Every quarter, we choose a new organization that is near and dear to our hearts as our Pledge 1% recipient. The Pledge 1% movement challenges companies to donate 1% of their revenue, product, or employee time (or all three) to support local nonprofit organizations. This fall quarter, we are excited to announce Latino Outdoors as our Pledge 1% recipient.
“It's important to us that we give back to the world that supports us. Pledge 1% makes it easy to honor that commitment by making sure that we are always donating to charitable causes, whether a little or a lot, in good times and bad.” – Tavis Malcolm, Founder of Morrison Outdoors
This wonderful organization works to create and support a network of ambicultural leaders in the outdoor, conservation, and nature movement. They are focused on expanding the Latinx experience in the outdoors while also providing greater opportunities for leadership, mentorship, and professional development. We spoke with Laura, the New Mexico Program Coordinator, to learn more about what Latino Outdoors has to offer. Here’s what she shared with us:
What is Latino Outdoors?
Latino Outdoors is a community first and an organization second. We are a community that strives for an outdoors that is safe and welcoming for all people, regardless of race, creed, nationality, language, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. We are a community that celebrates diverse forms of outdoor engagement. In addition, Latino Outdoors is a Latine-led organization that supports a national community of leaders in outdoor recreation, conservation, and environmental education.
What is Your Mission?
We inspire, connect, and engage Latino communities in the outdoors and embrace cultura y familia as part of the outdoor narrative, ensuring our history, heritage, and leadership are valued and represented.
Why is it Important to Get Families and Youth into Nature?
We are a community that believes meaningful outdoor experiences make us stronger, healthier, and happier. We envision a world where the outdoors is a place to share and celebrate stories, knowledge, and culture while growing leadership and an active community of Latino outdoor users, mentors, and stewards.
What Programs, Events, or Resources Do You Provide for the Community?
With an eye towards celebrating and expanding the Latine outdoor experience and bolstering the broader outdoor movement, we provide leadership, mentorship, and professional development opportunities and serve as a platform for amplifying oft-overlooked cultural connections and narratives. Latino Outdoors is a space for our comunidades to be present, share our voices, and showcase how an ethic of conservation and roots in nature has been deeply embedded in la cultura Latina for generations. The programmatic pillars of Latino Outdoors are outdoor experiences, outdoor narratives, and outdoor leadership.
On the local level, we have provided introductory sessions to camping, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, biking, trail clean-up, water conservation, birding, snowshoeing, plant and wildlife identification, SUP'ing, kayaking, and rafting. All including connection with land and educational practices.
Is There Anything Else You Would Like to Share?
Latino Outdoors New Mexico is possible because of our local and national grants along with wonderful volunteers who know the importance of getting our youth and their families outdoors.
In support of this wonderful organization, we are directing a portion of every sale made in October, November, and December to help support the Latino Outdoors mission of connecting, engaging, and inspiring Latino communities in the outdoors.
We believe everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy and thrive in the outdoors, and we are proud to support organizations that share this mindset! Check out the Latino Outdoors website for more information on programs and events happening this year.
Photos Courtesy of Laura from Latino Outdoors