This January, Chispa Nevada launched Raices (Roots, in English), an environmental radio show. The inaugural episode of Raices welcomed listeners to a year of Sunday shows centered on sharing civic engagement stories from the field, sustainability tips and lessons, news and information on environmental issues and opportunities for involvement in local actions.

Future shows will also include insights on the state of our environmental protections and policies, particularly under our country’s new president who has promised to dismantle our nation’s environmental regulations.

Rudy Zamora, Chispa NV program director, believes the radio show gives Chispa staff, volunteers and communities a platform to elevate environmental issues and hold elected officials accountable by harnessing and growing the political power of its listeners.

“We have seen great progress in the last eight years when we have talked about the environment,” Zamora said. “This platform will be used to inform our community members about climate change and its impacts, which are of high importance to us as Latinos. Raices will take a look at what is distressing our community directly, such as access to clean air and clean water.”

Hernando Amaya, Chispa NV communications coordinator and a former radio personality, hopes Raices will give a voice to his community and provide a platform where these voices can be lifted and experiences shared. With guests including local state leaders, experts, program volunteers and staff, the emphasis of protecting la Madre Tierra won’t be on just one person.

Want to tune in? The show is on air every Sunday morning from 8 to 8:30 a.m. on Las Super Estrella 92.7 FM in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be available soon online, with links to the show being updated here.

Chispa NV is a community organizing program of the League of Conservation Voters’ Chispa program. We build the capacity of Latinos and families to influence policy makers and pressure polluters to protect communities’ rights to clean air and water, healthy neighborhoods and a safe climate for generations to come.