Hispanic Access Statement on Executive Order to Open Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument to Industrial Fishing

On April 17, 2025, the Administration issued an Executive Order attempting to open the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument —one of the last wild, healthy ocean ecosystems on Earth—to industrial fishing. This decision would scale back protections from 200 to 50 nautical miles, opening more than 408,000 square miles of protected ocean to commercial extraction. The Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument is not only a sanctuary for threatened and endangered wildlife, it also holds deep cultural and historical significance for Indigenous Pacific Islanders who have stewarded these waters for generations.

Hispanic Access’ Fifth Annual Latino Advocacy Week Kicks Off April 28

Hispanic Access Foundation’s fifth annual Latino Advocacy Week begins on April 28 and runs through May 2, 2025. Latino Advocacy Week was launched in 2021 to help build the capacity and familiarity among Latinos to advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities. This year’s theme in “Our Voice, Our Strength, Our Future”, which is essential as the Latino community continues to shape the nation's social, economic, and political landscape.

Hispanic Access Partners with Renacer Foundation for ‘Senderos a la Ciencia/Pathways to Science’ Hispanic Role Model and Mentoring Project

Hispanic Access Foundation is honored to announce a new partnership with Renacer Foundation through the Senderos a la Ciencia/Pathways to Science Hispanic Role Model and Mentoring Project, funded by the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Through this collaboration, Hispanic Access and Renacer Foundation will work together to build awareness about the value and importance of STEM careers, particularly in Latino communities where access and exposure to these career paths remain limited.

DAILY INDEPENDENT: Water wars: Political divides, lack of Latino voices are devastating the Colorado River

The Colorado River begins in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and flows an astounding 1,450 miles through the American Southwest, passing through 30 tribal nations and seven states. It is a crucial water source for 40 million people, sustains 5.5 million acres of farmland, and fuels a $1.4 trillion economy that supports 16 million jobs.

Pollinator Conservation: My Internship Takeaway

Hi everyone! As I am writing this blog, it is my last day as a Pollinator Conservation and Outreach Intern with the Minnesota-Wisconsin Ecological Services. I started this internship in July, and since then I have been able to learn so much through several people and opportunities within the service. I’m incredibly grateful for my amazing office, and for the many relationships I have built through these past 7 months. 

Before I started this internship, I was a recent graduate unsure about my path in the environmental field. I knew I had a passion for animals and wildlife conservation, but was stuck trying to figure out where this would leave me. This internship has taught me so much about the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, endangered species, pollinator conservation, ecological data management, and community outreach. And in all of these stages, there is an emphasis on people in conservation. This field requires multiple perspectives, backgrounds, and openness to the unknown. Additionally, our research and science wouldn’t mean much if we can’t translate that to the greater public. Which is why I think it is important to always find a bridge between people and environmental science through community engagement and outreach. Through this internship, I also discovered that I enjoy scientific writing and data management for ecological conservation. Both of these interests, technical writing and community science, are two big components of my upcoming role as a Nature Study Development Coordinator in Reno, NV. 

Working with the MN-WI Ecological Services and MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge has given me unforgettable experiences and memories. Some of my favorite moments were finding 3 Rusty Patched Bumble Bees, seeing Dakota Skippers in the wild, helping with Monarch tagging, and participating in both the Latino Nature Fest and Bat Festival. These moments are just small examples of the amazing opportunities I have had with my office, and they all continued to grow my passion for wildlife conservation.

Chuckwalla National Monument: A Legacy of Love and Preservation

As a pastor, I have dedicated the past 30 years to serving the people of this community in Indio, California. This land is not just a landscape, but a source of life, faith, and heritage. My heart is filled with gratitude and joy for the official designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument on January 14, protecting 644,000 acres of desert in southern California, offering much-needed access to outdoor recreation areas for Latinos, reflecting years of hard work, community advocacy, and a deep love for the beautiful desert we are blessed to call home.

Looking Forward While Looking Back on my First Year in my Fellowship with the NPS-RTCA Program

Over the past several months, I completed the first year of my fellowship with the National Park Service – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program based in Seattle, and began the start of my 6-month fellowship extension with the same program.

Leave No Trace for a Better Place

In my current internship for the Forest Service, I serve as the Sub-Reginal Volunteer Coordinator for the Cleveland National Forest, the southernmost forest in California and only 5 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.