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Heinrich To Host Virtual Forum On How N.M. Stands To Gain From Great American Outdoors Act

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, Thursday, July 16, at 11 a.m. MT/ 1 p.m. ET, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with Director of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division Axie Navas, will host a virtual panel discussion on the future of the outdoor recreation economy in New Mexico and how the nation stands to gain from increasing access to public lands and passing the Great American Outdoors Act.

The event will feature a dynamic group of panelists, including New Mexico State Representative Angelica Rubio and CEO and Founder of Outdoor Afro Rue Mapp. The discussion will be moderated by Elizabeth Hightower Allen, a contributing editor at Outside Magazine.

A livestream of the discussion will be available on Senator Heinrich’s Facebook page here.

Panelists include New Mexico State Representative Angelica Rubio; Rue Mapp, CEO and Founder of Outdoor Afro; Ashley Korenblat, Managing Director, Public Lands Solutions; Aaron Lowden, Acoma Pueblo Coordinator for the Southwest Conservation Corps; and Nick Streit, Owner of Taos Fly Shop.

In June, the Senate passed the Great America Outdoors Act and the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to follow suit later this month. Senator Heinrich introduced the legislation along with a bipartisan group of senators to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address the public lands maintenance backlog.

Senator Heinrich also introduced the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act that would expand national service programs to help address the historic COVID-19 joblessness crisis in New Mexico and nationwide, including establishing a 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps.

In 2019, New Mexico became the 12th state to create a government office dedicated to promoting the outdoor recreation economy. The purpose of the newly established Outdoor Recreation Division is to expand the outdoor recreation economy to every corner of New Mexico and bring jobs, prosperity, and wellness to all state residents. New Mexico also created a first-of-its-kind Outdoor Equity Grant Program to foster stewardship for the state's natural spaces and cultural heritage particularly among low-income youth.

WHO:  

  • U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich 
  • Axie Navas, Director, New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
  • Elizabeth Hightower Allen, Contributing Editor, Outside Magazine
  • Angelica Rubio, New Mexico State Representative
  • Rue Mapp, CEO, Founder, Outdoor Afro
  • Ashley Korenblat, Managing Director, Public Lands Solutions
  • Aaron Lowden, Acoma Pueblo Coordinator, SW Conservation Corps
  • Nick Streit, Owner, Taos Fly Shop

WHAT: Virtual Forum On The Future Of the Outdoor Recreation Economy And How N.M. Stands To Gain From Great American Outdoors Act

WHEN:  11 a.m. MT / 1 p.m. ET

LIVESTREAM: https://www.facebook.com/MartinHeinrich