Building Capacity Through Strategic Partnerships

Members of the Asekia and Puerto Rico Sea Grant teams met in Mayagüez, PR last month.

From New Mexico to North Carolina and Puerto Rico, Asekia has the privilege of partnering with nonprofit organizations that are strengthening farming and landowner communities across diverse regions. We chose to collaborate with these organizations because they have demonstrated long-standing success in outreach, education, and advocacy. The trusted relationships and deep community connections they have cultivated over time are foundational to their impact and strongly aligned with Asekia’s farmer- and landowner-centered approach.

Our partnership with the following organizations is part of a multi-year capacity-building initiative—now in its second year—designed to expand NRCS outreach into new communities. Together, we are increasing access to bilingual education, conservation knowledge, and sustainable land management practices that care for the land and support working families. From Spanish-language digital outreach to youth programs reconnecting the next generation with ancestral lands, we are honored to support the work below:

Tierra Viva

Tierra Viva is a Spanish-language agricultural information hub developed by Acción Hispana/Qué Pasa Media to support Hispanic farmers, landowners, and rural communities. The platform provides accessible, culturally relevant educational content on conservation practices, soil health, water management, forage systems, and sustainable production aligned with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) standards.

Through clear language, practical examples, and multimedia tools—including step-by-step guides and instructional videos—Tierra Viva helps bridge information gaps for farmers with limited English proficiency or low digital literacy. Its mission is to strengthen access to conservation knowledge while connecting Hispanic producers with trusted technical assistance and local resources.

Contact Information:

Marina Aleman, Executive Director

Email: maleman@quepasamedia.com 

Cultivando Conservación

Part of our collaboration with the Forest Stewards Guild involves supporting the Forest Stewards Youth Corps. Photo courtesy of the Forest Stewards Guild.

The Forest Stewards Guild is proud to partner with Asekia on a three-year initiative—Cultivando Conservación—designed to connect northern New Mexican (norteño) landowners with networking and funding opportunities that support conservation practices in four rural communities.

In collaboration with NRCS, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and local Conservation Ambassadors, the program hosts outreach events, education sessions, and hands-on trainings to increase awareness of and participation in federal, state, and nonprofit conservation programs.

The initiative also invests in youth workforce development through the reestablishment of the Forest Stewards Youth Corps in Cuba, New Mexico. Youth ages 16–25 reconnect with ancestral landscapes, build practical skills, and prepare for careers in forestry, agriculture, and related land stewardship fields.

Contact Information:

Anna Stearns, Conservation Manager 

Email: astearns@forestguild.org

Cultivar

Photo of the Cultivar program, courtesy of El Vínculo Hispano / The Hispanic Liaison.

Cultivar is a project of the Orgullo Latinx Pride (OLP) Youth Program, an initiative of El Vínculo Hispano / The Hispanic Liaison, currently serving 94 Latine high school students in Chatham County, NC.

As an extension of OLP’s leadership and professional development framework, Cultivar integrates culturally rooted environmental education across sustainability, conservation, agroecology, local food systems and food sovereignty, environmental justice and policy, climate science, and cultural arts.

Through experiential learning and strategic partnerships, youth develop technical knowledge, leadership capacity, and civic awareness, while receiving mentorship and support through education programs, internships, apprenticeships, and career pathways in agriculture, conservation, and environmental stewardship.

Through Cultivar, the program fosters individual stewardship responsibility among youth while expanding and redefining the Latine community’s role in American agriculture.

Contact Information:

Selina Lopez, Youth Program Director

Email: selina@evhnc.org

Raíces del Centro-PR

Puerto Rico Sea Grant extensionists at the "Tercer Encuentro de Agricultores de Puerto Rico" held in Salinas, PR in February 2026. Photo courtesy of Puerto Rico Sea Grant.

Raíces del Centro–PR is a conservation initiative led by Puerto Rico Sea Grant Inc designed to empower farmers and communities across 17 municipalities along Puerto Rico’s central mountain range.

The project focuses on improving water quality and protecting coastal ecosystems through a watershed-based approach that promotes sustainable land management and USDA NRCS conservation practices. Key activities include on-site training, individualized technical assistance for farmers and community organizations, and the development of an illustrated conservation manual in Spanish.

By promoting regenerative agriculture, the program supports producers in mitigating climate variability impacts while strengthening the island’s economic resilience.

Success will be measured through participant engagement, total acreage enrolled in conservation plans, and the completion of a certified course developed from a Needs and Knowledge Study on Conservation Practices conducted among farmers in the region.

Contact Information:

Lillian Ramírez-Durand, Project Coordinator

Email: raicesdelcentro.pr@gmail.com

Together, We Multiply Impact

These partnerships reflect Asekia’s belief that meaningful outreach is rooted in trust, cultural understanding, and local leadership. By supporting organizations with proven community relationships, we strengthen conservation participation and ensure that historically underserved farmers and landowners have equitable access to opportunity.

For more information, contact us at info@asekia.org.