Watch on demand!
Live Date: Thursday, June 9, 2022
Access to the outdoors is a basic human right – yet it’s one that has often been denied to many of our youth. As a result, our underrepresented kids haven’t had the chance to experience some of the best of New Mexico: its outside world. In 2020, the New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund opened to applications for the first time, awarding over $270,000 to 25 applicants across the state. It continues to support transformative outdoor experiences that foster stewardship and respect for lands, waters, and cultural heritage. During this OR session, hear from Angel Peña, executive director of Las Cruces-based Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project and one of the community leaders in New Mexico who created and advocated for this fund. The Outdoor Equity Fund has inspired similar programs throughout the country, and this session will also feature advocates and partners from other states enacting similar programming to work toward building an accessible outdoors for all.
Moderator: Teresa Martinez, Executive Director, Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Panelists:
Ángel Peña, Executive Director, Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project
Lesford Duncan, Associate Executive Director, Outdoor Outreach
Shirley Romero Otero, Founder and Executive Director, Move Mountains Youth Project Inc.