Moms and kids from across the country gathered in Washington, DC, in July for our annual Moms Clean Air Force Play-In for Climate Action. This annual event brings together hundreds of families for a morning of climate education fun and then an afternoon of advocacy. Inspired by the concept of a “sit-in,” we coined the term “play-in” because kids don’t sit—they play!
At the event, which was held at the National Children’s Museum in DC, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-4) announced the introduction of a resolution recognizing the threat of extreme weather to children’s health and well-being. Over the past year, Moms Clean Air Force has worked closely with the Congresswoman’s office to develop this resolution, which calls for adaptations to extreme weather that address the needs and unique vulnerabilities of young people. Endorsed by the American Lung Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association, among others, the Resolution on Children and Extreme Weather offers a roadmap for critical protections to help young people thrive in the coming years in the face of climate change.
Moms and EcoMadres later went to Capitol Hill, where they met with nearly 40 legislative offices and asked their elected officials to support Congresswoman McClellan’s resolution. As parents, there is nothing we want more than to keep our children safe and healthy. It’s time to strengthen the foundations of our children’s future by taking extreme weather and impacts on children seriously.
Join our growing community! EcoMadres fights for the health of Latino families impacted by air pollution and climate change.
EcoMadres in action
Latinos and climate are driving the vote: At the National Hispanic Journalist Association’s 40th Anniversary Conference in July, Iowa-based EcoMadre Karin Stein hosted a panel on climate coverage and the election through the Latino lens. The conversation featured Gabriela Teissier, an anchor at Univision Los Angeles, advocate Diandra Marizet Esparza, and partners Climate Power En Acción and Communications Shop.
Extreme heat impact on indoor air quality and children’s health: In June, Southwest Organizer Ylenia Aguilar joined EPA’s Office of Indoor Environment’s webinar to contribute insights about the dangers of extreme heat events, as well as best practices to help communities adapt. Watch the replay.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus engagement: In June, National Field Manager Liz Hurtado was invited to attend the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Infrastructure Roundtable in Washington, DC, led by Congressman Darren Soto (FL-9) to discuss implementation of federal infrastructure and climate funding and to advocate for Latino communities’ priorities. Liz provided remarks on Moms’ and EcoMadres’ tireless work to ensure that school districts nationwide replace dirty diesel-powered transportation fleets with electric buses through funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In July, EcoMadres followed up with visits to the offices of Senator Alex Padilla (CA), among other CHC leaders to share EcoMadres’ latest work in protecting children’s health.
On the road to Route Zero: Southwest Organizer Ylenia Aguilar gave remarks at the Route Zero Clean Trucks press conference in Flagstaff, Arizona, alongside State Representative Mae Peshlakai and public health advocates to celebrate EPA’s new federal clean truck standards and to urge continued federal support and investment to ensure a cleaner, healthier, and economically robust future for Flagstaff and beyond.
Florida’s going back to school with electric school buses: Moms’ Florida Organizer Emily Pickett and EcoMadres Supermom Leticia Nogueira joined state Representative Susan Valdes’ 19th annual Back to School Health Fair to share information on Florida’s clean energy future. They even brought an electric school bus for the community to check out and see firsthand all the great benefits. This Back to School season, 8.6 million children are returning to class breathing cleaner air thanks to funding from EPA’s Clean School Bus Program.
Elevating local Latino voices fighting climate change: Our partner Climate Power En Acción convened Latino climate leaders in Arizona and Nevada for roundtable discussions highlighting issues affecting the Latino community and the transformative impact of Clean Energy Plan funding in the Inflation Reduction Act. EcoMadres Ylenia Aguilar and Mary Wagner joined the events in their respective states to share our local efforts in ensuring that communities most affected by air pollution and climate change are benefitting from federal climate funding. Hear more about the event in Mary’s live interview with Univision Digital.
EcoMadres make news
- EcoMadre Karin Stein now joins Pedro Biaggi’s popular radio program Cara a Cara con la Comunidad monthly to share about the actions that the Latino community can take to mitigate the effects of extreme heat and climate change, including providing greater education about the impacts our communities face.
- SonTierra, the EcoMusica group led by EcoMadre Karin Stein, takes the spotlight in Prensa Arizona and an op-ed in the Arizona Republic by EcoMadre Ylenia Aguilar. Karin also sits down with Early Learning Nation and El Pregonero to discuss this innovative program that brings climate education to communities through music.
- Ylenia Aguilar joins Poder Latinx’s Eco Poder Podcast to discuss clean energy investments in the Latinx community and celebrate the second anniversary of historic climate investments from the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Wildfires pose a major threat to the health of Nevadans. Nevada organizer Mary Wagner tells the Las Vegas Sun that high air pollution days are especially hard on her son, who has asthma.
- Our former Nevada organizer and current EcoMadres volunteer Mercedes McKinley tells Desert Companion about the toll that environmental injustice has taken on her family.
Stay tuned for:
- September 18: Isabel González Whitaker will moderate the “Advancing Together in the Green Economy” session at the 2024 CHCI Leadership Conference (Washington, DC)
- September 24: EcoMadres will host a press event on Latina Maternal Health, Extreme Heat, and Air Pollution (Washington, DC)
- October 8: Isabel González Whitaker will participate in the “Environmental Equity, Latino Communities, and Election 2024” panel at American University (Washington, DC)
- October 16: Liz Hurtado will speak on a panel for the Breathe, Mom documentary screening (Mexico City)
- October: EcoMadres will host a Latino Children’s Health and Extreme Weather event (Phoenix, Arizona)
Stay connected with us: LinkedIn / Facebook / X / Instagram / TikTok
EcoMadres is a program of Moms Clean Air Force that supports Latino communities in fighting for justice in every breath, recognizing the importance of equitable solutions to address air pollution and climate change.