Today, the Biden-Harris administration launched a $1 billion America the Beautiful challenge to accelerate locally led conservation and restoration efforts across the country. The program will be a one-stop shop for states, tribes, territories, organizations, etc. to apply for high-priority grants for conservation projects. In response to the release of the announcement, Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement:

Advocates want the Biden administration to declare 7,000 acres outside El Paso, Texas, a national monument to give Mexican Americans and others in the area needed public space for hiking and other outdoor activities.

El Paso residents have called for the protection of Castner Range for more than 50 years. Now, advocates see the Biden administration as their window of opportunity to preserve the land in perpetuity.

Amid the pandemic, Ximena Diaz-Velasco partnered with local artists and a group of friends to create a mutual aid fund to support excluded workers including undocumented and immigrant communities ineligible to receive aid under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Diaz-Velasco redistributed $50,000 to communities in need.

“It’s almost like a calling. A deep desire that I have inside to be able to provide a leg-up for people that look like me, people that share my story—a person of color.”

My love of nature started in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles. As a child, I went there to hike and enjoy trips with my father. Since then, going out into nature has become an essential part of my life. For me, it’s a spiritual experience – a chance to feel connected both to my Creator and to the creation.

Today, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited Caster Range and met with Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX 16th District) during the peak of poppy season to discuss permanent protections for Castner Range in El Paso, TX. In early 2021, Rep. Escobar introduced the Castner Range National Monument Act (H.R.2752) to designate Castner Range as a national monument, while local and national support continues to call for this designation.

Stony coral tissue loss disease is a waterborne disease that began threatening corrals in Florida, then expanded to the Caribbean. To protect these organisms and stop the disease from spreading, divers must apply amoxicillin paste onto the corral. Some of the reasons why coral reefs are in danger include climate change, water quality and pollution.

Hispanic Access Foundation is partnering with the Health Resources and Services Administration to launch a Health program with the goal of establishing nine vaccination sites across the nation to encourage local Latino communities to either get vaccinated or get the right resources about getting vaccinated. The program is a 12-month initiative with the goal of helping at least 40,000 people across the nation get vaccinated.

“The past couple of years have shown just how much the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Latino communities,” said Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “I’m excited to launch this program and help improve the livelihood of Latinos across the nation. At times, it’s not that Latinos don’t want to get vaccinated, but they often face many barriers – language, technology, transportation and mistrust of the vaccine.”

For the project, Hispanic Access is establishing nine vaccination sites by partnering with local church leaders to reach communities who need it the most. The vaccination clinics will be held at:

New London, CT
Church of the City, New London
250 State St. New London, CT 06320
Contact: (860) 822-3250
Schedule: Every other Wednesdays, 10am-7pm

Chicago, IL
Librería Cristiana Vida Nueva
2909 N. Central Ave. Chicago, IL 60634
Contact: (708) 219-1639
Schedule: Thursdays, 8am-4pm

Houston, TX
Iglesia de Dios Esperanza de Vida
10720 Braes Bend Dr. Houston, TX 77071
Contact: (832) 927-8787
Schedule: Every Wednesdays & Saturdays, 11am-6pm

Tucson, AZ
Iglesia de Dios Comunidad de Amor
2518 S. Plumer Ave. Tucson,Az. 85713
Contact: (520) 496-7214
Schedule: Thursdays & Saturdays, 10am-6pm

Nogales, AZ
El Mesías Iglesia Metodista Unida
1050 W Mariposa Ranch Rd, Nogales, AZ 85621
Contact: (520) 285-6928
Schedule: Wednesdays & Fridays, 10am-6pm

Denville, NJ
Iglesia Bautista Familia de Dios
263 Diamond Spring Rd. Denville, NJ 07834
Contact: (973) 397-0818
Schedule: Every other Thursday, 10am-7pm

McAllen, TX
Iglesia Poder de Dios
1308 S.Veterans Blvd. Pharr, TX 78577
Contact: (956) 900-1379
Schedule: Saturdays, 10am-6pm

Las Vegas, NV
Centro de Adoracion Familiar CAF
2010 Haren Dr. Henderson, NV 89011
Contact: (725) 268-4778
Schedule: TBD

El Paso, TX
Living Covenant Church
9401 Carnegie Ave, El Paso, TX 79925
Contact: (915) 319-1389
Schedule: TBD

“It’s critical we expand vaccination coverages in communities that have been historically underrepresented,” said David Armijo, Chief of Programs at Hispanic Access Foundation. “Our goal with this project is to provide the resources and access to those who choose to get vaccinated.”

To learn more about the “Unity in Community” Vaccination project, please visit https://hispanicaccess.org/what-we-do/health.

This week my mind is on clean water. While the Biden administration is designing new programs for conservation like America the Beautiful, Congress continues to negotiate a bill to make historic investments in climate and clean energy, and the federal government has a windfall of new funds to distribute to communities for parks and infrastructure. What flows between all of these initiatives — and between all living things — water. It must be front and center this week — Latino Advocacy Week.