(upbeat music) - Latino Conservation Week is a national celebration dedicated to supporting and celebrating the Latinx community's connection to the outdoors and natural resource conservation.

Joining us today is Tracy Aviary's Manager of Conservation Outreach, Frances Ngo.

Hi, Frances.

- Hi.

- Thanks for being here.

So, talk about what Tracy Aviary, specifically, I know that Utah organizations are doing to commemorate this.

- Yeah, so this will be Tracy Aviary's third year celebrating Latino Conservation Week.

And every year, we have a whole suite of events to sort of celebrate the Latinx community, invite them into some of these nature spaces, and host events that let community connect with one another.

And so, our biggest event is gonna be the Night at the Aviary, which is a celebration of the Latinx community.

So, we usually have food, we have a whole bunch of like tabling organizations come out and showcase the opportunities and research and work that they're doing, and then invite people to come and take a look at all of the birds that we have.

And we host Special Keeper talks around our birds in Central and South America.

And just like, it's a whole bunch of fun.

There's music, there's dancing, and just a celebration for the community.

- Oh, that's great.

And tell us why the Latinox community's perspective on conservation - Yes.

- is so important.

- Yeah, because a lot of times, these communities have been excluded from natural spaces, from recreation spaces, or they don't have a voice at the table when it comes to conservation decision making.

So, we are very much prioritizing their experience, their stories, and their existing connections, and putting that in the forefront during this week.

- Okay.

And tell us just how people can find out more.

- Yeah.

And so, people can visit tracyaviary.org and navigate to some of our events that way.

- Okay.

And is it free, open to the public?

- Yes, it is free and open to the public.

- Okay, great.

Well, thank you, Frances, for what you're doing and thanks for being here.

- Thank you.

- And if you'd like to know more about what's happening at Tracy Aviary as part of Latino Conservation Week, it goes from September 14th to 22nd at multiple locations.

The big Night at the Aviary though is September 17th from 6:00 to 8:30 PM.

Again, it's free.

Just go to tracyaviary.org to find out more.

That's tracyaviary.org.

(upbeat music) I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact".

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Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

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