The Por La Creación: Faith-Based Alliance is a bipartisan partnership of Hispanic pastors who believe in a common-sense approach to managing our natural resources. In February, 20 of us from Arizona gathered together in the Grand Canyon to talk about the Colorado River and the need for us to take action to protect this precious resource provided by God. This river provides water for one-third of Latinos in the United States. Latinos make up the bulk of agricultural workers harvesting the produce this river waters. We boat, fish, swim and recreate along its banks.

On Tuesday, May 14, the House Appropriations Committee released the draft fiscal year 2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill. The legislation includes funding for programs within the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other related agencies. The draft bill provides $523.9 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), including $244 million for the federal program and $280 million for state programs.

U.S. Rep. Diane DeGette of Colorado has introduced a bill to reinstate Obama-era controls on the venting and burning of methane gas on federal land. The gas is a byproduct of oil and gas extraction. The Methane Waste Prevention Act of 2019 would reinstate rules that the Trump administration rolled back saying they were a burden on industry.

On Tuesday, May 14, U.S. Sen. Kamala D. Harris and Rep. Nanette Barragán reintroduced the Outdoors for All Act, which aims to help communities around the country construct and improve parks and other outdoor recreational spaces, particularly in underserved communities that lack access to outdoor recreation areas.

Whether we are helping Latinos build their financial literacy, explore new workforce opportunities, become environmental stewards or advocate for one’s health, trust and a commitment to equity is at the core of everything we do. Our initiatives, programs and grassroots outreach efforts are aimed at empowering and inspiring individuals to improve themselves and their families and, in turn, strengthen their communities and their country.

Hispanic Access Foundation connects Latinos to opportunity by exposing them to reliable and relevant resources, promoting civic engagement and serving as their trustworthy partner. We have developed extensive, trust-based community networks, including those in communities that are the hardest to reach, that when combined with our robust technology, operations, media and communications platforms guarantees success.

Our ability to cultivate leaders and develop advocates and connect them with our partners ensures long-term successes and systemic change.

As a first-generation Mexican American, Jessica feels naturally drawn to support immigrant communities in navigating the systems of a new country while striving for social equity. Jessica's family lived near Richmond, Virginia for several years before moving to rural Montpelier, Virginia; there, Jessica's love for nature continued to grow as did the gardens around her family home.

Prior to joining the Hispanic Access team, Jessica nourished her love of the outdoors with a job at REI and worked toward social equity by partnering with local nonprofits serving the needs of immigrants. Projects she worked on included an initiative to provide interpreting services and a family literacy program. Most recently, Jessica worked with the U.S. Forest Service in Colorado through a rigorous internship program in which she engaged with partners to provide opportunities for underrepresented communities to enjoy and steward public lands. She is passionate about re-connecting communities with their innate relationship with nature.

She graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor's degree in global affairs with concentrations in environment and international development.

Why she works for Hispanic Access…

“I first got connected with Hispanic Access through the MANO Project before it was the MANO Project. After an amazing internship experience with the U.S. Forest Service, I applied to be a conservation program associate with Hispanic Access—a role very similar to my role during the internship. I wanted to help make a difference in the lives of other young Latino professionals like myself the same way Hispanic Access and the MANO team did for me. From the beginning, I've been motivated by wanting to give back to the community that helped nurture and teach me.”

In her spare time…

“In this stage of my life, I spend my free time with my husband, pets, garden, plants, and loved ones. I'm an avid reader, love moving my body with fitness, yoga, hiking, climbing, dancing poorly whenever there's music, and spend a lot of time in the kitchen baking, cooking, and creating new recipes. I'm a volunteer with local mutual aid groups, as a recreational soccer coach, and as a volunteer with Latino Outdoors. I'm an outdoor enthusiast and love climbing, camping, hiking, but mostly just existing as a human outside. Most importantly, my free time is full of things that intentionally bring me life and healing.”

Her favorite book…

“I could never pick just one favorite book. I've been a huge reader since I was a child (picture THAT kid who always had a book in hand) and have fallen in love with so many different books, stories, characters, and genres throughout the years.  Just a few of the books that have impacted me most at different stages in my life include The Kite Runner, and really all of Khaled Hosseini's novels for the perspective they gave me; Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, for feeding my soul; and The Phantom Tollbooth and the Harry Potter series, for providing a magical escape and a place to let my imagination run wild as a kid.”

A person she finds inspirational…

“Literally everyone I've been able to share space with has inspired and motivated me in many areas of my life—from coworkers, to friends, authors, thought-leaders, and field experts. To highlight just one person, I'd name Dr. Carolyn Finney, who is an amazing storyteller; her speeches inspired me to get involved in conservation and equitable access as a beginner in my career field. Her grace, passion, strength, and powerful storytelling inspires me to lean fully into myself as an individual and as an active participant in dismantling systems of oppression, starting with learning and unlearning within myself.”

The Hispanic Access Foundation has a long list of accomplishments, large and small. We’re particularly proud that:

• We have directly assisted more than 80,000 Latinos in improving their lives.
  
  
• We have helped to create seven national monuments – Browns Canyon (CO), San Gabriel Mountains (CA), Sand to Snow (CA), Mojave Trails (CA), Castle Mountains (CA), Boulder White-Clouds (ID), and Castner Range (TX).
  
  
• We have placed more than 600 young Latinos in internships helping to expose them to new careers through our MANO Project.
  
  
• We have developed a strong, trust-based relationship with Latino faith leaders, who serve as a connector and help enhance our credibility within the community.
  
  
• Latino Conservation Week continues to grow – 2023 was celebrated with more than 300 events by more than 190 partners.
  
  
• Our tax education program, in partnership with H&R Block, directly assisted more than 46,000 in understanding and navigating the American tax system.
  
  
• We helped to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund – a critical tool in providing the Latino and other diverse communities with access to the outdoors.
  
  
• Our Hispanic Leadership Network is developing the capacity and skillset of Latino faith leaders and by 2023, we will have had more than 100 leaders complete the one-year program.
  
  
• We have produced two short films -- "Milk and Honey" and "Land, Water y Comunidad" -- which have elevated the Latino voice on conservation issues affecting their community.
  
  
• Our CDC-funded cancer awareness program led to more than 1,500 Latinos being screened for breast and colorectal cancer.

Hispanic Access Foundation, a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, improves the lives of Hispanics in the United States and promotes civic engagement by educating, motivating and helping them to access trustworthy support systems. Hispanic Access Foundation's vision is that Hispanics throughout the U.S. enjoy good physical health, a vibrant natural environment, a quality education, economic success and engagement in their communities with the sum of improving the future of America.

Current Positions

No current positions are available. 

Internships / Fellowships

For a listing of all of Hispanic Access' internship and fellowship opportunities, please visit Hispanic Access Foundation's MANO Project website.

WASHINGTON – While the Land and Water Conservation Fund is now permanently reauthorized, President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for 2020 cuts federal funding for LWCF by more than 100 percent, not only zeroing out the program but rolling back funds previously appropriated by Congress last year — jeopardizing the future of one of America’s most effective conservation programs.

REDLANDS – Yesterday, the U.S. House passed the Senate’s public lands bill, which creates one of the largest wilderness expansions in a decade including additions to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks and the San Bernardino National Forest, as well as the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. To highlight the diverse benefits of our public lands and explore what the legislation means for California, Hispanic Access Foundation and Por La Creación Faith-based Alliance held a community roundtable with expert panelists representing health professionals, veterans, business interests, educational leaders, energy companies, parks and environmental justice groups.