New Mexico has always been a culturally diverse, multilingual state, and in 1911, after Mexico had ceded the state to the U.S., a provision was included in the New Mexico Constitution calling for all laws to be published in Spanish and English. Additionally, the state’s Constitution specified that no citizen would be restricted or denied the right to vote, to hold office or serve on juries, or to go to public school if they were not able to speak, read or write English or Spanish. Public school teachers were also to be trained to be bilingual.
Today, as the state with the highest per capita population of Hispanic residents and with the greatest percentage of Spanish speakers, translation of key documents rightly contributes to the state’s equity, fairness, and inclusivity. This should continue to be the dominant norm of our social fabric.
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With our changing world and the constant pressure of climate change, many communities, especially Hispanic, Black, Indigenous and low-income communities, have been greatly affected by deteriorating ecosystems and difficultly accessing nature. Arizona, being one of the most biodiverse states, is especially susceptible to climate change as is evidenced by the increased frequency of devastating wildfires and decreasing water levels in our rivers and lakes each year. Now more than ever, it is important for us all to realize we are important stakeholders and for us to come together to restore degraded lands and waters as a form of resistance to the adversities Arizona communities continually face. The following examples of restoration projects in Arizona showcase some of the efforts to protect and restore our nature so communities—and generations to come—can continue to enjoy and have access to the outdoors.
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By: Coconino County Supervisor, District 2, Jeronimo Vasquez
For as long as I can remember, the outdoors has been an interwoven element of my life. For my family, it was something that we were always mindful of and it informed so many of the values that I continue to carry in my life today. I also come from a family of educators and they instilled in me the importance of education, community, and youth programming. Looking back now, my career aligns with so much of the teachings they shared with me.
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By Arizona State Representative Alma Hernandez
I was born and raised on the South Side of Tucson. My father grew up on a farm in Van Nuys, California and my mother emigrated from Nogales, Mexico. I’m the youngest of three, and proud to carry the strength and resiliency of my ancestry and my community. The district that I’m from and also represent is predominantly Hispanic and low-income. Our community is beautiful, with vendor-lined streets and a strong sentiment of care.
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In November 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) into law. The IIJA included transformative financial investments in drinking water infrastructure that will eliminate lead pipes and service lines across the county, and make necessary improvements for Arizonans.
In addition to funding for the removal of lead pipes, several other key IIJA provisions support clean water infrastructure through grants to municipalities including $1.4 billion for sewer overflow and stormwater reuse and $125 million for alternative water source projects. The impact of this funding will be resiliency against drought through projects that increase groundwater recharge, stormwater capture and reuse, and water recycling and ensures that municipalities have the needed infrastructure to properly manage polluted stormwater.
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Overview
Passed by bipartisan votes in both the Senate (69-30) and the House (228-206), and signed into law on Monday, November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is a transformative investment. It covers funding authorizations for our nation’s roads, bridges, highways, drinking and clean water infrastructure, internet access, electrical grid and transmission system, and wildlife crossing and natural infrastructure projects. It also includes notable provisions to remediate and reclaim abandoned coal mines, orphaned oil and gas wells, and Superfund sites, improve forest conditions to lessen the impacts of wildfires and better protect communities, and restore ecosystems on public and private land.
The IIJA is a bipartisan $1.2 trillion legislative package, with $650 billion of that amount paid for by existing trust funds that are automatically raised through existing taxes. That means that $550 billion is new infrastructure spending over 5 years, which includes $47 billion for new climate resilience initiatives—the largest federal investment yet to address the climate crisis.
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HECHO was created to ensure that Hispanic and Latinx communities have a voice in the public-land management process. Since our inception, we’ve worked hard to make sure that Hispanic and Latinx leaders and communities have a seat at the decision-making table when it comes to energy development, the management of federal lands, conservation funding, and the permanent protection of important landscapes across the West.
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I have always carried a deep connection to the outdoors. I was born in a rural town in Michoacán, Mexico which is where my indigenous identity is rooted; and I grew up in Fort Bragg, California, a small town nestled between the vastness of the Pacific Ocean and the great Redwood Forest. It wasn’t uncommon for friends and I to walk to the quiet beaches after school or on a weekend morning. In middle school, I joined a climbing and hiking club which would often explore the adjacent streams and rolling hills of Jackson State Forest. In high school, I ran cross country. Through that sport I was lucky enough to spend afternoons running on coastal trails, and at times traveling inland to run through vineyards, and around serene lakes. I very much enjoyed my time connecting to nature in the area of California that I grew up in. Even today, I find that when life gets a little too hectic, nothing grounds me quite like nature.
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On Sunday morning, July 21, 2019, just about a mile north of Flagstaff, AZ, a hibernating fire, started from an excavator striking a rock, began to grow until it came to be what is now known as the Museum Fire. The fire was first spotted around 10:00 A.M. that day, and continued to burn at varying intensities for almost a month before being fully contained. During the days that the fire burned, one of the city’s most popular recreational spots was covered in a thick blanket of smoke and the sight of an orange sky loomed over city residents. Helicopters and ground crews worked tirelessly trying to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further. Once the fire was 100% contained nearly a month later, on August 12th, it was determined that 1,961 acres were completely burned leaving the area, that is not only important to the local residents but also many species of concern, like the Mexican Spotted Owl, completely destroyed.
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The United States has been experiencing unprecedented times – from the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the health of Americans and leaving thousands without jobs, to extreme weather events amplified by climate change like wildfires, our livelihoods are on the line. During this tumultuous time, it is critical that our communities are protected from climate change impacts, that our economy is fortified via the introduction of jobs that would help to mitigate the effects of climate change, and that our existing infrastructure system is improved.
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Today marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a holiday established to reflect on the contributions and culture of Hispanic and Latinx people in the United States. Hispanic Heritage Month is a complex month for many as we grapple with the implications of colonization and our identities. During this timeframe, September 15 to October 15, the Latinx, Hispanic, and Multicultural ERG will be sharing stories from and uplifting our members, as well as amplifying the contributions that Hispanic, Latinx, Indigenous, Black environmentalists, and conservationists are risking their lives to accomplish. We hope that you’ll follow along with us as we explore these narratives!
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