DENVER, CO – September 28, 2015 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) - From October 15-17, Latino leaders from across the U.S., representing the fields of conservation, the arts, education, science, policy, business, journalism and more will gather in Denver for the 3rd Annual Americas Latino Eco Festival (ALEF). With its theme, A Climate of Hope: Where Conservation Meets the Future, ALEF is co-produced by Americas for Conservation + the Arts (AFC+A) and Sachamama, and is co-presented with Earthjustice, GreenLatinos and Conservation Colorado.

“We are excited that so many advocates are coming together for this event,” declared Irene Vilar, founder of the festival and AFC+A. “From the Pope’s visit to the U.S. this week, to the international climate talks in Paris this December, there is momentum and energy building around the world to solve one of the biggest challenges of our time: climate change. America’s Latino Eco Festival will ensure that the voices of Latinos are well-represented in the search for solutions.”

— See the full festival program schedule: http://americaslatinoecofestival.org/program/schedule.

— For more information, visit the web site: http://americaslatinoecofestival.org.

Now in its third year, the festival involves over 400 presenters and advocates and an estimated audience of over 5,000 people during three days of presentations, workshops and celebrations at three venues in downtown Denver: Metro State University, Denver Art Museum and Denver Public Library. IUCN Bonn Challenge and Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador Bianca Jagger, world-renowned Nicaraguan poet Ernesto Cardenal, Emmy Award winning Telemundo correspondent Vanessa Hauc, environmental leader and former Mexico Ambassador to Unesco Homero Aridjis, 2013 Goldman Prize winner Kimberly Wasserman, and six-time Mt. Everest summiteer Luis Benitez are among the many Latino leaders who will bring their distinct experience and perspective to the festival.

“This year’s festival, our third, is more ambitious and urgent than ever,” added Vilar. “We are turning the largest annual multicultural event of its kind into a powerful platform for advocacy on climate action and showcasing the arts as a most impactful vehicle for raising environmental awareness. With the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan in the implementation stage at the state level, and the upcoming climate talks in Paris later this year, failure is not an option. If we hope to change the direction on climate change, advocates must come together!”

Americas Latino Eco Festival is made possible with the generous support of Great Outdoors Colorado, Audubon Rockies, Climate Reality, World Wildlife Fund, Environmental Defense Fund, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council Voces Verdes, Grace Communications Foundation, Bonfils Stanton Foundation, and the City of Denver.