Growing up on the West side of Chicago, Lake Michigan wasn’t accessible for me and my family. I come from a Mexican immigrant family, raised by my mother and older sister. In my early twenties I drew curiosity toward outdoor adventure and kayaking on the river. Now, almost twenty years into building my kayak skills, I now find joy in teaching my Latino community about kayaking, partnering with organizations to make these programs free and accessible.

I strongly believe in providing free kayak outings for Latino families, something I wish I had available growing up.

My Latino community has deep roots in relationship to the earth, and through these outings I strive to bring us back into that connection.