GreenLatinos Summit, 2016, Grand Teton National Park
As a Mexican-American Latino with roots grounded in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, I do my best to inspire and encourage young minorities to recognize their education as a path toward an improved, more rewarding life. I continue to work as an advisor, mentor, and role model for students of all ages. I strongly believe in mentoring. It is important for young Latinos to have access to an effective mentor - and it is our responsibility to reach out and help our younger professionals network, understand strategy, and build confidence.
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I feel compelled to recognize the substantive role the Smithsonian Latino Center has played in my professional career. When I first came to Smithsonian, it was under a Latino grant that allowed me to work at the National Zoological Park’s Amazonia Exhibit. Eventually that role would evolve into a 7-year stretch of geospatial science management throughout the 8-country region of Amazonia.
Further in my career, a Smithsonian Latino grant also enabled me to give back – and take a small group of Latino students from GMU to conduct field work in Kenya, East Africa. Each student has since continued toward exciting career opportunities and are carrying the torch for many other future Latino conservation scientists.
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I would like to recognize GreenLatinos as an incredible source of inspiration - by bringing Latinos together and working hard to protect the environment.
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Helpful links:
Media: National Parks and being Latinx in America.
How have National Parks impacted you?
Advice for Latinx in conservation.
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Currently registered: Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies:
Environmental Leadership Mentor (ELM).
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