THIS IS US: A Latina-led nonprofit finds hope in nature

 

Led by Venezuelan immigrant Luisana Méndez, a growing Minnesota nonprofit is helping Latino families connect with nature –and each other– in the face of growing fear and uncertainty.

 

 

When Luisana Méndez immigrated to Minnesota eight years ago, the Mississippi River and abundant lakes reminded her of the Orinoco River winding through her homeland of Venezuela. “Many people like me had to leave the country [of Venezuela],” Méndez says. “We never dreamed of leaving, we just had to. Yes, to find opportunities, but mostly to find safety.”

Méndez had an established career as a civil engineer back home. Arriving in the U.S. in her early 30s, that same occupation required an additional license. Now she works for the City of St. Paul as a public works technician. As she adjusted to life in a new country — speaking English, settling into a new job, and building community — Méndez often turned to a place she always finds comfort in during stressful times: the outdoors.

“Minnesota is a beautiful, beautiful state,” Méndez said.

Today, the same trails she grew to love are at the heart of Huellas Latinas — meaning “Latino footprints” in Spanish — the nonprofit she founded in 2021 to help fellow immigrants find a sense of belonging through outdoor activities.

 

From footprints to strides

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Méndez would organize walks and hikes with a few friends, usually fellow Hispanic immigrants. Those casual outings quickly grew in number, sparking an idea.

“When I walked with the community, they talked about how they lived in Minnesota for more than 10, 20, 25 years and they had never gone to the parks before, or they feel scared going to the parks alone, or they don’t know how to navigate in the parks,” Méndez says. “So I thought, I can teach this to my community. That is the contribution I can do to pay back all the good things I receive in this country.”

Huellas Latinas is now a registered nonprofit that organizes outdoor activities year-round. Méndez and her team of volunteers have served hundreds of Latinos, many of whom are new to outdoor recreation. With Méndez’s encouragement, they often return again.

Cristina Tobin Jiménez met Mendez two weeks after arriving in this country from Colombia about five years ago. Aside from her now-ex husband and infant son, Tobin Jiménez had no friends or family in Minnesota.

The two started going for walks. Later, when Méndez launched Huellas Latinas, she encouraged Tobin Jiménez to try new activities. “I was so scared about kayaking or activities in water, rivers,” Tobin Jiménez said.

When Méndez planned a kayaking activity for Huellas Latinas two years ago, Tobin Jiménez was apprehensive. But with Méndez’s reassurance, Tobin Jiménez put on a life jacket, picked up a paddle, and sat down in the kayak. Gradually, her nerves calmed, she took a deep breath, and paddled through the water of the St. Croix River.

“That was a big goal for me, to come [to Taylor’s Falls] and kayak. I was so excited because at that time, my life changed. Now I’m okay with water, I can do all kinds of activities,” Tobin Jiménez says. She’s now a regular Huellas Latinas volunteer. “I think she [Méndez] has a lot of magic in her personality. She is that kind of person, she’s never worried about herself.”

“When we are together, we feel strong”

In the past year, fear has grown among attendees, and participation has dropped, says Méndez and other volunteers. That comes amid the Trump administration’s severe crackdown on undocumented immigrants, including promises of the largest mass deportation in U.S. history.

“People are very scared to go outside, like in the open area,” Tobin Jiménez says. “When we are doing the hiking or some activities, everybody is talking about the same things: ‘What are we going to do?’ ‘Do you have your papers?’”

After Trump took office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests doubled, border crossings declined, and the number of people in detention reached an all-time high, according to NBC News.

Just this week in Saint Paul, a group of unidentified ICE agents detained an entire roofing crew in a North End neighborhood.

A 2025 Pew Research Center report found that about a quarter of U.S. adults worry they or someone close to them could be deported. That fear is personal for Méndez. Earlier this year, ICE detained one of her Venezuelan family members. Another frequent attendee of Huellas Latinas, a 22-year-old with no criminal record, was detained recently.

Through it all, the Huellas Latinas community has stood with Méndez. Something else is growing among the community: strength. That’s why Méndez made the decision to continue leading outdoor activities. Recently, Huellas Latinas organized a camping weekend and kayaking day trip — events that drew about 40 people.

“When we are together, we feel strong,” Méndez says. “Sometimes I feel fear and I say, ‘Shall I continue with this? Am I putting people in a dangerous situation?’ I don’t know. But at the same time, I want people to take a break.”

 

 

 

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