The Chesapeake Conservancy has honored Defensores de la Cuenca co-founder and executive director Abel Olivo, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, and U.S. Representative John Sarbanes as Champions of the Chesapeake, the organization’s most prestigious honor recognizing extraordinary leaders from across the Chesapeake.
Chesapeake Conservancy’s president and CEO Joel Dunn and executive vice president of external affairs Mark Conway presented the award to Abel Olivo during the Festival del Rio Anacostia, which works to improve and promote the well-being of Latine residents in the Anacostia watershed.
“Abel Olivo and Defensores de la Cuenca are fostering the next generation of Chesapeake Bay advocates and conservation leaders,” said Conway. “People of Hispanic or Latin descent represent roughly eight percent of the more than 18 million residents of the Chesapeake watershed. Abel’s leadership has enabled Defensores de la Cuenca to introduce thousands of Spanish speakers to outdoor experiences through tree plantings, trash clean-ups, professional development opportunities, and more. Core to our mission, Chesapeake Conservancy applauds Defensores de la Cuenca’s efforts to ensure the outdoors are welcoming places for everyone to restore their mind, body, and soul.”
Olivio stated, “At Defensores de la Cuenca we are building a network of Latino leaders who are taking action to support Madre Tierra. Through family-friendly events and educational initiatives, we create spaces that are welcoming and inviting, ensuring that Latin@/e participants have fun and make positive connections to nature. We share information about the myriad ways the environment impacts us and how we, in turn, impact the environment. This grassroots approach fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, empowering our community to advocate for policies that reflect our values and needs.”
Olivo continued, “When Latino voices are included in environmental policymaking, the policies that emerge are more equitable, just, and effective. Our perspectives bring a unique understanding of the interconnectedness of community health, environmental justice, and economic sustainability. What we are building is essentially a movement. It is incredibly special to receive recognition from the Chesapeake Conservancy for the monumental work that we are undertaking to build capacity at the community level.”
Awards to Senator Cardin and Representative Sarbanes were presented at the 31st annual Maryland Land Conservation Conference convened by Forever Maryland, a nonprofit founded to promote and advance land conservation statewide through education, advocacy, and outreach.
At that time Dunn stated, “U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman John Sarbanes are two of the Chesapeake’s fiercest advocates in the United States Congress. During their time in office, they championed funding for Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts and the important work of the Chesapeake Bay Program, led efforts to establish the proposed Chesapeake National Recreation Area (which would bring National Park Service status to the nation’s largest estuary), and fought for clean water, biodiversity, equitable public access to the Chesapeake Bay, and land conservation.”
“The Chesapeake Bay is one of our largest estuaries and the lifeblood of Maryland’s economy and culture. It has been an honor of a lifetime to spend my career working with partners like Congressman John Sarbanes and so many dedicated partners, like the Chesapeake Conservancy, to protect and preserve our treasured Bay,” said Senator Cardin.
“It is an honor to be presented with the Champions of the Chesapeake award alongside my friend and longtime Bay advocate, Senator Ben Cardin,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “Like those who live and work across the watershed region, I share a passion for protecting our environment and know that preserving national treasures like the Chesapeake Bay is essential to addressing climate change, driving economic growth, and ensuring the well-being of the next generation.”
Chesapeake Conservancy’s mission is to conserve and restore the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. Learn more at chesapeakeconservancy.org.