Grant in the Spotlight: Diverse Voices in Conservation

Photo courtesy of the National Young Farmers Coalition

The Wyss Foundation is pleased to announce a $500,000 grant to the Resources Legacy Fund to support organizations advancing the conservation priorities of historically marginalized communities and extend nature’s benefits to every American. At the start of his term, President Biden established a nationwide goal to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. These resources will help ensure all Americans have a voice in the 30x30 initiative. 

So far, the Resources Legacy Fund has regranted over half of this grant to organizations engaging with and supporting a broad diversity of groups working to achieve the 30x30 goal inside their communities. They include Corazón Latino, the National Young Farmers Coalition, the Hispanic Access Foundation, and Justice Outside. 

Working nationally and in Arizona, Corazón Latino aims to “ignite the next generation of environmental and conservation leaders by engaging underrepresented communities.” Through their innovative and culturally-relevant grassroots programming and digital activities, the Corazón Latino team have engaged over 400,000 community members and reach more than 1 million users online every month. By focusing on the direct correlation between human health and the health of the environment, Corazón Latino inspires conservation action and civic engagement in Latino communities. 

The National Young Farmers Coalition represents, mobilizes, and engages young farmers to ensure “a brighter, more equitable future for U.S. agriculture.” Farmland is being lost to developers at an alarming rate. To help secure land tenure for young and diverse farmers, the Coalition advocates for national, state, and local policy solutions—like expanding incentives and support for federal conservation programs—that ensure equitable access for the next generation of growers. 

To promote the health of Latino communities, the Hispanic Access Foundation seeks to build “bridges of access that provide a path for the development and rise of Latino leaders and elevates their voices in areas where they are underrepresented.” As longtime advocates for a deliberately inclusive approach to conservation, the Hispanic Access Foundation has called on the Biden administration to center equitable access to nature in the 30x30 initiative. Their work to evaluate the unequal distribution of nature in America will help inform on-the-ground decision-making to create safe and accessible outdoor opportunities. 

Based in California, Justice Outside works to “shift resources to, build power with, and center the voices and leadership of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color” in the outdoor and environmental movement. From offering cultural relevancy training for outdoor-focused organizations to providing financial support for land conservation initiatives across the American West that center the contributions of communities of color—Justice Outside has long worked to remove the barriers that block access to the outdoors. 

Resources Legacy Fund will continue to develop additional partnerships with local groups advocating for the interests of historically marginalized communities over the coming year to ensure that all American voices and perspectives help shape the design and implementation of the 30x30 initiative.