Local organization aims to make nature more accessible for Latino immigrants

NINA MOINI: Minnesota's parks and trails are a big part of what makes living here so special, but not everyone has an easy path into those outdoor spaces. My guest today has made it her mission to change that. Luisana Méndez has taken it upon herself to be a bridge between recent Latino immigrants like herself and the Twin Cities park systems. She's the founder and executive director of Huellas Latinas, a nonprofit that helps Latino families connect with nature, with each other, and with their home here in Minnesota. Thanks so much for being on the program today, Luisana.

LUISANA MÉNDEZ: Yes, thank you. Thank you for having me.

NINA MOINI: So I understand you moved here to Minnesota from Venezuela about six years ago. I wonder how you ended up in the Twin Cities, and if you knew much or were thinking much about all of the outdoor offerings that we have here.

LUISANA MÉNDEZ: So I knew about Minnesota a long time ago because my best friend, Juan Carlos, lived here. So he invited me one time in 2012 to visit the Twin Cities, and I fell in love. And I feel so jealous because I saw a lot of people walking, running, and riding the bike around the lakes.

And I remember my town, at that moment was, oh, I wish I have the same opportunity to do this in the city and live in the city with the same and outdoors and enjoy the nature and all the lakes because of course, Minnesota has many lakes. So six years later, from that moment, I see myself living here and doing the same thing. So that was so special.

NINA MOINI: Yeah. And then when you decided to start this organization to help other people get more in touch with nature, how did you know where to start?

LUISANA MÉNDEZ: Well, my background in urban planning, so my focus in this urban planning idea is live in the city with the sense, no, you live the city. It's just leaving the city. Know the place you really-- where you live because it's the only way you can love and feel belonging.

So in my first step, I have this very hungry idea about know everything about Minnesota, know about my neighbor, my neighborhood. So know about the parks I have around me. So I started that way just because, well, I was in the middle of the COVID, and [? developed ?] a lot of anxious, a lot of panic. And I feel that impulse to go out. I need to go out, just for take a walk in the morning--

NINA MOINI: Oh, sure.

LUISANA MÉNDEZ: --or the night. And I feel that was very good for me. And I just shared that good things with others. That was my first idea in the beginning.

NINA MOINI: So how did that expand? I wonder what a typical day looks like when somebody comes out. Where do you all go? What types of activities do you offer?

LUISANA MÉNDEZ: Yes, I have a personal challenge to do the 52 hikes challenge, the 52 hikes through the year, in one year. So my idea was to visit different parks, 52 parks. So for these hikes, I invite my close friends just to hang out and explore nature and posting everything on social media. So I noticed every time I posted and talk about the parks, most people ask me about, can I go with you? Can you teach me how to do this? So I say, yes, why not? And come with me.

My first program was with St. Paul Recreation Parks. So we developed a program. I remember [INAUDIBLE] walks in Spanish for Latino community. And I just listened community. They tell me about how many years they live in Minnesota, and they don't know any parks, like 20 years, 15 years. And they don't know the park exists and how-- navigating the park and how-- even if the parks are safe or free for parking and all this kind of information.

I take that, and I think, OK, I know this. I am learning. I can share my learning with the community. This is the way I can pay back all the good things I receive. So that is how we start. And people also-- oh, we share that curiosity for no more parks, for be together, because that is the way we recognize our community. And we felt more strong, and we felt more confident. And we feel more close, like a family.

NINA MOINI: I'm curious about when you said that some people have lived in an area for a long time, and they might not even know what is a resource for them nearby, nature where they can go and they can relax and enjoy themselves. And it just helps on such an overall level of wellbeing. Why do you think those barriers are in place? Or what do you think they are? You mentioned using social media to get the word out because sometimes, websites, although I know many are in the Twin Cities, accommodate different languages, but websites, signage, there is so much to navigate if you want to visit one of these places.

LUISANA MÉNDEZ: Absolutely. I think the first barrier is the language. Of course, we are immigrants, and we're struggling with a second language. That is the first thing, and also, the terminology or the knowledge about activities. For example, if we are from Latin America and Venezuela, we don't have the snow. So even I don't nothing about cross-country skis, for example. So learning what kind of sport is this and how to do that.

So I think it's too much for new people in Minnesota or for Latino people, who never was exposed to this activity. So I think that is the first lack of information, the language, also the time. People who come here are more focused about working and developing a new life. And maybe the recreation is the last thing in the list.

NINA MOINI: Yeah. Sometimes it just feels like such an extra treat, but it really can be a part of a everyday life in ways that make everything better on some level.

LUISANA MÉNDEZ: Exactly. Exactly. That is the thing we are teaching our community. Teach you can do this every day in your life, and you can just go around your neighborhood. So you don't need to travel to go far away or to spend a lot of money. Just go back in the lake and take a walk.

NINA MOINI: I know that you've said that because of the more serious threats of deportation from ICE at this time, that sometimes Latino immigrants are feeling more cautious about attending maybe public gatherings or groups. Is that something that's been front of mind for you at this time? And how does it impact the way you're able to spread the word about what you're doing?

LUISANA MÉNDEZ: Yes, definitely the situation impact organization and impact our life in a personal way and professional way, or families, close friends. That is the reality we are living right now. But also we know our community or immigrant community in the big name be Latinos or non-Latinos.

We come here for different reasons. Some of us, we are to escape from a dictatorship or escape from the war. But others come here based on because they found the love, or they come for job situation or go for the schools. So but this is the reality. We recognize we are [? knowing ?] our own home. But we know we support this country. We support the economy. We support the living here.

So we say to our friends or to our community, we are with you because we feel the same. We feel scared. We feel sorry. We feel the tension. But also, we are here to help you to heal, to navigate in this situation, and to find, really, time for be calm, be in peace, be strong.

NINA MOINI: Yeah, that peace and feelings of safety are a lot of what your organization is helping to facilitate. And before I let you go, Luisana, I want to know what is on your wish list for your organization. I know you've partnered with school districts, with the DNR. Is there anywhere else that you're wanting to expand or grow the program?

LUISANA MÉNDEZ: Yes, absolutely. I would like to have the opportunity to offer more programs in different dates, times, focus on different age, too. Would like to [INAUDIBLE] a little bit about the teenagers and adults. Sometimes have that kind of diversity activities, and also go out of Minnesota. Last year, we go to the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. That was the first time we bring the group out of Minnesota with. We would like to go to the national parks. All these kind of things, it's on my wish list.

NINA MOINI: All right, Luisana, wishing you well. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your work with us. Really appreciate it.

LUISANA MÉNDEZ: Yes, thank you.

NINA MOINI: That was Huellas Latinas nonprofit founder and executive director, Luisana Méndez.