Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15th to October 15th, honors the contributions of the Hispanic community to society. This period aligns with the independence days of several Latin American countries and has evolved from a week-long celebration in 1968 to a month-long observance signed into law in 1988. The term “Hispanic” generally refers to people from or with ancestry from Spanish-speaking countries, while “Latino” refers to individuals with origins in Latin America and/or the Caribbean.
This year, Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with Latino Conservation Week: Disfrutando y Conservando Nuestra Tierra, an initiative by the Hispanic Access Foundation aimed at encouraging the Latino community to engage in outdoor activities and conservation efforts.
During Latino Conservation Week, various organizations hold events nationwide promoting conservation efforts. Activities range from hiking and camping to community roundtables and film screenings, all designed to support environmental protection.
Pease Park Conservancy invites the public to celebrate both Hispanic Heritage Month and Latino Conservation Week at Pease Park, Austin’s first and oldest greenspace. The conservancy aims to make Pease Park an equitable and sustainable space for all residents of Austin.
One event is Yoga en Español, offered by Brooke Maudlin of Cálmate Yoga. Brooke teaches hatha yoga in both Spanish and English, aiming to make yoga accessible to multilingual communities in Austin. She emphasizes body positivity, mindful movement, and community through her bilingual classes.
Another event is Pasa Un Día En El Parque, organized by A ROCHA, Latino Outdoors, Texas Conservation Corps, and Pease Park Conservancy. This free event offers activities such as seed swaps, plant identification games, citizen science activities, woodland walks, and nature-inspired arts and crafts.
The conservancy also highlights its partners for this month’s celebrations:
- **A Rocha**: A global family of conservation organizations focusing on science research, practical conservation measures, environmental education through residential field study centers.
- **Latino Outdoors**: A Latine-led organization that supports leaders in outdoor recreation and conservation while celebrating cultural connections.
- **Texas Conservation Corps**: Part of American YouthWorks which provides young people opportunities for career building through education and service programs like YouthBuild.
For more information about these events or partners’ offerings visit their respective websites.