Laura: DURING THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE FLOCKED TO PUBLIC LANDS, PLACES LIKE PARKS AND HIKING TRAILS, SO MANY OF US WANTED TO BE OUTSIDE WHERE IT FELT SAFE, TO HIKE, BIKE, BE ALONE, OR BE WITH CLOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

Ramirez: THERE IS SO MUCH NATIONAL MEDIA RIGHT NOW ABOUT OVER USAGE OF PARKS DURING COVID-19 BUT IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT OVER USAGE BY WHO.

LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES STILL DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PARKS AND WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO LIMIT PEOPLES' ACCESS TO OUTDOOR SPACES.

Laura: FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT CARS, THERE IS NO WAY TO REACH NATIONAL PARKS, STATE PARKS, OR MOST OF THE STATE'S HIKING TRAILS.

TOGETHER FOR BROTHERS HAS ONE PROJECT THAT HELPS YOUNG MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS IN ALBUQUERQUE LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND WESTGATE MAKE IT TO THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SANDIAS AND BOSQUE OF THE RIO GRANDE.

Ramirez: WHEN WE WERE OUT IN THE BOSQUE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER WHEN WE ORGANIZED OUR FIRST HIKE, 90% OF THE YOUTH ORGANIZERS HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE BOSQUE.

THESE ARE FOLKS WHO LIVED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES IN ALBUQUERQUE.

Grubbs: I AM USED TO CONCRETE.

FROM WHERE I AM FROM WHEN I LOOK AT THE MOUNTAINS AND I HEAR ABOUT THE BOSQUE AND STUFF, THEY JUST SOUND LIKE FAR AWAY PLACES, SIMILAR TO LIKE THE GRAND CANYON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, A PLACE THAT I COULDN'T GET TO.

I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GET TO.

Laura: OVER THE SUMMER THE YOUNG MEN STARTED TAKING CITY BUSES TO THE FOOTHILLS AND THE RIVER AND SHOOTING VIDEOS TO SHOW OTHER FAMILIES HOW TO DO IT TOO.

YOU WANT YOUR FRONT TIRE TO BE THE ONE THAT GETS THIS ON IT.

YOU CAN PUT IT IN THIS ONE, EITHER ONE.

Ramirez: ONE OF THE THINGS TODAY, WHEN WE WERE THINKING OF DOING A HIKE, WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT ABOUT FIRST HIKING TO THE PETROGLYPHS AND REALIZED THERE ACTUALLY ISN'T GOOD PUBLIC TRANSIT TO MOST OF THE PUBLIC SITES OF THE PETROGLYPH NATIONAL MONUMENT.

Laura: THIS IS SO COMMON.

VALLE DEL ORO IN THE SOUTH VALLEY IS THE FIRST NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN THE UNITED STATES.

WITH A STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMPONENT TO ITS MISSION AND YET THERE IS NO BUS LINE.

PUBLIC ACCESS, SOMETHING MANY OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED, IS JUST NOT UNIVERSAL.

Villezcas: MOST OF US EITHER NEED A VEHICLE OR NEED OUR PARENTS TO TAKE US SOMEWHERE AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE RIDING THE BUS SO IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR US TO GET PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT.

Ramirez: WAY TOO HARD.

LET ME TAKE A LITTLE BREAK.

Laura: YOUNG MEN OF COLOR DON'T ALWAYS KNOW IF PUBLIC SPACES ARE SAFE FOR THEM OR THEIR FAMILIES OR WHAT CHALLENGES THEY MAY FACE THERE.

Ramirez: LOW INCOME FAMILIES ARE OFTEN TOLD THAT GOING TO THE OUTDOORS IS A PRIVILEGE OR A LUXURY AND THE REALITY IS EARLIER TODAY WE ASKED YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR TO SAY WHAT DID THE OUTDOORS DO FOR YOU.

MENTAL HEALTH, EMOTIONAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL EXERCISE, TIME WITH MY FAMILY NOT CONNECTED TO TECHNOLOGY.

AND WHEN I THINK OF WHO NEEDS THAT THE MOST IT IS THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN THE MOST IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS IS A NICE VIEW, I LIKE IT.

Laura: RAMIREZ SAYS THAT YOUNG MEN OF COLOR FROM THESE NEIGHBORHOODS FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO PUBLIC LANDS.

LIKE, THEY DON'T DESERVE THAT ACCESS.

SO MANY JUST ACCEPT.

FOR HIS PART, GRUBBS HAS LOVED GETTING OUTSIDE AND HE HAS ADVICE FOR OTHER MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Grubbs: THESE ARE PLACES FOR EVERYBODY.

IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD GO THERE, GO THERE.

TRY IT OUT AND YOU'LL PROBABLY ENJOY IT.

Laura: FOR OUR LAND AND NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, I AM LAURA PASKUS.