por Jazzari Taylor, Policy Advocate

Photos by Outdoor Alliance

(A follow-up to Advocacy from Local Parks to Public Lands: Joining Outdoor Alliances & the Grasstops Collective)

After months of preparation and connecting with outdoor advocates across the country, we came together once again, this time in the heart of our nation’s capital. This October, I joined Outdoor Alliance and a national network of recreation enthusiasts, conservationists, and community advocates in Washington, D.C., for the 2025 Fall Fly-In (Trip Report).

We arrived during a government shutdown, but our commitment didn’t waver. We showed up for our gente, our communities, and the lands that sustain us, because protecting public lands is protecting people. We came to convey a message: public lands are for the people, and that includes Latino communities.

In every conversation, our coalition emphasized bipartisanship, reminding lawmakers that public lands protection is truly “the best idea we ever had”. We discussed the importance of policies that unite us around shared values — clean air, safe water, and access to nature. We also urged leaders to defend against the sale or privatization of public lands, which would strip communities of access, harm local economies, and undermine the cultural and natural heritage these landscapes hold.

Latino Outdoors’ advocacy is grounded in our shared values — family, community, hard work, and respect for the environment. Nearly 70% of Latinos live in nature-deprived neighborhoods, and 1 in 2 breathe unhealthy air. Protecting public lands directly supports cleaner air, safer water, and healthier communities. With more than 36 million eligible Latino voters nationwide, our collective voice continues to shape the future of conservation and public lands policy. Across party lines, Latinos consistently support measures that protect the environment and promote equitable access to nature for all.

Our Voice, Our Power, ¡Yo Cuento!

The November 4th election results demonstrated the power of our communities when we come together. From California to New York and across our country, voters showed up, and our shared commitments to defend our shared values against division and disinformation. Even amid a prolonged government shutdown and ongoing political tension, these results remind us that hope remains our most powerful tool, but so does action. We cannot afford silence.

Taking a stand and speaking truth to power is a privilege, but it is one of the many ways we can honor those who fought before us and build the future we all deserve. When we vote, organize, and lift one another up, we remind this nation that democracy only works when the people do. That’s the beauty of America,  its strength comes from the people who refuse to give up, who care deeply, and who believe that justice is worth fighting for.

Together, we are the future — our strength and unity will help us protect the lands we love and the people who call them home.

Action Alerts

• Thank lawmakers here for making the public lands package happen.
• Support the Legacy Restoration Fund Reauthorization, which renews investments in repairing critical maintenance needs in our national parks and public lands — protecting access, safety, and the visitor experience for generations to come.
• Tell Congress to Protect Public Lands and Waters and The People Who Care for Them: Help keep those who manage the lands fully staffed and funded, and stand up against rollbacks and public land sell-offs of America’s greatest treasures. Including protecting the Roadless Rule, which safeguards more than 58 million acres of forest backcountry, which is vital to clean water, wildlife, and outdoor recreation.
• Learn 5 Reasons to Love the Antiquities Act, which empowers presidents to protect places of historic, cultural, and environmental significance as national monuments, ensuring sacred sites and stories, often from Indigenous and Latino communities, are preserved for future generations.

Protecting our public lands safeguards our ecosystems and ensures the preservation of our livelihoods for generations to come. 

Citations

1. Latino Outdoors. (2023). “Advocacy from Local Parks to Public Lands: Joining Outdoor Alliances & the Grasstops Collective.” https://latinooutdoors.org/advocacy-from-local-parks-to-public-lands-joining-outdoor-alliances-grasstops-collective/
2. Outdoor Alliance. (2025). Home Page. https://www.outdooralliance.org/
3. Outdoor Alliance. (2025). “2025 Fall Fly-In Home.” https://www.outdooralliance.org/2025-fall-fly-in-home
4. Outdoor Alliance. (2025, November 4). “Trip Report: Outdoor Alliance Brings Advocates to D.C. to Stand Up for Public Lands and Waters.” https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/11/4/trip-report-outdoor-alliance-brings-advocates-to-dc-to-stand-up-for-public-lands-and-waters
5. National Recreation and Park Association. (2016, August). “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea?” Parks & Recreation Magazine. https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2016/august/the-national-parks-americas-best-idea/
6. Outdoor Alliance. (2019, February 26). “Historic Public Lands Package Passes.” https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2019/2/26/historic-public-lands-package-passes
7. Outdoor Alliance. (2025). “Support the Legacy Restoration Fund Reauthorization.” https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/9/16/legacy-restoration-fund-expires-at-the-end-of-september-with-maintenance-backlog-growing
8. Outdoor Alliance. (2025). “Take Action: Support the EXPLORE Act.” https://action.outdooralliance.org/a/dc-flyin
9. Outdoor Alliance. (2025). “Defend the Roadless Rule to Protect National Forests.” https://www.outdooralliance.org/roadless
10. Outdoor Alliance. (2015, May 18). “5 Reasons to Love the Antiquities Act.” https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2015/5/18/5-reasons-to-love-the-antiquity-act