Celebrate Latino Conservation Week and Latine Heritage Month with Chispa
Happy Latine Heritage Month! We know this year hits different. Our heritage is our power, and it is under attack. The constant targeting of our people, ICE raids terrorizing our families, and a recent Supreme Court ruling making it ok to racially profile our communities are all meant to diminish us. But we arenāt going anywhere. We will continue to fight, grow our movement, and celebrate our work y cultura, as acts of resistance. We want to mark all the organizing weāve done so far this year, and acknowledge that the fight continues. So letās take some time to celebrate our beautiful existence and climate justice work this Latine Conservation Week from September 13 to September 21, and throughout our Heritage Month through October 15! Read on for ways to get involved and keep showing up for our people and Madre Tierra! Chispa National and the Alliance for Electric School Buses (AESB) Celebrating 10 Years of Impact Chispa National is proud to be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. During Latino Conservation Week and Latine Heritage Month, we will mark our environmental justice work and progress so far and our continued work ahead with a new video launch and in-person screenings near you. From an idea a decade ago to now, five state programs and clean bus work in dozens of states, Chispaās work is possible because of you, our members, and supporters. Stay tuned for more screening details and giveaways! National Voter Registration Day is on September 16! National Voter Registration Day is next week, a holiday to honor our democracy. Since its kickoff in 2012, National Voter Registration Day and its team of thousands of partners have worked to get over 6 million Americans registered to vote in time for their next trip to the ballot box. Each September, partners from all over the country hit the streets for a day of coordinated field, digital, and media action focused on growing our shared democracy. Register to vote or become a partner here. Celebrating Back to School and Pushing for More Clean School Buses Cleaner air = healthier kids. As kids go #backtoschool, weāre celebrating zero-emission electric school buses improving air quality and helping our kids breathe easy, from reducing asthma attacks to helping students miss fewer days of school. EPAās Clean School Bus Program has more than TRIPLED electric school buses across the country, helping 1,000+ school districts provide a #CleanRide4Kids. But demand is overwhelming; for every application awarded, two more are waiting for funds. Every child deserves to go #backtoschool in a zero-emission school bus! If you want to help your schoolās buses go electric, check out the latest guidance on how to access one key funding source: the 45W tax credit, which provides school districts up to $40,000 per school bus. Through elective payment, school districts can now claim these tax credits as a check. As we explained in our recent webinar, the 45W tax credit for electric school buses is available for any vehicle purchased before September 30th, 2025. For more information, check out our fact sheet. Chispa State Updates Chispa Arizona Chispa Arizona and LCV Organize Art Activation during Grand Canyon trip to Highlight Threats Posed to Public Lands in Arizona Chispa Arizona and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) hosted an art activation on Friday August 29th, during Chispa Arizonaās annual Latine community camping trip to the Grand Canyon. The event featured two large communal tents with art painted by Phoenix artists Jesse Yazzie and Cora Quiroz to represent our defense of Madre Tierra (Mother Earth). This event is part of the multi-state Protect Our Public Lands campaign to raise awareness and fight against the Trump administrationās sell-off of public lands and threats to our clean water, highlighting the value of these sacred places and resources like Grand Canyon National Park and the Baaj Nwaavjo Iātah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. āThis painting focuses on movement and travel, particularly focusing on Indigenous people who have traveled across sacred lands long before borders,ā said artist Cora Quiroz. āIt is about the land we get to experience today, and a reminder that public land connects us to our history and culture.” Rise with the Sun: Latino Conservation Gathering at Ironwood Forest National Monument! Save the Date: Sunday, Sept 21, to join Arizona Mountain Mamas, Chispa Arizona and Reinas who Hike for a special morning hike and community gathering as part of Latino Conservation Week, a time to come together, celebrate our connection to the land, and stand up for the places we love. This week is all about showcasing the Latino communityās deep passion for the outdoors, both in how we enjoy it and how we protect it for future generations. Rise early, show up strong, and honor the beauty of Ironwood Forest National Monument. Visit Chispa Arizonaās Instagram page for more details soon. Poderosas State Summit Latinas are leading the fight for clean air, safe water, and climate justice from Phoenix to the halls of policy and innovation! On September 15-16, join the Poderosas State Summit in Phoenix, Arizona, to hear from powerful changemakers, including Vianey Olivarria from Chispa, Arizona, who are turning passion into purpose through advocacy, organizing, and tech-driven solutions. Environmental justice isnāt just about protecting the planet; itās about protecting our people. Donāt miss it: bit.ly/PoderosasSummitAZ Conservación Colorado Celebrate National Public Lands Day with Colorado Join Conservation Colorado on September 27th at Base Camp Beer Works in Grand Junction for a day of craft beer, community, and conservation in honor of National Public Lands Day. Enjoy remarks from Colorado State Representative Rick Taggart at 2:45 p.m., as he shares insights on preserving Coloradoās wild places and updates on public lands advocacy at the state level. Come connect with fellow public lands lovers, raise a glass, and make a difference ā $1 from every beer sold goes directly to Colorado BHA and Conservation Colorado to support ongoing advocacy. Bring a friend, enjoy great brews, and toast to
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