Defensores De La Cuenca Inc.

Defensores De La Cuenca Inc. is a minority-owned, Hispanic American-owned non-profit organization registered to receive federal grant awards. The entity specializes in connecting underserved Latino and Spanish-speaking communities to natural and cultural resources in the Chesapeake Bay watershed through outreach, education, and stewardship services. Since at least 2021, Defensores De La Cuenca Inc. has been actively engaged in federal grant programs, focusing on environmental conservation, urban forestry, and community engagement initiatives. Their primary mission involves developing culturally relevant programs and resources to increase participation and awareness among Spanish-speaking populations in environmental stewardship and public land access.

Recent federal grant awards to Defensores De La Cuenca Inc. showcase the organization's diverse range of services and partnerships. In June 2024, they received a $2,000,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service under the Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Program for their "Embajadores de los Arboles Sembrando el Futuro" project, which aims to connect underserved Latino communities in Maryland to natural resources and public lands. Additionally, in September 2023, the Department of the Interior National Park Service Northeast Region awarded them a $159,975.10 grant under the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network program to support projects linking Latino communities to the Chesapeake Bay watershed's heritage. As a sub-grantee, Defensores De La Cuenca Inc. partners with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to implement and expand their "La Academia" program, which provides paid adult watershed training and stewardship education in Spanish. These projects involve culturally relevant education, hands-on experiences, and the implementation of stormwater improvement projects in local communities, particularly in the Anacostia and Patapsco River watersheds. Through these initiatives, Defensores De La Cuenca Inc. contributes to environmental conservation efforts while simultaneously addressing the needs of underserved Spanish-speaking communities in the region.