Today, the Senate confirmed New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as Secretary for the Department of Interior within the Biden Administration’s Cabinet. In response to the confirmation, Hispanic Access Foundation’s President and CEO Maite Arce released the following statement:

Not only has Rep. Haaland made history by becoming the first Native American to hold the position of a Cabinet Secretary, but she also has a history of championing conservation issues important to Latinos, such as promoting environmental justice, protecting public lands and waters, preserving cultural heritage and addressing the climate crisis. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Starting this week, Hispanic Access Foundation is launching an online ad campaign celebrating President Biden’s recent executive actions on the environment and oil and gas drilling, and celebrating his effort to protect the environment and Latino’s health – and urging him to keep fighting for climate justice. 

While the political world has been tumultuous lately, one takeaway stands out among the chaos. More and more, we see the importance of the role grassroots organizers and movers play in shaping our nation’s democracy and motivating our communities.

We’ve seen the power of the people unfold for the better and for the worse, but by the will of the people. And it is people who cannot be forgotten as we enter a new administration and renew our calls for environmental and climate action. 

Last year and 2021 have challenged our democracy as we know it, from our routines, daily existences and our preconceived notions of safety. As a nation, we’ve lived through more historical firsts than we ever expected, including the pandemic hitting and hurting the most vulnerable communities, record years for climate-fueled hurricanes and wildfires, followed by the response of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement to years of police brutality and subsequent civil uprising. 

As we look forward to a new administration and the new challenges and conversations to be had, this fact will remain at the forefront: the catalyst for change at higher levels, more often than not, is grassroots organizing. The organizations and community leaders spearheading these efforts should be heard and involved at all levels of change conversations, including in the Biden administration and Congress. 

These events as a whole have shed light on the intersectionality of the issues facing our country. Health crises and health disparities, climate inequalities, the Nature Gap and systemic racism work in tandem with each other. The Nature Gap: Confronting Racial and Economic Disparities in the Destruction and Protection of Nature in America, of which I am a co-author, along with Jenny Rowland-Shea from the Center of American Progress, refers to the lack of parks, nature and green space in communities of color and low-income communities. The Nature Gap is an example of an intersecting issue that has resulted from centuries of land theft and discrimination. The Nature Gap has left a legacy of poorer health and COVID-19 severity, higher stress levels, worse educational outcomes, lack of recreation and business opportunities and greater vulnerability to extreme heat and flooding in these nature-deprived neighborhoods. 

It’s increasingly evident that these issues must be addressed across sectors, including exploring the history and origin of these systems. In our work as conservationists, we can’t think about creating an inclusive outdoors without addressing the police brutality against the Black community — daily — in public spaces. We can’t protect land without acknowledging that  unaffordable housing leads to the sprawl that eats away at those lands. We can’t close the Nature Gap, unless we recognize that, without a solution to poverty, “green” gentrification could push out the families that need parkland the most. We can’t address wildfires without acknowledging the sovereignty of the Tribal nations who were managing them for centuries before 1492. We can’t have public buy-in for decisions based on climate science if the public does not have a scientific education. When environmentalists only think in terms of environmental benefits without the larger social context, every step we take will lead to a backslide. The same is true for trying to make change in every field.

We must focus our efforts on environmental justice — policies and investments that uplift marginalized communities, confront exclusion and discrimination. From addressing poverty to affordable housing, labor rights, education, infrastructure, criminal justice reform and health care. 

Grassroots organizations have worked to address these issues not in isolation, but as pieces of one very large puzzle. These organizations and the communities they serve act as the bridges where these issues intersect. For years, grassroots organizations serving disenfranchised communities have worked collaboratively to create sustainable change for the benefit of all members of society. The relationships that are built through grassroots efforts are personal, intentional and integral to forming long-lasting, comprehensive change at the national level. 

Moving forward into a new year, policy must reflect the importance of this intersectionality in Congress and within the Biden administration. All of us must prioritize and integrate the voices most often left unheard in our efforts for positive change in the nation.

By Shanna Edberg for The Hill. Shanna is the director of Conservation Programs at Hispanic Access Foundation. She is a longtime conservation advocate and promoter of environmental justice in the U.S. and abroad. 

There isn’t just one Latino perspective, much less on the inauguration of the Biden-Harris presidential administration. Latinos are not a monolith, we come from all backgrounds, and hold a full spectrum of political views. But HAF’s conservation team wanted to share our aspirations for the Biden-Harris administration and the new Congress, and what it might mean for our work moving forward.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Joe Biden took executive action to take immediate steps to address the climate crisis and protect our health and environment from its most catastrophic impacts. On his first day of presidency, Biden’s executive action included:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today on the 46th Inauguration, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn into office. In response to this historic day, Hispanic Access Foundation’s President and CEO Maite Arce released the following statement:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Hispanic Access Foundation’s Director of Conservation Shanna Edberg spoke at the National Governors Association (NGA) 2021 Annual Meeting to discuss The Nature Gap.  

President-elect Joe Biden has said that one of his first steps upon taking office will be to pass an executive order to conserve 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. 

After a challenging year, we may find ourselves taking extra comfort in the holiday season as an opportunity to rest, recharge, and appreciate the warmth of our families and loved ones. We look forward to the holidays and the heartwarming traditions of sharing food, space, and giving gifts. However, it tends to be one of the most wasteful times of the year when it comes to sustainability. As we prepare for the season, we’ve crafted a short guide for the holidays on how to stay engaged in terms of conservation and creating minimal waste. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On December 17, President-elect Joe Biden chose Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) to serve as the next secretary of the Department of Interior, becoming the first Native American to hold the position of a Cabinet Secretary. Rep. Haaland has a history of championing conservation issues important to Latinos, such as promoting environmental justice, protecting public lands and waters and addressing the climate crisis. In response to the nomination, Hispanic Access Foundation’s President and CEO Maite Arce released the following statement: