The Watershed Alliance of Southwest Washington’s second annual reforestation day this weekend is about more than planting trees. It’s about bringing the Spanish-speaking community together without language as a barrier.
The alliance invites Spanish-speakers to plant small native trees, eat pan dulce and sip hot chocolate at the event, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Unitarian Universalist Church Vancouver. The Watershed Alliance decided to host the event in Spanish to convey the organization’s commitment to language accessibility as a whole, said Sunrise O’Mahoney, the nonprofit’s executive director.
“When it comes to environmental justice, and who is most impacted, it is often going to be the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) community. So we’re really reaching out and looking for ways to be more inclusive and more involved with the community we have,” O’Mahoney said.
The Watershed Alliance received a grant from the Firstenburg Foundation to host more bilingual events.
IF YOU GO
What: Reforestation with Latina community
When: 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday
Where: Parking lot of Unitarian Universalist Church Vancouver, 4505 E 18th St.
Cost: Free
Information:www.thewatershedalliance.org/events
SI VAS
Qué: Reforestación con comunidad Latina 2024
Cuándo: 17 de Febrero de 2024 a las 9:30 a.m. hasta las 12 p.m.
Dónde: 4505 E. 18th St., estacionamiento de la Iglesia Unitaria Universalista
Costo: Gratis
Información: www.thewatershedalliance.org/events
It is collaborating with Pasitos Gigantes, a Hispanic youth disability support organization, on the event. This year’s reforestation day has a Valentine’s theme. In Hispanic culture, Valentine’s Day is a celebration of friendship and family, rather than romantic love, Spanish translator Rocio Pedrozo said.
“In our culture, making this connection with people is very important. We’re trying to build up a group and an event that will feel like family,” Pedrozo said.
About two years ago, O’Mahoney and other Watershed Alliance leaders decided to make the organization bilingual. Since then, attendance has increased, and the response from the Spanish-speaking community has been positive.
“We’re not just putting it into Google translate or an algorithm. Instead, we’re actually looking at language culturally,” O’Mahoney said. “People notice. The biggest thing I hear people say is: ‘I can come to an event, and there are people who look like me.’ That means a lot to be able to feel that.”
Tree planting season lasts from October to March; then, the organization will switch gears to tackle beach cleanups.
In 2023, the Watershed Alliance planted 20,886 plants across the county and 10,934 trees in Vancouver alone. In addition, the city of Vancouver’s Naturespaces volunteers planted and installed 2,476 native plants, trees and habitat features at local parks in 2023.
Almendra Velazquez, Watershed Alliance’s bilingual community outreach coordinator, said all ages are welcome at Saturday’s event, but volunteers should sign up beforehand by visiting www.thewatershedalliance.org/events.
