Phd Candidate University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Close to a fifth of the United States population identifies as Latine (the non-binary, inclusive term for Latino/a), yet many spaces in outdoor recreation and conservation do not have strong Latine representation. Organizations, such as Latino Outdoors, have dedicated themselves to creating a community for people to tell their stories while enjoying the outdoors in a safe and responsible way. For the last decade, Latino Outdoors has served over 14,000 people through 836 events and has 32 regional chapters across the United States. In my talk, I will discuss the importance of having a diverse group of voices contributing to conservation. Through a more inclusive conservation practice, we can make updates to policies and how we as a country interact with our environment while addressing centuries of social and environmental injustices experienced by many in this country.
