Honoring Raices

por José González

Last year we celebrated 10 years of Latino Outdoors. 10 years…

10 años.

Hearing it still lands with a joy and admiration, as well as deep appreciation for all the hands that guided it into where it is today. The hands, the smiles, the walks, the time, the showing up of all the many amazing volunteer and community leaders that make up the community of Latino Outdoors. And continue to do so.

We sometimes say that Latino Outdoors started out with a seed of an idea that was boldly planted, caringly nurtured, firmly rooted, and then supported into the growth of not just one tree, but a grove of cultura y comunidad.

And as this new year unfolds and we embark on the next decade, we want to put a particular focus on remembering and honoring our roots, nuestras raíces.

BREAKFAST DISCOURSE: YOUTH ENGAGEMENT at the Wort Hotel.

Now, it is easy to fall into nostalgia about roots. Or take them for granted. Or make them sacrosanct as if they are fixed in time and space.

But roots are not static things. They are living and growing elements of the whole being. They reach out and connect. They communicate with and through interconnected relationships with the ecosystem at large. They take from and contribute to the soil in which they are embedded. They are anchored in what they were, what they are, and what they can still be.

To me, this is part of the invitation to both honor and appreciate the roots of Latino Outdoors, while also continuing to nurture the soil they are in and not forgetting they are not immune to all that ails living beings.

When we first started, we knew we wanted to be rooted in what we felt was representative of healing aspects of our culture– I was and am a strong believer in the expression “La Cultura Cura.” At the same time, we did not want to perpetuate harmful aspects that were inherited and labeled as “part of the culture.” Toxic masculinity in the form of machismo, for example. I think this orientation will continue to be helpful as the organization and community grows.

All of that takes practice of course, and what helped when we started was also being guided by a sense of service, relationship building, and meaningful action that supported leadership development. This was reflected in two main ways: 

  • First, during an early survey of LO leaders, we basically asked why they were here, giving their time, passions, and skills to this nascent idea when they could of course be doing this elsewhere. And they consistently mentioned three things: 1) they could be of service to the comunidad, 2) they felt that what they were doing really mattered, and 3) they could do it in a way where they actually could lead something and grow accordingly. 
  • Second, I would often get some form of the question “where did you find all these amazing people?”—to which I would often respond with a variation of “oh, we didn’t Columbus anyone. The leaders were already there, they are just now more visible to you. We are trying to build the community and platform that makes that happen.”

Both still apply, in my opinion, and will still be embedded in the root work. Because those early ideas and values of network leadership principles are still present and nurtured by the organizational leadership. It is a type of “mycelial leadership” as I call it. And you may or may not know, that itself is part of what connects and nurtures roots.

I am excited about what the Latino Outdoors of 10 years from now will be like. How it will exist in ways that I was looking for when we first founded it. How it will be rooted in the ways that helped establish itself and grow and have strong roots that help it weather storms. But also, just as importantly, in the ways that it evolves and is interconnected in the ecology that is the community of this work.

Raíces containing the memory of its planting, while changing in and with the soil they call home.

José González is the Founder of Latino Outdoors. He is a professional educator with training in the fields of education and conservation while engaging in different artistic endeavors with art and messaging—often exploring the intersection of the environment and culture. He has broad experience as a K-12 public education teacher, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. As a Partner in the Avarna Group and through his own consulting, his work focuses on Equity & Inclusion frameworks and practices in the environmental, outdoor, and conservation fields. He is also an illustrator and science communicator.

Then & Now: Una Conversación con André Sánchez

por André Sanchez y Christian La Mont

In this interview, André Sanchez offers a firsthand account of his powerful journey in connecting to Latino Outdoors and with nature. Join us in celebrating the past ten years of Latino Outdoors through the eyes of one of its leaders, André Sanchez.

Please note that this interview has been thoughtfully edited for clarity and conciseness, ensuring a comprehensive yet succinct representation tailored to fit into this blog.

Latino Outdoors (LO): Let’s get into it! To kick off, can you share a bit about yourself, including your name, background, and perhaps a glimpse into your heritage?

André: I’m André Sanchez, I’m a first-generation Mexican American, born and raised in Madera, California, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. While my family has ties to la Ciudad de Mexico as that’s where my mother and her siblings were born and raised before migrating, we have roots in Oaxaca. My grandparents are originally from Villa Alta en la Sierra Norte region. Growing up, I embraced my Mexican heritage and an Indigenous perspective, though I didn’t necessarily know that’s what it was rooted in and simply viewed it as my grandmother’s and family’s teachings.

Way back when it was still referred to as D.F., my abuela, mother, and two of my uncles migrated from the growing city to the San Joaquin Valley and became migrant laborers. My grandmother was the first one to come over to the US. I don’t even know the year, honestly, but then my mother and my uncles came over. Despite the challenges, their hard work and resilience paved the way for new opportunities, transforming them into educators and public health professionals, and just overall loving community members. They instilled in me a deep sense of ethics and morality, shaping the person I am today. I’m just grateful that I come from the background that I do with my rich Mexican Chilango & Oaxacan heritage and the legacy of resilient migrant laborers.

“it just amazed me to see the waterfalls for the first time”

André Sanchez

Park ranger André in Ahwahnee, summer 2015

André during his first backpacking trip, summer 2011

LO: Do you remember early experiences in nature, in the outdoors?

André: One experience that has resonated with me throughout my life is the first time I visited Yosemite Valley, or Ahwahnee as I’ve learned local Native communities call it. I was around seven years old, when my late uncle (Azael) took, me, my grandmother (Esther) and my two older siblings (Jose & Natalie) to receive the beauty and medicine that the park had to offer. Seeing the waterfalls for the first time and just being there among the granite monoliths, not really knowing how I would eventually relate to the experience and memory, but just knowing that I really just loved it and enjoyed it at that moment.

André’s Tio Azael

André’s abuela Esther

On another note of early experience with nature, some of my formative youth involved fishing, a shared activity that brought together my brother Jose, his friends, some family friends, and me. I learned a lot through these experiences since we were a mix of ages, with me being the youngest in what became our recurring group. We would go out fishing in different places in and around the San Joaquin Valley. So we would frequent the rivers, sloughs, lakes, what have you, and having to learn the elements of fishing definitely left a mark on me because it made me realize you’re going to have to be patient. Nature is serene. You’re going to have to sit here and just take it in. And I think I generally did learn that to a high degree, but obviously still wanting to do more outside kind of lingered within me.

LO: Was there someone in your life that played a large role in your love of nature, someone as a child or later in life that really set you down this journey towards conservation?

André: A key figure in shaping my profound connection with nature is undoubtedly my late uncle Azael, the same individual who introduced me and my family to Yosemite and various other outdoor experiences. Not only did he facilitate our trips to Yosemite but also took us to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the serene lakes and forests of the Sierra Nevada. And mind you, he wasn’t necessarily a conservation nature person in that context, but he just got exposed to it through some of his opportunities, and he wanted to share that with us because he knew it was an amazing experience for him. But, yeah, I would say him because he took me to several different places that I don’t think I would have ever known about or experienced otherwise.

“Having to learn the elements of fishing definitely left a mark on me because it made me realize you’re going to have to be patient. Nature is serene. You’re going to have to sit here and just take it in.”

André Sanchez

LO: You’ve been part of Latino Outdoors for a few years now. You’ve also grown in the conservation field. You in particular. It’s your career. As we look back on the last ten years, can you tell us a little bit about the growth you’ve seen in Latino outdoors and then the growth you’ve seen in the world of conservation, and then the growth that you’ve seen in yourself?

André: My official journey with Latino Outdoors (LO) began in 2017 as a volunteer, but my awareness and connection with the organization extends further back. Over this time, I’ve witnessed profound changes within LO. The most noticeable transformation has been its exponential growth—expanding volunteer bases, increased public support, and a growing staff that now includes dedicated advocacy and policy roles. It’s just amazing to see that LO is ever-growing and changing. At the same, still being very rooted in what the intention of LO was created for, which is like culturally relevant exposure to nature, if you will, or building community that is going to eventually experience nature in some way, shape or form. And just like acknowledging that we are a community and all these different gente just want to be outside and that we have a right to be outside.

I would say the addition of the advocacy position has been particularly significant for me, as it aligns with my professional role. That growth runs parallel with LO in that sense because I was trying to figure out how I could continue to be a working professional and also do my personal decolonization without me knowing what exactly that meant or looked like. What it was or what it was becoming at the time with what LO was trying to achieve, ultimately, which is, we’re going to try to just get people outside in whatever way, shape, or form we can, and we’re going to meet them where we’re at. And the point of this is that we’re trying to build community. We’re trying to get our community to be comfortable, to be outside, and trying to get them to understand that these places are for them. And we’re trying to do it in a safe, culturally competent, and relevant manner. And essentially translating that lens to my work is what I’ve tried to do ever since I’ve been wearing these multiple hats.

“What LO was trying to achieve, ultimately, which is, we’re going to try to just get people outside in whatever way, shape, or form we can, and we’re going to meet them where we’re at.”

André Sanchez

LO: As we wrap up our conversation, André, reflecting on your journey from a super volunteer to now serving as a board member, your unique perspective provides invaluable insights. Looking ahead, considering the tremendous growth and impact of Latino Outdoors over the past decade, what is your vision for the organization in the next ten years? How do you see LO evolving, and what goals do you aspire to achieve in this next phase of its journey?

André: What I’m really hoping continues to happen and what my vision would be for LO as the community continues to grow for the next “X” number of years and decades, is that we continue to create opportunities because there’s a lot of ground to cover and there’s a lot of people that we haven’t tapped into yet and there’s a lot of community to build and a lot of leaders that are emerging and that should emerge. If you look at the map that we have of the different regions throughout the country, there’s still a lot of places that we’re not covering yet. I’m hoping we continue to build towards covering more space on the map.

André volunteers with Latino Outdoors as both a Program Coordinator and Advisory Board member. As the Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for Fresno, André works towards inspiring others about the importance of protecting natural resources by sharing his knowledge of rivers, wildlife, and the different environmental services they provide for people, including clean water, clean air, and respite from everyday life. As a member of the Board, he hopes to further this effort and expand his support of LO’s mission.

Then & Now: Lesser-Known Aspects

Por Ruby Rodríguez

Ruby Rodríguez is LO’s longest-tenured staff member, going from volunteer to part-time staffer in 2016 to Director of Programs & Operations. Here, she shares a snippet from a lesser-known part of LO’s journey.

Finding Latino Outdoors (LO) is like coming home for many LO leaders. Listen to the stories we tell about how we came to know LO, and you will find a common thread: that we were actively, consciously searching for community and cultural connections to weave into our relationship with the outdoors. That was me in 2014. You can learn more about that part of my story here. 

My daughter Camila, pictured above, touched my heart when she said to me last year that her favorite thing about me is that I don’t give up. Even when something is harder than I thought it would be, I keep going. 

Just five years ago, in the first quarter of 2018, there was a brief period where I was overseeing LO’s operations as the only member of LO’s national support staff—working only ten hours per week due to lack of resources and volunteering hours on top of that. Graciela Cabello and José González, LO’s first-ever staff members, had dedicated themselves to developing a solid organizational foundation before moving on in 2017 and 2018, respectively. José’s thoughtfully approached departure was neatly followed by a Board-led search for our next Executive Director. Meanwhile, I continued with administrative functions and volunteer management as best I could with limited hours and a small “proto” team made up of volunteers who supported LO’s social media, IT, and outdoor brand relations. Not feeling ready for the position, I didn’t apply for the executive leadership role. But I did hold things together during that transition. Luckily, the stars aligned and within a few months, Luis Villa was welcomed to LO as its new Executive Director. 

It’s true that I am not one to give up, yet I recognize when it may be time to move on. After onboarding Luis and familiarizing him with LO’s values and programs, I felt confident that LO would be safe with him. As for me, I needed to move forward on my own path toward self-sufficiency and figured grad school would provide me with the opportunities and upward mobility that I needed as a single mother. My imminent departure lit a fire under Luis and he offered me a full-time position as the Operations Manager a few days before I was set to start class. The opportunity to work full-time with LO was my dream come true (I’m serious—I’m living my dream here), so I said yes and we worked around the clock for eighteen months to fortify Latino Outdoors. 

In the early days of the pandemic, when everything was scary and the schools were closed and we had no vaccine, we took a leap of faith and invested in a third full-time staff person, and within three years, we carefully brought on nine more. I am proud to have come this far from the days of barebone resources, and grateful for a team made up of kind, highly skilled, and motivated people that help maintain Latino Outdoors as a place that feels like home. At this stage of organizational development and with my daughter’s words reverberating in my heart, I will not lose sight of the level of care and determination that we all have put forth to get LO to where it is today. We will continue to earn all of the support that we receive because I believe that LO is an invaluable community resource worthy of being attentively cared for and stewarded. 

Through all of this, LO’s volunteers have been here, leading outings, sharing their voices and stories, and redefining what it means to be outdoorsy. Their time, energy, ideas, skills, and leadership are the lifeline of LO, and without them LO would not be thriving as it is today. 

As I celebrate my seventh anniversary as a LO staff member with just one month left in our ten-year celebration, I can’t help but think about what this community and organization has provided me with. Being immersed in an environment that prioritizes a sense of belonging together with opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive alongside a network of leaders, has helped me evolve into a truer expression of myself. Engaging with LO leaders in our Vamos Outdoors outings program has proven to me that the fullest expression of self-love is an extension of our own healing, empowerment, and life force to those around us. I know that many LO leaders have had a similar experience, and this is the place where we become kin. To engage in this work with them feels like coming home and has been the experience of a lifetime.