Southwest Florida Latino Environmental Education Network

We recognize that Latino citizens represent a growing percentage of the population in Southwest Florida, and they have not been reached by traditional education and outreach programs. There may be several reasons for this including; language barriers, lack of knowledge about program opportunities, and educators not knowing how to effectively target Latino groups. 

The goal of the Southwest Florida Latino Environmental Education Network is to collaborate with Latino businesses and media to expand the education and outreach being delivered to Latino populations regarding sustainable living along Florida’s coast.

Who We Are:
The Network is comprised of representatives from the University of Florida Extension Service in Lee and Collier Counties and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

What We Do:
The Network will begin by producing a quarterly newsletter that alerts media and businesses about resources for information. We will be addressing a wide range of sustainable living issues; including landscape and lawn care practices, energy use, and recreational fishing practices as well as general information about our local environment.

The newsletter provides our new audience with tips and techniques they can use to live more sustainably, and educate our readers about the Southwest Florida environment. There will be a Spanish and English version to reach a wide range of local citizens.

Summer 2008 Newsletter (Spanish) (English)
Spring 2008 Newsletter (Spanish)  (English)
Fall 2007 Newsletter (Spanish) (English)

Network Members Contact information:

Sea Grant Lee County
Joy Hazell
239-533-7518
hazellje@leegov.com

Sea Grant Collier County
Bryan Fluech
239-417-6310 x225
fluech@ufl.edu

Sustainability Program Lee County
Martha Avila
239-533-7535
avilamc@leegov.com

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Alberto Chavez
239-417-6310 x231
alberto.chavez@dep.state.fl.us