por José G. González

The times an organization is founded are full of joy, excitement, hope, optimism, and certainly anxiety, stress, and uncertainty. They include going from an “idea” to an actuality with responsibility. And for all the highs and successes, they are often intertwined with visible and invisible challenges, and defeats. All of which of course are ultimately lessons and opportunities for learning. 

When it’s the work of our younger years, there is especially so much boundless optimism of what we can do. Ultimately, actually doing it, with some trial and error, tempers those creative fires into what is actionable. 

That is neither to diminish the successes or romanticize the work, but rather to genuinely celebrate what we accomplish, because at the end of the day, we bring something into creation that matters to us. That positively affects our communities, and it exists. 

The early days of Latino Outdoors were full of all the aforementioned feelings, emotions, aspirations, and more. If you were to ask me what the future of Latino Outdoors would be five years on from our first outing, I was not sure I would have an adequate answer to capture it– I would likely still be stressing out about the fact that our first cohort of leaders wanted to undertake programming. Do they understand how much responsibility that is? The liability? The training? That we have no money? And on and on, I asked myself. 

Of course I still had hope and commitment, because one thing that has been consistent since then is our volunteers’ own hope, commitment, not to mention passion and corazón. From the beginning our volunteer leaders have been the ones to make it happen, and Latino Outdoors exists because of that. My job was to do what I could to ensure the support and resources to facilitate that. 

When this all started, I was looking for “others like me”, and here you are, here WE are. You made the aspiration of JUNTOS a reality, you continue to do so, and I do not doubt that will ensure the success of Latino Outdoors into the future, regardless of the amount of resources we have and the scale at which we operate. 

We went from finding each other on social media to taking familias outdoors across the U.S. From a WordPress blog to screening a film at the White House. From a small group of mothers with strollers on the trail to programming partnerships with land management agencies, outdoor brands, and other kindred organizations. Latino Outdoors is ever evolving with our roots still grounded in community. 

When I first designed the logo for Latino Outdoors, the challenge was to represent gente, medio ambiente, y cultura. To capture people and the outdoors without limiting too much the diversity of the Latinx experience and scope–not an easy task in any way whatsoever. But I am proud of the creation. The sun represents a common element in many of our communities, while also pointing to the four directions. The volute glyph, in relation to the sun looks like wind or a wisp of a cloud, completing a natural element. But it is also the tlahtolli, symbolizing our voz, a statement of presence. Thus, all together, in the style of a petroglyph, they represent a mestizaje of human and non-human nature, an interdependent relationship grounded in cultura.

You’ve taken that logo across many landscapes, from urban centers like L.A., D.C., and N.Y.C. to distant nature such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. As Latino Outdoors volunteer leaders, you’ve all put in the work for that logo to mean something and expand its significance. When people come across it and recognize it, it stands for the work you’ve all done and are doing, a collective reminder and invitation that can stand apart from the words. 

Speaking of reminders and invitations, what we do is not limited to the Latinx experience– every time people think we are being exclusive, they miss that point. That is our grounding experience as part of equitable work for that idea of an Outdoors for All– equality through equitable access, diversity through inclusive experiences. We provide a focused conversation on the Latinx experience (and in reality, a spectrum that captures Raza, Hispanxs, Chicanxs, and a broad mestizaje that honors indigenous roots).  While this is done so that our communities see themselves represented through intra-community valuation, it also allows for the inter-community relationship building that is vital to the growth and development of present and future constituencies that experience and protect our public lands. 

Yeah, you do all that; we do all that. At the end of the day, I think the words pride and humility are a close approximation of what I feel for you and the work you do.