With guided hikes and outdoor experiences, Huellas Latinas is helping Spanish-speaking Minnesotans feel at home in the parks 

A civil engineer and urban planner by trade, Luisana Mendez has no trouble reading a trail map or navigating unfamiliar topography. But after arriving in Minnesota as a political refugee from Venezuela in 2018, she struggled to understand many of the unwritten rules of the state’s parks and public spaces. 

“Exploring the parks was the way I found to be connected to the city and my new home, but there was so much I didn’t know,” says Mendez, who remembers taking her first winter walk on a trail groomed for cross-country skiers. “People were yelling, ‘Get out of the way! Get out of the way!!’ but I didn’t know why.” 

Happily, Mendez didn’t let experiences like that derail her from her outdoor adventures, which she elevated to a whole new level during the pandemic. As she began posting pictures and details of her hikes on social media, a growing number of friends and followers started asking if they could join her on trail. By 2021, she launched Huellas Latinas (Latina Footprints), a community group aimed at helping other Spanish-speaking residents find their place in the parks. With the help of a People for Parks Fund grant from the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, Huellas Latinas is hosting a series of five “Hike and Learn” events around the city, all aimed at encouraging Latino families to find their footing in the Minneapolis parks, exploring everything from hiking and paddleboarding, to snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing. 

“Minnesota has an amazing number of parks, but even people who have been in this state much longer than I have don’t always know about them,” says Mendez.  “When I ask people to tell me how many parks they’ve been to, people might be able to name 10 of them.” In fact, there are more than 360 parks of all sizes throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul, not to mention 64 regional parks and 75 state parks across Minnesota.. Since she started Huellas Latinas, Mendez has managed to visit 120 of them, logging more than 790 miles on 215 hikes. “There’s just so much to explore,” she says. 

Mendez estimates that nearly 95 percent of Huellas Latinas’ growing membership is made up of first-generation  immigrants and refugees. Nearly half are new arrivals  eager to make new connections in Minnesota and in the outdoors. “When I hike with people who have just arrived in Minnesota they are displaced and they don’t have friends, or they don’t have family. But one cultural thing about the Latino community is that we love each other—and we don’t mind if we haven’t met before!  We start talking, and make introductions and share a little bit of our backgrounds. Even though we are all speaking the same language in Spanish it sounds different because some are from Mexico, from Colombia, from Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador. But when you’re hiking, you start to talk about what city you are from, things we have in common, foods from your country. We laugh and we find ways that we are similar and we start a friendship from that.” 

Images courtesy of Huellas Latinas.

Mark your calendars for these five upcoming Hike & Learn events:

Friday, October 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Huellas Latinas Hike & Learn at Theodore Wirth Wildflower Trail, 2 miles. This free event is designed for the whole family with free parking, an easy two-mile hike and other activities.  
November 17: Lake of the Isles – Cedar-Isles-Dean, 2.7 miles 
December 15: Lake Nokomis Trail – Parking lot, W Lake Nokomis Pkwy, 2.5 miles 
January 19, 2024: Bryn Mawr Gardens Loop – Bryn Mawr Meadows Parking Lot, 401 Morgan Ave S, 2.1 miles 
February 2, 2024: Lake Harriet Loop Trail – Lake Harriet Bandshell Park – 4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy. 2.8 miles 
Visit www.huellaslatinas.com to register. And for more inspiration, visit Huellas Latinas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huellas.latinas/?hl=en

¿Por qué estar al aire libre es un lugar tan fantástico para conectarse con otras personas?

Cuando estás al aire libre motivas a tu cuerpo a la actividad, oxigenas el cerebro y todas las sustancias químicas de nuestro cuerpo se activan y envían mensajes positivos y felices. Consciente o inconscientemente nos hacemos presentes en la experiencia que estamos viviendo y si estamos acompañados posiblemente estemos dispuestos a conectarnos. En Huellas Latinas fomentamos esta conexión y sabemos que nuestros participantes vienen con la intención de divertirse, aprender y conectarse con otros miembros de la comunidad.

Como muchas personas, usted se tomó aún más en serio el senderismo y la exploración de la naturaleza durante la pandemia. ¿Por qué te has quedado con eso?

A través del Senderismo pude redescubrirme y llenar los vacíos que había dejado al emigrar de mi país Venezuela y cambiar toda mi vida. Con cada caminata aprendo sobre los senderos, los parques, la historia y la naturaleza. Mi curiosidad me ha llevado a desarrollar nuevas habilidades, mientras me divierto. Descubrí que todo esto era bueno para mí y que tal vez podría ser bueno para otros, que los desafíos y barreras que yo enfrentaba tal vez también lo eran para otros. Yo no estaba equivocada. Pronto comprendí que lo que estaba haciendo también ayudaba a otras personas. Servir a la comunidad siempre ha sido mi mayor logro en las diferentes etapas y escenarios de mi vida. Poder hacerlo ahora en Minnesota a través de actividades al aire libre es mi manera de pagar de regreso todo lo hermoso que he recibido aquí.

Estar en la naturaleza es una excelente manera de aliviar la ansiedad y el estrés, y una parte importante de su misión en Huellas Latinas es ayudar a los recién llegados a sentirse seguros y bienvenidos en nuestros parques. ¿Cuáles son las mayores preocupaciones que tienen los recién llegados sobre el acceso a nuestros parques de Minneapolis y qué podemos hacer para que todos se sientan más bienvenidos?

Todo dependerá de las circunstancias y motivos por los que la gente venga aquí. Es un sentimiento generalizado que venimos buscando seguridad y nuevas oportunidades, pero también podría ser una estancia temporal en MN. Eso determinará el lugar que ocupará la recreación al aire libre en la pirámide de necesidades de cada persona. Probablemente, y ha sido el caso de muchos de nosotros, la prioridad ha sido dedicar la mayor parte de nuestro tiempo a largas jornadas de trabajo. A través de nuestras actividades hemos conocido a personas que llevan más de 6, 10, 15 o 20 años viviendo en MN y nunca han salido a visitar los parques porque solo se han dedicado a trabajar. Ahora han oído hablar de Huellas Latinas y han sentido el llamado a hacer una pausa y conectarse con su gente.

Definitivamente nuestra comunidad necesita espacios de recreación culturalmente apropiados para ellos. Esto incluye la forma y los canales que empleamos para entregar la información, el lenguaje que usamos y la atmósfera generada en las actividades. Todo esto es posible si los parques logran trabajar con enlaces comunitarios que ayuden a construir puentes sólidos entre la comunidad y los parques.

¿Cuál es el mejor parque en Minneapolis para quedar con un amigo para caminar y hablar en serio?

Definitivamente recomiendo la cadena de lagos. Lake Harriet, Lake Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Island. Están en el corazón de la ciudad, es fácil caminar alrededor de ellos y las vistas son preciosas en cualquier estaci[on del año.

¿Cuál es el parque más hermoso de la ciudad?

Creo que el parque más hermoso es Minnehaha Falls. ¿Cuántas ciudades pueden permitirse el lujo de tener una cascada tan hermosa en medio de ella? – Este parque tiene un gran potencial.

¿A dónde vas si quieres sentir que te estás alejando de todo?

Voy a cualquier parque que tenga agua además de bosque. Mis favoritos son Minnehaha Falls Regional Park y Crosby Farm Regional Park

¿Por qué vale la pena salir a caminar todos los días?

Por salud, amor propio y diversión. Todos los beneficios físicos, fisiológicos, cognitivos, emocionales, sociales e incluso espirituales que una pequeña caminata puede aportar a tu vida están científicamente comprobados. Cada vez que decidimos estar afuera es un regalo que nos damos para recibir. La naturaleza es curativa. No es necesario salir sólo para caminar. Puedes ir a meditar, hacer un picnic, correr, montar en bicicleta, esquiar o lo que más te guste. Lo importante es darte la oportunidad de descubrir todo lo que la naturaleza puede aportar a tu vida.

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Why is being outdoors such a great place to connect with other people?

When you are outdoors you motivate your body to activity, you oxygenate the brain and all the chemicals in our body are activated and send positive and happy messages. Consciously or unconsciously we become present in the experience we are living and if we are accompanied, we may possibly be willing to connect. At Huellas Latinas we encourage this connection and we know that our participants come with the intention of having fun, learning and connecting with other members of the community.

Like many people, you became even more serious about hiking and exploring nature during the pandemic. Why have you stayed with that?

Through hiking I was able to rediscover myself and fill the voids that emigrating from my country and changing my entire life had left. With each hike I learn about the trails, the parks, history and nature, my curiosity has led me to develop new skills, all while having fun. I found that all of this was good for me and that maybe it could be good for others, that the challenges and barriers that I was facing maybe others had too. I was not wrong. I soon understood that what I was doing also helped other people. Serving the community has always been my greatest achievement in the different stages and scenarios of my life. Being able to do it now in Minnesota through outdoor activities is my way of paying back for everything beautiful that I have received here.

Being in nature is a great way to relieve anxiety and stress, and an important part of your mission at Huellas Latinas is to help newcomers feel safe and welcome in our parks. What are the biggest concerns newcomers have about access to our Minneapolis parks and what can we do to make everyone feel more welcome?

Everything will depend on the circumstances and reasons why people are coming here. It’s a general feeling that we come looking for security and new opportunities, but it could also be a temporary stay in MN. That will determine the position that outdoor recreation will play in each person’s pyramid of needs. Probably, and it has been the case for many of us, the priority has been to dedicate most of our time to long hours of work. Through our activities, we have met people who have been living in MN for more than 6, 10, 15 or 20 years and have never gone out to visit the parks because they have only dedicated themselves to work. Now they have heard about Huellas Latinas and have felt the call to pause and go connect with their people.

Our people definitely need culturally appropriate recreation spaces for them. This includes the form and channels we use to deliver information, the language and the atmosphere generated in the activities. All of this is possible if the parks manage to work with community liaisons who help build solid bridges between the community and the parks.

What’s the best park in Minneapolis for meeting a friend for a serious walk and talk?

I definitely recommend the chain of lakes. Lake Harriet, Lake Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Isles.. They are in the heart of the city, they are easy to get around and the views are beautiful in any season of the year.

What’s the most beautiful park in the city?

I think the most beautiful park is Minnehaha Falls. How many cities can afford to have such a beautiful waterfall in the middle of it? – This park has great potential.

Where do you go if you want to feel like you’re getting away from it all?

I go to any park that has water in addition to forest. My favorites are Minnehaha Falls Regional Park and Crosby Farm Regional Park.

Why is it worth going for a walk every day?

For health, self-love and fun. All the physical, physiological, cognitive, emotional, social, and even spiritual benefits that a short walk can bring to your life are scientifically proven. Every time we decide to be outside it is a gift we give ourselves to receive. Nature is healing. You don’t need to go outside just to walk. You can go for a meditation, a picnic, running, cycling, skiing or whatever you like most. The important thing is to give yourself the opportunity to discover everything that nature can bring to your life.