Voces Unidas was one of more than 25 organizations invited to participate in the Latino Conservation Week festivities on July 22 at Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs. Organized by the City of Glenwood Springs, Wilderness Workshop’s Defiende Nuestra Tierra program, and the White River National Forest, the uniquely Latino ¡Celebremos al aire libre! Latino Conservation Week event drew hundreds of people from the central-mountain Latino community to experience outdoor recreation on public lands and connect with community organizations.
Before the celebration in the park, many took advantage of outdoor activities including guided hiking and rafting trips, a restoration project to reduce wildfire fuels and improve wildlife habitat, and free bike rentals. A primary theme of the event was living with wildfire.
Regional manager Alan Muñoz was joined at the Voces Unidas booth by several volunteer leaders eager to spend the day engaging with the community, share information about our work, and help educate people on local environmental justice issues.
Ultimately, though, ¡Celebremos al aire libre! served as a chance to introduce new opportunities and deepen the connection between the Latino community and the public lands that provide clean air and water, job opportunities, and abundant outdoor recreation possibilities in the Central Mountains.