On May 6th, 2024, YLN’s new Latine Environmental Colectivo, including Krystal Sierra, Nichole Lopez, and Jesús Sánchez, and our Executive Director, Selina Pagán, embarked on a transformative journey. With support from our Growth Scholarship Fund, they participated in the GreenLatinos National Summit 2024 in El Yunque, Puerto Rico.
Among the verdant landscapes of El Yunque, they convened with esteemed environmental, conservation, and climate justice leaders from our comunidad to delve into the impactful initiatives spearheaded by Latines nationwide.
This was a crucible for forming lasting alliances—a think tank where pioneering strategies were born—and, above all else, a celebration of collective achievements.
For Jesús Sánchez, “the gathering of Latine professionals from across the United States all dedicated to environmental justice, conservation, and sustainability, was profoundly inspiring.” Meanwhile, for Krystal Sierra, “El Yunque National Forest was an arrival and a coming home”, she was very grateful to have visited her homeland for the first time in this way.
Nevertheless, Krystal couldn’t ignore the sobering reality of climate change’s disproportionate impact on our communities. Drawing parallels between the vulnerabilities observed in Cleveland and those evident on the Island, she emphasized the urgent need for collective action and cross-community learning. “In Cleveland, we are removed from our actions and the impact we have on our immediate environments and abroad. This is not so in Puerto Rico. We have a lot to learn from the Island”, she stated.
Echoing Krystal’s sentiments, Jesús Sánchez mentioned how “BIPOC communities are the most impacted by environmental inequities and climate change and Cleveland is no exception.” That is why the Environmental Colectivo plans to address these inequities and build climate resilience in our comunidad.
Nichole Lopez agrees with her peers and states that “as we move forward with our efforts here in Cleveland, it is important to remember to create small steps within a long-term plan to allow for engaging stewardship and inclusive access to our greenspaces and nature.”
The Young Latino Network eagerly looks forward to facilitating connections for our newly formed colectivo. We are dedicated to linking Latine advocates striving for environmental liberation and integrating Ohio Latines into this dynamic network of environmental champions and organizers nationwide.
