Hispanic Access Foundation Statement on the Government Shutdown

As of October 1, 2025, the federal government has shut down following a lapse in appropriations after Congress and the Administration were unable to finalize an agreement on funding legislation. As a result, many federal operations are suspended or reduced, impacting communities nationwide. In response, Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, issued the following statement:

THE GUARDIAN: US Latinos mobilize to monitor – and improve – local air quality: ‘We have to fix it’

On a tree-lined street in a quiet suburb known by some as “Arbor City”, Eileen Miranda often watched her grandson race around the yard, trusting – like most – that the air they were breathing was clean. But data from an air quality sensor she recently installed outside her home showed otherwise. Now she wonders if it was the air that contributed to her eldest son’s childhood struggle with asthma.

Latino Community and Faith Leaders Unite at Mission Creek Preserve to Protect Public Lands and Community Health

On Saturday, September 27, Hispanic Access Foundation hosted “Tierra, Agua y Aire” (Land, Water, and Air), a faith and conservation gathering and nature walk at Mission Creek Preserve that united Latino, faith, Tribal, and conservation leaders to reflect on our shared spiritual and cultural responsibility to care for our natural environment and land.

The gathering highlighted recent advocacy efforts that led to the establishment of Chuckwalla National Monument, which safeguards 644,000 acres of critical desert habitat and sacred cultural sites. Leaders also discussed ongoing challenges facing the region, like the Cadiz Project, a proposal to pump and export billions of gallons of groundwater from the Mojave Desert, threatening fragile ecosystems and polluting water sources for San Bernardino County residents. 

“Protecting our land, water, and air is more than an environmental issue—it’s about equity, culture, and community well-being,” said Juan Rosas, Public Lands Program Manager for Hispanic Access Foundation. “Public lands provide us with spaces to connect with nature, preserve traditions, and ensure a healthier future for generations to come.”

The day’s program included guided reflections, conversations on air and water quality, a communal meal, and closing blessings and prayers. Speakers and participants explored the crucial role of community health, stewardship, and environmental justice, emphasizing how faith communities play a critical role in elevating conservation advocacy.

“For Latinos, public lands and national monuments like Chuckwalla are sacred spaces where God’s creation and our ancestral traditions come together,” said Gustavo Garza, Pastor of Iglesia Evangelica Bethel. “Our faith calls us to be stewards of the land, protecting these places so that all of God’s children, and all living beings, may continue to thrive. The care we show today is a spiritual legacy we pass on to future generations.”

This event was part of Hispanic Access Foundation’s 12th annual Latino Conservation Week (LCW) celebration. LCW featured more than 360 events nationwide, including hikes, kayaking trips, park clean-ups, panel discussions, and film screenings—all aimed at inspiring Latinos to enjoy and protect public lands, air, and water.

ASPEN DAILY NEWS: Community shows up for Latino Conservation Week

Despite the rollback of federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs and concerns over increased immigration enforcement, Latino families, students and other volunteers showed up to plant trees at Veltus Park in Glenwood Springs on Sept. 13 to kick off Latino Conservation Week. 

Faith and Healing: How Iglesias Sanas, Comunidades Sanas Equips Leaders for Mental Health Care

Every September, communities across the world recognize Suicide Prevention Month as an opportunity to raise awareness, provide education, and remind one another that there is hope.

Raising My Voice for the Coasts of Puerto Rico

My participation in Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2025 and UpWell: A Wave of Ocean Justice renewed my sense of hope in the face of the many challenges we face in protecting Puerto Rico’s coastal and marine environments. As a U.S. territory without voting representation in Congress, we are in a particularly vulnerable position when it comes to influencing federal decisions that directly affect the management of our coastal resources.

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.