Latino Conservation Week (LCW) was first started in 2014 by the Hispanic Access Foundation. The initiative’s goals include providing Latino families and youth with outdoor recreation opportunities near their homes as well as demonstrating the Latino community’s commitment to conservation. Now celebrating its tenth year, LCW is going on right now from July 15 to July 23.

This year, Great River Greening is thrilled to partner with Huellas Latinas for our LCW Pollinator Monitoring Field Day on Tuesday, July 18 at Crosby Farm Park in Saint Paul. (The event is currently full, but you can sign up for the waitlist or learn more here).

We even got the chance to chat with Luisana Méndez (she/her/hers/ella), Founder and CEO of Huellas Latinas, about her passion for nature, what led her to founding Huellas Latinas, and more!

GRG: What would you say sparked your passion for nature and the outdoors?

Luisana: “I grew up in Venezuela, a country with a great variety of natural resources. Since I was a child, I visited parks, enjoyed outdoor recreation, and learned about the value, respect, and love of nature. When I arrived in Minnesota, I found a place surrounded by lakes, parks, and beautiful trails. So as an urban planner, I understood that these natural spaces are the gateway for immigrants and refugees like me to get to know up close and connect with our new home. Today being in nature is already part of my lifestyle.”

GRG: What led you to start Huellas Latinas?

Luisana: “I found the inspiration in nature and how good it makes me feel every time I'm outside. I started by sharing my own experience with the community and I was discovering that through outdoor activities I could make a positive impact in the Latino community of Minnesota. Huellas Latinas has been a great instrument to promote overall well-being, foster a deep connection with nature, and forge strong community bonds.”

GRG: Latino Conservation Week launched in 2014. How have you seen it grow since then? What do you hope to see in the future?

Luisana: “In the last 3 years I have been promoting LCW in Minnesota. Despite the fact that then hardly any information or event was found. Today I can affirm that it has been great to find so much receptivity in the community and allied organizations in promoting different types of activities during LCW. I hope that in the years to come we can continue to strengthen our partnerships so that more members of our community can join the events.” In addition to the pollinator monitoring event on July 18, you can learn more about other LCW events near you on the Huellas Latinas events page.

GRG: What advice do you have for people looking to be more active outdoors?

Luisana: “Give [yourself] the gift of being outside, of trying new things and enjoying the benefits that nature can bring to [your] lives. Life is a great adventure and it can only begin by taking the first step. Visit your neighborhood parks alone, or with family, pets, or friends. When you feel confident, check out the other city, county, and even regional parks. [You] can also choose to join one of the organizations that offer spaces for recreation and then connect with other people to enjoy nature together.”

GRG: Outdoor recreation is fun and important for our physical and mental health. Describe the value of local communities participating in conservation activities (such as monitoring pollinators and volunteering to plant plants or clean parks, etc.) in addition to enjoying the outdoors for recreation.

Luisana: “I think that in the same way that we use parks to recreate and have fun, it is also important to promote the conservation of natural spaces. Every day we are more aware of leaving no trace and participating in conservation activities so that we can leave natural spaces for future generations. Sometimes we don't know how we can participate or where we can go. However, organizations like Great Rivers Greening are offering a wide variety of opportunities to get involved and learn about conservation.”

UPDATE: A group of 16 volunteers attended the LCW Pollinator Monitoring Field Day on Tuesday, July 18 at Crosby Farm Park in Saint Paul. These new experts learned to identify native bees of Minnesota and other important pollinators. Now they can use their new skills to help Great River Greening’s community monitoring efforts at pollinator sites anywhere!

Event photos below courtesy of Dori Johnson.

This interview has been edited slightly for length and clarity.

Photo Credits: Luisana Méndez, Founder and CEO of Huellas Latinas (Courtesy of Huellas Latinas); Hand holding plants roots at a volunteer event at Crosby Farm Park (Great River Greening); A rusty-patched bumble bee on Joe-pye weed (Jessica Drummond); Luisana and a young volunteer working together to identify a bee at a pollinator training at Ritter Farm Park in Lakeville (Julie Baumeister).

Thank you to our partners and funders:

The Hispanic Access Foundation

Huellas Latinas

The University of Minnesota Extension Bee Lab

The Xerces Society 

Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR)