Forging an Intersectional Coalition of Health and Nature Workers

Imagine a Colorado--and a nation- where instead of people spending 90% of their time inside buildings the people turn to nature to reduce their stress and improve their well-being. A movement led by the people that celebrate our humanity and health through community-driven, synergistic environmental and health education programs that reconnect ourselves and our families with mother earth.

A lunch and learn responsive panels summit and keynote with Luis Benitez, Director of the Colorado Office of Outdoors Recreation Industry to disseminate Colorado's Forest Bathing study --as well as both OutdoorsRx and NatureRX frameworks-- and elevate Latino leadership in the outdoors and conservation movement through our AFC+A's Promotores Verdes program. Since its inception in the Denver Metro area in early 2017 Promotores Verdes has graduated thirty-eight families (another forty to graduate in December 2018) and engaged hundreds of family members through a groundbreaking curriculum powering champions of the health benefits of nature and the protections required to safeguard our mutual health. Now in the platform of its sister program, the annual Americas Latino Eco Festival, its mother organizations AFC+A and CREAResults are intent on building a regional, national, and intersectional coalition of Health and Nature Partner Connections. With US Forest Service; Corazon Latino; Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and CREA Results. (HOPE: Engage and advance intersectional work surrounding avenues for health and nature collaborations to support public health, diversity and inclusion, youth engagement, environmental stewardship, and public policy)

12:00 - 12:40pm Registration & Lunch service (buffet style)

Masters of Ceremony: Felipe Benitez, Corazon Latino | Fernando Pineda, CREA Results

12:45pm Welcome Remarks: Irene Vilar, AFC+A Founder & Director

12:55pm Keynote: Luis Benitez, Colorado Office of Outdoors Recreation (OREC), Director

Special Remarks:

1:15pm Nature & Health Municipal Strategies

Mayor Chistine Berg, Lafayette, Colorado-Eco Madres Co Founder, Moms Clean Air Force

1:25pm Intersectional Collaboration for System Change

Janette Heung, Founder, Colorado Outdoor and Health Collaborative (now hosted by LiveWell Colorado); Principal, JWG Global

1:35pm Clinical Leadership Paving the Way for OutdoorsRx

Dr. Rachel Keith, University of Louisville, Colorado Forest Bathing Study Design and Greenhearts Lead Researcher

1:35-2:20pm RESPONSIVE PANELS

Moderator: Luis Benitez, Colorado Office of Outdoors Recreation (OREC), Director

Grasstops Panel:

Dr. Celia Aredilla Garcia, El Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, Universidad San Luis Potosi

Janette Heung, Founder, Colorado Outdoor and Health Collaborative (now hosted by LiveWell Colorado); Principal, JWG Global

Dr. Rachel Keith, University of Louisville, Colorado Forest Bathing Study Design and Greenhearts Lead Researcher

Robert Zarr, MD, ParksRX, MPH, Founder & Medical Director, Pediatrician, Unity Health Care, Inc. (Virtual)

Grassroots Panel:

Fernado Pineda, CREAResults, Founder/CEO

Susana Arreola Ponce, Promotora Verde, CREA Results Program Manager

Margarita Teran Garcia, Abriendo Caminos , University of Illinois, Urbana Champagne

Megan Patterson,Worldmind Nature Immersion School, Founder/Director

2:20-2:50pm Q&A

2:50-3:00pm Promotores Verdes Testimonial:

Blanca Flores (El Salvador)

Yzela Flores (Mexico)

Cristobal Flores (Mexico)

3:00-3:20pm Closing Remarks

Zuza Bohley, AFC+A Education Director

Dr.Douglas Unger, AFC+A Board of Directors

Invitation to ALEF VI Summit “Community Resilience, Food Sovereignty & Public Spaces”

December. 6-9, 2018

*Nature Rx Forest Bathing and Nature Therapy at Dedissse Park, Evergreen Colorado

Sunday, September 30, 2-6pm

Local, ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) certified coach, Kelly Beard will be leading the 3-hour nature walk

3:20-4:15 pm. Movie Presentation

India's Healing Forests, a NatureRX message from Child and Nature Network

*Please visit our Mandel Vilar Press selection of Books and learn more about AFC+A’s initiatives in the Foyer outside of Platte River meeting room.

We will also have the presentation for the book release ‘Green Was My Forest’, in the same space. Please come meet our Special guests Edna Iturralde (author) and Jessica Powell (translator), and take home a signed copy of one of her books.*