“The communities around the bay of San Diego are known for their rich cultural heritage and large immigrant population,” said John Alvarado/Founder and Executive Director of the Good Neighbor Project. “By offering hands-on education and activities, we’re looking to build life skills and inspire positive, social interaction with family and neighbors. Fishing is a new experience for many of these families. Our programs offer positive alternatives for inter-city youth but the excitement they experience, like when they reel in their first fish, makes a lasting impact.”

Latinos are California’s largest ethnic population with almost 15 million people, yet only a fraction of California’s nearly 1.8 million anglers are Latino. “Pesca in the Promise Zone” offers a new way to educate and engage Hispanic communities in the San Diego Promise Zone in fishing activities. Established in 2016, the San Diego Promise Zone is one of 22 federally designated Promise Zones in the United States, and one of only four in California. The San Diego Promise Zone covers a 6.4-square-mile targeted area that spans East Village and Barrio Logan east to Encanto and Emerald Hills and is home to the city’s most disadvantaged and underserved communities. The area struggles with low educational attainment, insufficient access to healthcare and healthy foods, rising crime rates and the least affordable housing in the country.

“The future of fishing depends on engaging younger, diverse audiences. We’re happy to provide such an amazing opportunity to help organizations in reaching the Hispanic market,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson.

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. “Pesca in the Promise Zone” is an opportunity for Latino families to connect with their cultural heritage, enjoy our sacred outdoors, and spend time together in a low-key, casual environment.

“Our fishing events are about engaging the Latino community with the outdoors and introducing them to fishing as an accessible activity,” said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “Latinos share a passion for the outdoors and hold a strong belief that we have a moral obligation to be good stewards. Events like ‘Pesca in the Promise Zone’ are fostering that passion.”

Pictures available for publication can be accessed at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6aswk3xtpbj6cf9/AAAPqbdc1Xpmw-raQwKvM2ida?dl=0