The success of innovative and effective environmental education programs in Latino communities can be attributed to understanding the values, strengths, and creativity of the communities, going beyond just translating materials and resources from English to Spanish. Latino leaders understand and integrate local culture, and recognize the wisdom, strengths, and needs of the community, in order to make their work relevant.
A bilingual online learning community, comprised of 50 committed and passionate leaders and educators, was supported by EECapacity, a National Training program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This group exchanged their unique insight and ideas over the course of about a year. At the conclusion of the dialogue project, many participants decided to showcase what they learned by sharing programs and projects with Latino communities throughout the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, in a free virtual publication (eBook). We invite you to download this eBook with the hope that it will help and encourage your work. We hope you are inspired to adapt and achieve similar innovative programs and projects in your community. Let us know how it goes for you!
Download the eBook in English:
Environmental Education in Latino Communities: Sharing Experiences
Download the eBook in Spanish:
Educación Ambiental en Comunidades Latinas: Compartiendo Experiencias