| Hello,
We’re welcoming fall and embracing the change of a season that, for some of us, includes sweeping views of fall foliage. We hope that you and your family are taking in the crisp air and enjoying fall traditions.
September marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a special time where we celebrate the contributions of our culture and examine the sometimes complex identities that Hispanic and Latinx communities can embody. We explored what some of these challenges can be in our blog, where we dive into the definition of “Hispanic” and “Latinx,” and seek to share a broad understanding of the role colonization has played in our history. We’re continuing to highlight the importance of Hispanic and Latinx voice and visibility in public lands and conservation decision-making, and are proud to have been featured in the Nevada Wild Podcast, where HECHO Program Manager Bianca McGrath-Martinez shared our mission with listeners — tune in here. Make sure that you are following our Facebook page to also see our staff spotlighted and speak on what they appreciate about their culture!
We’re excited to share that our staff is growing, and we’re pleased to welcome Gabe Vasquez as our Strategy and Partnerships Director, Max Trujillo as our New Mexico Senior Field Coordinator, José Gaona as our Policy and Advocacy Manager, and our new Fall/Winter Policy and Advocacy Intern Laura Torres to HECHO. Together as a team, we’ll continue to build strong, culturally-rich communities connected to nature and each other. We’re also hiring for a Deputy Director, details here.
In last month’s newsletter we broke down the budget reconciliation process and why it mattered. This month on the blog we’re talking about President Biden’s Build Back Better Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, and how together they can be a bold investment for our future. Read it here or by scrolling below.
Below is a quick round-up of what we’ve been up to:
- This week HECHO Program Manager Bianca McGrath-Martinez joined Governor Jared Polis to thank him and First Gentleman Marlon Reis for taking necessary steps to protect habitat connectivity locally and nationally. Watch the livestream to hear about protecting Colorado’s wildlife habitat, and the central role wildlife plays in our ancient traditions.
- In August, HECHO’s new Fall/Winter Policy and Advocacy Intern, Laura Torres, shared her story with us about how she chose a career protecting public lands and studying environmental systems. Read it here.
- Earlier this month HECHO and the National Wildlife Federation Action Fund collaborated on an ad to call on Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Senator Mark Kelly to ensure meaningful investments are made to support forest restoration and forest management while creating millions of jobs in the Build Back Better Act. Watch the video ad here.
- In Utah, HECHO took part in a series of virtual congressional meetings to share our work, and to learn about how we can support the conservation initiatives of Congressman Blake Moore, Representative John Curtis, Representative Burgess Owens, and Senator Mitt Romney. We look forward to collaborating for the conservation of our public lands and waters.
- Utah readers! Save the date for Wednesday, October 20th from 5:00 – 8:00 PM MDT for HECHO’s first in-person event, Cocktails & Conservation: Environmental Justice and policy in Salt Lake. We will be implementing safety protocols with COVID-19. More details to come!
- Last week, Arizona State Representative Alma Hernandez published an op-ed in the Tucson Sentinel highlighting outdoor stewardship, and the role that the Civilian Climate Corps could have in creating opportunities to strengthen our communities, our economy, and our democracy. Read it here.
Wishing you a wonderful fall season.
Sincerely,
Camilla |
