Luis is a member of the Conservation team, where he leads Latino Conservation Week programming. In this role, he is committed to expanding access to the outdoors for Latino communities and fostering meaningful connections between people and nature. A mission that guides all of his work.

He earned both his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and his master’s degree in conservation biology from the University of Rhode Island. During graduate school, Luis served as a teaching assistant for human and animal anatomy courses and interned with conservation organizations focused on outreach and education.

After graduate school, Luis worked for three years as an environmental scientist at a wastewater treatment plant in Rhode Island, where he gained hands-on experience in environmental systems and water quality management.

Now based in Marina, California, Luis volunteers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, engaging visitors in conversations about ocean conservation and inspiring a deeper appreciation for marine life.

Event 1: Neighborhood Cleanup

• Event Title: Neighborhood Cleanup

• Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025

• Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Location: Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve, 5935 Ackley Rd, Cleveland, OH

• Event Description (50–75 words):
  Kick off Latino Conservation Week by helping us maintain the beauty of Slavic Village. Volunteers will join together to clean up Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve, build community pride, and protect this important green space for residents and wildlife.

Event 2: Salsa y Salsa

• Event Title: Salsa y Salsa

• Date: Monday, September 15, 2025

• Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM

• Location: Good Earth Farm & Mayans VIP Lounge, 9600 Madison Ave, Cleveland, OH

• Event Description (50–75 words):
  Celebrate heritage through food and dance! Participants will learn how to make fresh tomato salsa and then enjoy a salsa dance lesson. This family-friendly event brings culture, flavor, and fun together while highlighting the connections between community and conservation.

Event 3: Summer Crush

• Event Title: Summer Crush

• Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025

• Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM

• Location: Franklin Reading Garden, 6501 Franklin Blvd, Cleveland, OH

• Event Description (50–75 words):
  Join us for a fun, hands-on event to stomp, crush, and wipe out the invasive spotted lanternfly! Participants will learn about the impact of this pest on trees and gardens while taking action to protect local ecosystems.

Event 4: Rain Garden Workshop

• Event Title: Rain Garden Workshop

• Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025

• Time: 12:00 – 2:00 PM

• Location: BarrioBOY Garden, 3333 W 33rd St, Cleveland, OH

• Event Description (50–75 words):
  Help envision a greener neighborhood! This interactive workshop will guide participants in designing a rain garden in the Clark-Fulton community to soak up stormwater, reduce flooding, and promote native landscapes. Together we will dream, design, and plan for a more resilient future.

Thank you to the Northeast Ohio Sewer District for supporting the Latine Environmental Colectivo's Latino Conservation Week 2025 events!

We understand that some individuals may be navigating increased uncertainty or concerns in today’s political climate. Your safety and peace of mind are important.

We encourage participants to bring or have access to “Know Your Rights” cards at events, as an added resource to help you feel informed and supported. You can print one at home here.

Whether you’re joining an in-person event or participating from home, there are many ways to get involved while staying safe. And if you truly don’t feel comfortable participating this year, please know that is okay too—your well-being comes first.

This year’s LCW includes a “Ways to Celebrate LCW Near You” series featuring ideas like neighborhood park cleanups, backyard nature activities, and virtual gatherings, to ensure everyone can participate in a way that works best for them: Click here to learn more.

Legal Rights & Safety Guides

• Know Your Rights card
• DOJ Civil Rights — File a Complaint
• EEOC — Harassment & Discrimination
• Nonprofit Legal Aid Directory
  
  

Public Lands & Event Safety

• National Park Service — Safety & Permits
• USFS Visitor Safety & Fire Alerts
• Leave No Trace & Trail Safety
• BLM Safety in Public Lands - Guidance for camping, hiking and emergency planning
  
  

General Tips for Public Lands Safety

• Follow posted rules, signs, and permits.
• Designate a safety lead for your group.
• Bring water, first aid, and weather-appropriate gear.
• Check cell coverage and have a check-in plan.
• Keep an eye on local fire or weather alerts.

En Español

Entendemos que algunas personas pueden estar enfrentando una mayor incertidumbre o preocupación en el clima político actual. Su seguridad y tranquilidad son importantes.

Recomendamos a los participantes traer o tener a mano tarjetas de “Conozca Sus Derechos” en los eventos, como un recurso adicional para que se sientan informados y respaldados. Puede imprimir una en casa aquí.

Ya sea que se una a un evento en persona o participe desde casa, hay muchas maneras de involucrarse mientras se mantiene seguro. Y si realmente no se siente cómodo participando este año, sepa que eso también está bien: su bienestar es lo primero.

Este año, LCW incluye una serie “Formas de Celebrar LCW Cerca de Usted” con ideas como limpiezas de parques vecinales, actividades de naturaleza en el patio trasero y reuniones virtuales, para asegurar que todos puedan participar de la manera que mejor les funcione. Haga clic aquí para saber más.

Guías de Derechos Legales y Seguridad

• Tarjeta Conozca Sus Derechos
• Derechos Civiles del DOJ — Presentar una Queja
• EEOC — Acoso y Discriminación
• Directorio de Asistencia Legal Sin Fines de Lucro
  
  

Tierras Públicas y Seguridad en Eventos

• Servicio de Parques Nacionales — Seguridad y Permisos
• USFS Seguridad para Visitantes y Alertas de Incendios
• Leave No Trace y Seguridad en Senderos
• BLM Seguridad en Tierras Públicas — Guía para acampar, hacer senderismo y planificación de emergencias
  
  

Consejos Generales para la Seguridad en Tierras Públicas

• Siga las reglas, letreros y permisos publicados.
• Designe un líder de seguridad para su grupo.
• Lleve agua, botiquín de primeros auxilios y equipo adecuado para el clima.
• Verifique la cobertura de celular y tenga un plan de comunicación.
• Manténgase atento a las alertas locales de incendios o clima.

Latino Conservation Week Kids Activity 

Latino Conservation Week is for participants of all ages!

To ensure that families with young ones have great ways to participate, we have teamed up with the hit kids science podcast Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos and the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida to create a family-friendly activity to get children involved in conservation!

This virtual event is free to participate in, and you can do so from your own local park!

Participating as a family is super simple!

• Listen to the collaborative episode of Cráneo featuring former Latino Conservation Week manager Jessica Godinez (available in English here) to learn about concepts like environmental conservation, data, and community science!
• Print this activity page, with a 'bingo card' of animals and plants to look for in your park
• Visit a local park and look for each species, and check them off as you go!
• Adults, you can upload photos of species that you find to our global iNaturalist project, Cráneo + Semana Latina de la Conservación. Joining is super easy! Here is a simple page with instructions for how to join the iNaturalist project here

Love this family content and want more like it? Send us an email to let us know! kids@cumbremedia.com or lcw@hispanicaccess.org.

En Español - Semana Latina de la Conservación Actividad para niños 

¡La Semana Latina de la Conservación es para participantes de todas las edades!

Para asegurarnos de que las familias con niños pequeños tengan formas geniales de participar, nos hemos unido al popular podcast de ciencia en español, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos, y al Departamento de Ecología y Conservación de Vida Silvestre de la Universidad de Florida para crear una actividad amigable para que las familias puedan involucrar a sus hijos en la conservación ambiental!

¡Este evento virtual es gratuito y puedes participar desde tu propio parque local!

Participar en familia es súper sencillo:

• Escucha el episodio colaborativo de Cráneo con la gerente de la Semana Latina de la Conservación, Jessica Godínez (disponible en español aquí), para aprender sobre conceptos como la conservación ambiental, datos científicos y ciencia comunitaria
• Imprime esta página de actividades, con una 'tarjeta de bingo' de animales y plantas para buscar en tu parque
• ¡Visita un parque local y busca cada especie, marcándolas a medida que las encuentres!
• Adultos, pueden subir fotos de las especies que encuentren a nuestro proyecto global de iNaturalist, Cráneo + Semana Latina de la Conservación. ¡Unirse es súper fácil! Aquí tienes una página sencilla con instrucciones para unirte al proyecto de iNaturalist aquí

¿Te encanta este contenido familiar y quieres más? ¡Envíanos un correo electrónico para hacérnoslo saber! kids@cumbremedia.com o lcw@hispanicaccess.org.

The Sea Slug Scavenger Hunt is a hands-on learning program at the tidepools of southern California. In 2023, we will be hosting the program at Cabrillo Beach in Los Angeles County. Our multilingual team will teach participants about sea slugs and other marine organisms, followed by time to explore the tidepools. Our programs will be hosted in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. 

Families, children, and individuals of all ages are welcome to sign up and attend with no prior experience required! Please RSVP to our free event at seacrlab.com/sea-slug

Research in the SEACR Lab prioritizes building environmental and advocacy literacy for communities with English as their second language. We also work alongside climate advocacy organizations in southern California that prioritize community involvement in local environmental decision-making.

Luke oversees fundraising for Hispanic Access Foundation—leading corporate, foundation, government, and individual donor outreach.

Luke is a millennial Mexican American who was raised in the outdoors and is especially drawn to Hispanic Access’ conservation programs. Ever since early childhood, he has camped, fished, backpacked, and explored the outdoors. In high school, Hispanic Access gave him the opportunity to travel out West to explore the beauty of America’s national parks and to highlight the issues surrounding them.

Those experiences and his love for the outdoors inspired him to study environmental biology and chemistry at Christopher Newport University, where he graduated magna cum laude. Although his education focused primarily on science, Luke made it a priority to infuse his environmental studies with policy analysis and discussion. To Luke, the relationship between people and their world is the most central element to understand.

Margaret focuses on grant writing and individual giving for Hispanic Access Foundation.

Margaret earned her B.A. in business from Sweet Briar College. After finishing her undergraduate degree, Margaret attended the University of Lynchburg where she obtained her M.A. in nonprofit leadership studies. Prior to joining Hispanic Access, she served as the Graduate Assistant for Equity and Inclusion at the University of Lynchburg and worked with Concern Worldwide as a Major Gifts Fellow. She is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is dedicated to serving Latino communities.

Evelyn first worked with Hispanic Access Foundation as a Latino Heritage Internship Program intern at the National Parks of Boston in 2018. In 2019, Evelyn had the opportunity to work with Hispanic Access again as a Programs Assistant for the MANO Project. Interning with Hispanic Access inspired her to join the team as a Programs Associate, and she now works as a Digital Communications Associate. Evelyn also serves as the founder and team lead of Hispanic Access’ Our DREAMS Scholarship program, an initiative serving undocumented youth.

Evelyn is from Bakersfield, California and is a first-generation college graduate with her bachelor’s degree in American studies from The George Washington University (GW). A trailblazer, Evelyn was selected to be part of the inaugural Cisneros Scholars cohort at the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute at GW. Through her time with the institute, she became passionate about serving Latino communities. An advocate for social justice, Evelyn served as a 2017-18 Trabajadoras Senior Fellow under the Labor Council for the Latin American Advancement, and as a 2018 Young People For Fellow. Having learned so much from these fellowships, Evelyn continues to advocate for Latina wage equity, empowerment of young Latinas, and ensuring access to resources for underserved communities.

As the Director of Communications at Hispanic Access Foundation, Karina implements communications plans embracing social media and traditional earned and paid media. She also oversees the development of training materials, printed pieces, and program reports.

A Mexican American immigrant, Karina strives to connect immigrant communities with the resources they need to enhance their lives. Fluent in Spanish with the ability to translate materials, she also brings six years of communications management experience developing and implementing communications strategies, media pitches, media relations, strategic social media, media kits, and strategic marketing. Prior to joining Hispanic Access, Karina was an Account Manager at On The Marc Media where she oversaw numerous clients’ marketing and public relations needs.

Karina graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned a B.A. in communications with a concentration in public relations. Karina also holds an associate degree from Montgomery College.

Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge will be hosting a bilingual storytime event on Friday, June 22 for Latino Conservation Week. Families are invited to come out to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge to feed the birds with the Ranger, followed by a bilingual storytime, craft, and songs with the book: "Baby Rattlesnake: Viborita de Cascabel."