ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Americas Latino Eco Festival (ALEF) -a Latino-hosted multicultural gathering- has grown to become the nation's premier meetup of Latino American environmental minds, and a home for artists, scientists, advocates, public policy leaders, and communities from across the Americas, committed to advancing a healthy environment, both locally and globally, through arts, education, and engagement of culturally diverse populations. Now in its 13th edition- ALEF continues to elevate the voices of communities of color and women in conservation by fostering intersectional collaboration to better tackle environmental justice challenges, leveraging arte y cultura to advance shared values.
Our call to action: Today minorities make up 40% of the US population but only 8% of environmental organizations. Against this inequity backdrop, ALEF’s unique contribution to reducing the “Environmental Inclusion Gap” is more important and urgent than ever.
Unique - ALEF is the first and largest event of its kind in the US showcasing BIPOC led conservation and creative leadership. Donor support keeps ALEF free and open to the public.
Authentic - The festival’s special blend of Advocacy, Arts, Networking, and Education is designed by Latino hosts and made available to all that support environmental conservation. What better place for a genuine connection?
Established - ALEF has been supported by loyal donors like GOCO, the City of Denver, Whole Foods Market, Kaiser Permanente, NRDC, Environmental Defense Fund, World Wildlife Federation, The Wilderness Society, US Forest Service, AARP, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Art Museum, Bonfils Stanton Foundation, Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy among many other valuable partners
Visible - ALEF attracts all ages, cultures, and celebrities and has hosted leaders Edward James Olmos, Bianca Jagger, Dolores Huerta, Laura Esquivel, and Junot Diaz among many other inspiring public figures. No wonder ALEF has been featured in more than 40 English and Spanish language national media outlets between 2013 and 2019 and gained over 50 million media impressions.
High Impact - Since 2012, ALEF has been attended by over 15,000 people, engaged over 2,500 Latino advocates, educated 3,800 K-12 school children and seeded over hundreds of intersectional collaborations.
Awards
ALEF is the recipient of multiple awards including:
2016 City of Denver Office of Sustainability Love This Place Award for Community Building
2017 Denver Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in Arts & Culture: IMAGINE 2020 Award
2015 ALEF Proclamation by Colorado Governor John Wright Hickenlooper
2018 Monarch Pledge by City of Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock.
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REALITY IN NUMBERS
The Latino community in the US is suffering the brunt of the effects of air pollution and climate change. Statistics show Latinos are at the forefront of the climate crisis and are disproportionately impacted by climate change related issues:
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Of the top 10 most polluted cities in the nation, six count Latinos as 40 percent or more of their populations
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66% Latinos live in areas that fall below the EPA's air quality safety standards--and 72% in Colorado
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Hispanic children are 60 percent more likely to have asthma as compared to non-Latino whites
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Latinos are 30% more likely to visit a hospital due to asthma compared to non-Latino Whites
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Latinos are three times as likely to die of asthma
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Latinos represent the highest uninsured rates of any racial/ethnic group in the US.2 In 2012, 30% of Hispanics were reported as uninsured, compared to 10.4% of non-Latino Whites
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1 in 5 Latino adults are unable to pay for asthma medicines, furthering the disproportionate impacts of air pollution
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Spatial patterns in environmental injustice and inequality for residential outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in the US show NO2 concentrations are 40% higher for nonwhites than for whites.
