DeepSummary
In this episode, Sapna Moki interviews Rocio Villalobos, an avid trail runner, environmental and social justice activist, and mentor from Austin, Texas. Rocio discusses how her connection to nature developed over time, from not having access to parks growing up in East Austin to finding solace and healing through running outdoors. She shares her involvement with organizations like Poder and Native Roots ATX, promoting Indigenous values around running and increasing racial representation in the outdoors.
Rocio also talks about her work as a mentor with Explore Austin, helping young people connect with nature and themselves. She highlights the importance of learning about the history of the land and acknowledging the systemic inequities that have shaped access to green spaces for communities of color. Rocio emphasizes the power of community organizing and building relationships to create sustainable movements for change.
Additionally, Rocio discusses her role as an immigrant affairs coordinator at the City of Austin's equity office, working to influence decision-making processes and bring community voices to the table. She acknowledges the challenges of creating long-lasting change within the system but remains committed to extending grace and continuing the journey towards racial equity.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Nature and spending time outdoors can be a powerful source of healing and personal growth.
- Increasing racial representation and access to green spaces for communities of color is crucial for environmental justice.
- Community organizing and building relationships are essential for creating sustainable movements for change.
- Learning about the history of the land and acknowledging systemic inequities is important for understanding current disparities.
- Mentoring and supporting the next generation is a key aspect of Rocio's work and creating long-lasting change.
- Working within systems and institutions can be challenging, but preventing harmful decisions and policies is a crucial aspect of equity work.
- Extending grace to oneself and others is essential for personal growth and fostering understanding on the journey towards racial equity.
- Recognizing and addressing displacement and gentrification is necessary for promoting truly equitable access to resources and opportunities.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I think if you had asked me this question even six years ago, I might have given a very different answer, because the truth is that nature was always there, shaping my experiences and my reality in different ways. But I hadn't been attuned to the way that it was shaping my reality and my existence.“ by Rocio Villalobos
- “I think supporting other people to develop some of those skills and kind of always thinking about, what am I doing to support the next generation is key. And that's a big part of the work that Podero was trying to do through the young scholars for justice program.“ by Rocio Villalobos
- “I think the only other thing is just kind of thinking broadly about where people are on their journeys to just remember to have grace for yourself and to also extend that grace to other people, because I think that helped me deeply in my own growth and development and just kind of goes back to that notion that nobody is perfect. No, we're going to make mistakes. There are things that we're going to look back on and maybe not feel super proud of or just kind of cringe. Cringe in horror a little bit. But just remember that that was part of your journey and you were able to continue because people extended grace to you. And so it's important to continue to extend grace for yourself but also for other people as they're on their journey, too.“ by Rocio Villalobos
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Episode Information
Breaking Green Ceilings
Sapna Mulki
11/2/21
Rocio Villalobos is from Austin, Texas. She's an avid trail runner who promotes mental health, having experienced her own challenges and finding a place to belong in nature. She runs to promote Indigenous values around running to heal the soul and healing one's relationship to the land and to raise awareness on the importance of increasing racial representation in the outdoors. She is also a mentor who helps connect young people to nature and themselves. In addition, she is also an environmental and social justice activist who is fighting to promote a healthy community in her East Austin neighborhood which is predominantly Latinx and a Black community and has experienced environmental injustices. Last but not least, she is currently working with the City of Austin's equity office as an immigrant affairs coordinator.
Connect with Rocio
- IG: @thexicanaexplorer
- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rociodelrosario
Follow Breaking Green Ceilings
- IG - @breaking_green_ceilings