TIMES OF SAN DIEGO: How Latinos are shaping California wildfire preparedness

Across the United States, wildfires are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more destructive, and should be considered not just a public health crisis but a national security issue, too.

12th Latino Conservation Week Kicks Off This Weekend (Sept 13-21)

From September 13 to September 21, communities throughout the country will enjoy and connect with the great outdoors during the 12th annual Latino Conservation Week (LCW), an initiative of Hispanic Access Foundation. Latino communities, organizations, businesses, churches, families, and individuals will participate in a variety of activities, both in-person and virtual, such as hikes, kayaking, park clean-ups, panel discussions, scavenger hunts, film screenings, etc., with more than 360 anticipated events being celebrated nationwide.

Statement on Secretarial Order 3442 and the Land and Water Conservation Fund

In response to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s issuance of Secretarial Order 3442 concerning the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, issued the following statement:

12th Annual Latino Conservation Week Will Kick Off September 13

From September 13 to September 21, communities throughout the country will enjoy and connect with the great outdoors during the 12th annual Latino Conservation Week (LCW), an initiative of Hispanic Access Foundation. Latino communities, organizations, businesses, churches, families, and individuals will participate in a variety of activities, both in-person and virtual, such as hikes, kayaking, park clean-ups, panel discussions, scavenger hunts, film screenings, etc., with more than 360 anticipated events being celebrated nationwide.

Raising My Voice for the Coasts of Puerto Rico

My participation in Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2025 and UpWell: A Wave of Ocean Justice renewed my sense of hope in the face of the many challenges we face in protecting Puerto Rico’s coastal and marine environments. As a U.S. territory without voting representation in Congress, we are in a particularly vulnerable position when it comes to influencing federal decisions that directly affect the management of our coastal resources.

Pollinator Conservation: My Internship Takeaway

Hi everyone! As I am writing this blog, it is my last day as a Pollinator Conservation and Outreach Intern with the Minnesota-Wisconsin Ecological Services. I started this internship in July, and since then I have been able to learn so much through several people and opportunities within the service. I’m incredibly grateful for my amazing office, and for the many relationships I have built through these past 7 months. 

Before I started this internship, I was a recent graduate unsure about my path in the environmental field. I knew I had a passion for animals and wildlife conservation, but was stuck trying to figure out where this would leave me. This internship has taught me so much about the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, endangered species, pollinator conservation, ecological data management, and community outreach. And in all of these stages, there is an emphasis on people in conservation. This field requires multiple perspectives, backgrounds, and openness to the unknown. Additionally, our research and science wouldn’t mean much if we can’t translate that to the greater public. Which is why I think it is important to always find a bridge between people and environmental science through community engagement and outreach. Through this internship, I also discovered that I enjoy scientific writing and data management for ecological conservation. Both of these interests, technical writing and community science, are two big components of my upcoming role as a Nature Study Development Coordinator in Reno, NV. 

Working with the MN-WI Ecological Services and MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge has given me unforgettable experiences and memories. Some of my favorite moments were finding 3 Rusty Patched Bumble Bees, seeing Dakota Skippers in the wild, helping with Monarch tagging, and participating in both the Latino Nature Fest and Bat Festival. These moments are just small examples of the amazing opportunities I have had with my office, and they all continued to grow my passion for wildlife conservation.

Chuckwalla National Monument: A Legacy of Love and Preservation

As a pastor, I have dedicated the past 30 years to serving the people of this community in Indio, California. This land is not just a landscape, but a source of life, faith, and heritage. My heart is filled with gratitude and joy for the official designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument on January 14, protecting 644,000 acres of desert in southern California, offering much-needed access to outdoor recreation areas for Latinos, reflecting years of hard work, community advocacy, and a deep love for the beautiful desert we are blessed to call home.

Looking Forward While Looking Back on my First Year in my Fellowship with the NPS-RTCA Program

Over the past several months, I completed the first year of my fellowship with the National Park Service – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program based in Seattle, and began the start of my 6-month fellowship extension with the same program.