-term — including land and water conservation and tighter regulation of the wildlife trade.

Last week, more than 30 Latino faith leaders learned how their churches can implement and plan for green infrastructure projects in order to conserve water and mitigate climate change. Pastor Agustin Jimenez from New Hope Methodist Church in Tucson, Ariz. shared how his church converted its facility to conserve and harvest water to preserve the watershed and mitigate flooding, which is experiencing hotter conditions, higher water demand, and dwindling water supplies.

The 10th annual Colorado College State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West Poll released today shows Latino voters in the Mountain West calling for an aggressive agenda to protect more public lands in the face of threats from climate change impacts and energy development.

Last week, Latino leaders from HAF’s networks visited elected officials in Washington to share why the 100% Clean Economy Act (H.R. 5221 and S.B. 3269) is critical in combating climate change in order to protect our economy, environment, public health and way of life. The act will empower the Environment Protection Agency to both set and move the country toward a national goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050.

With the support of President Donald Trump, Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act that will finally provide full dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and address the $12 billion maintenance backlog facing our national parks. LWCF’s impact extends to neighborhoods throughout the country, reaches nearly every county in the nation and has been instrumental in providing Latino and other diverse communities with access to the outdoors.

I’ve lived on the Front Range of Colorado for the majority of my adult life. In all those years, I’ve fallen in love with Colorado’s mountains, the wildlife that live here, and the inner peace and tranquility I feel after spending some time wandering here. With every passing year, I fall deeper in love as I visit new places and parks throughout the state.

Today, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the End Speculative Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2020, which would end the practice of leasing low and no potential lands for oil and gas drilling by requiring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to assess all lands’ mineral development potential before offering those lands for lease, and prohibiting leasing on any lands found to have low or no development potential. In response to the passage, Maite Arce, Hispanic Access Foundation’s president and CEO, released the following statement:

Today, the 100% Clean Energy Economy Act of 2019 was introduced in Congress by U.S. Reps. Donald McEachin, Deb Haaland, Debbie Dingell, Earl Blumenauer, Paul Tonko, and Bobby Rush. In response to the legislation, which would transition our nation to a 100% clean economy by 2050 and require net-zero carbon pollution, Hispanic Access Foundation President and CEO Maite Arce released the following statement:

Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to advance legislation to provide full, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act (S. 1081), was introduced by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.). A bipartisan House companion bill (H.R. 3195) was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee in June. In response to the passage, Maite Arce, Hispanic Access Foundation’s president and CEO, released the following statement:

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

For over 10 years, Hispanic Access Foundation has connected Latinos to partners and opportunities, improving lives and creating an equitable society. We are a mission-driven, community-centered organization that works to bring equity and opportunity to all Latinos. We develop leaders, networks, and partners to champion a better America for all. How we do this work is what makes us unique. Hispanic Access Foundation builds bridges of access to and from our Latino communities, we develop leaders to move us from the sidelines to the frontlines, we elevate voices in all areas of life, maximize their collective voices to build a better America for all, and we cultivate trust-based relationships to fuel our mission-driven vision. Whether we’re helping Latinos build their financial literacy, explore workforce opportunities, or become environmental stewards, trust and a commitment to equity is at the core of everything we do. We currently have dynamic leadership and a strong founding board with reputable, connected, and high- performing members. We are now ready to scale up our organization and our board to a new level to serve our stakeholders.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for multiple individuals who want to help us build the next chapter of increased impact, growth, and sustainability for Hispanic Access Foundation.

An ideal Hispanic Access Foundation board member is driven by:

• Dreams for a Bright Future
• Empowerment That Fosters Equity
• Untold Stories of Hidden Strength
• Purpose in Our Community
• Setting a Standard Worth Trusting

You are a...

• Mission-driven individual with a passion for uplifting Latino communities.
• Bridge-builder who can forge strong alliances and networks, grow partnerships, and cultivate influence.
• Person who demonstrates a commitment by making the time to be fully engaged during and between meetings and events, contributing financial resources, and showing up for the organization, other members, and the cause.
• Supporter of healthy communities, stewardship of the environment, and workforce and leadership development as critical elements of creating a bright and fulfilling future for Latinos across the U.S.

Previously experienced and effective as a board member, including:

• Collaborative decision-maker and strategic thinker
• Active participant with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience with and connections to large leadership networks
• Comfortable with ambiguity that accompanies organizational growth and transition

A good fit with the values and culture of Hispanic Access Foundation, including:

• Trustworthy: integrity, honesty, respect, do what you say you will do.
• Dedicated: Initiative, self-motivated, loyal, hardworking.
• Service to Community: Mission-focused, committed to equity, teamwork, collaborative.
• Versatile: Nimble, adapting, prioritizing, inquisitive, flexible.
• HAF First: Prioritizes organization’s success and sustainability.
• Excellence: High quality and standards, outstanding, never settles, always looking to improve.

A professional with one or more of the following backgrounds:

• Business acumen
• Entrepreneurial leadership
• Philanthropy
• Social enterprise leadership
• Government and/or private partnerships
• Human Resource leadership
• Law expertise

WHAT WE WILL ASK OF YOU

An ideal Hispanic Access Foundation board member will…

• Inform our strategic direction, oversee our financial health, and ensure that best practices in management and leadership are followed.
• Commit to a multi-year term of representing the best interests of the organization, its staff, partners, and volunteers.
• Be willing to help make connections to secure funds and ready to make a personally significant financial contribution.
• Actively collaborate with current board members and cultivate new members.
• Be willing to devote sufficient time to their duties and responsibilities, which include (among other duties):
  • attendance at 3 board meetings per year (2 virtual/1 in person)
  • attendance 1 annual event ○ be prepared to serve to the end of their 3-year term
  • serve as an informed and compelling ambassador to expand Hispanic Access Foundation’s influence and effectiveness with individuals, the public, and other organizations
• Assume expenses for travel, lodging, and miscellaneous costs associated with events and meetings.

HOW TO APPLY

We would love to hear from you. While we primarily serve Hispanic communities, we are open to diversity in all its expressions. Our effectiveness is enhanced when equity and inclusiveness are practiced and protected throughout our organizational governance, culture, and staffing. Recruiting and retaining a diverse board is a priority at Hispanic Access Foundation.

Please visit this link to tell us about your experience and passion for this work. We’ll be taking nominations until October 22 (feel free to self-nominate). We’ll acknowledge receipt of all submissions and reach back out by October 29 for more information to those who appear to be the best fit for advancement in the process. Offers will be extended by November 15, and a board retreat and training will be conducted in January 2022.

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Potrero Group is honored to coordinate board member recruitment on behalf of Hispanic Access Foundation. Potrero Group supports innovative leaders and organizations making a difference in the world by providing rigorous strategy and business planning, organizational effectiveness, and nuanced search services to mission- driven organizations. To join our mailing list and be notified of future opportunities, please visit www.PotreroGroup.com.