DENVER, Aug. 1, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Speakers and events are being finalized for the 2nd Annual Americas Latino Eco Festival (ALEF) taking place in Denver and Boulder, September 11-15, 2014. The event, A New Shade of Green, is produced by Americas for Conservation + the Arts (AFC+A) and is presented in part by The Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign and The Dairy Center for the Arts.
"We are thrilled by developments taking place with the Festival," says founder of the AFC+A, Irene Vilar. "The Festival is inspiring an awakening of our community's long time interest in, and our natural roots to, public lands, clean air, natural foods, and water stewardship, as we call our colegas 'home' to dialogue, discuss, debate and share issues related to environmental justice."
Designed as a "Latino South by Southwest," ALEF is the nation's largest environmentally focused gathering. Thought leaders of both continents will come together to discuss novel solutions to the challenges arising from Climate Change and environmental degradation as well as to celebrate Latinos' long history of ecological activism and the "new shade of green" they're bringing to this movement. Events will take place at various venues including The Hotel Boulderado, Regis University, CU Boulder, and the McNichols Civic Center Building in Denver. Over 50 artists, scientists, scholars, musicians and keynote speakers brought together in forum format are confirmed to attend, such as:
-- Why Environmentalism Matters to Latino Americans and Why We are the Solution -- Not the Problem?
-- Where is the park? Why We Must Reconnect with the Outdoors and What is at Stake
-- Our Air, Our Health, Our Land, Our Responsibility
-- The Green Cities of the Americas: Climate Change Engendering Social Capacity, Innovation, and Resilience
-- International Grandmothers Council with Abuelas Flordemayo (Nicaragua), Maria (Brazil), and Julieta (Mexico): Water from a Commercial Commodity to a Sacred Gift
-- Why Are Latinos Way Ahead of the Climate Change Curve? Five Latino Scientists Respond
-- Reconnecting Children to Nature with the Word
-- The Creation and Expansion of Protected Lands in The Americas: Tompkins Conservation-Sierra Gorda Reserve-Turner Foundation
-- The Colorado River Pulse Flow: Our Extraordinary Song of Renewal
-- Drawing Attention: Cartoons on the Environment
-- Latino Media4Environmental Action
-- Chico Mendes/Cesar Chavez: Eco Icons of the Americas
-- Fire and Water: The Struggle of Tonanzin Colorado, Public Arts Mural
Jean-Michel Cousteau, will serve as one of several keynotes for the festival and will present his organization, Ocean Futures Society, which aims to promote responsible education about ocean preservation and the ocean's vital importance to sustaining life on our planet. Edward James Olmos, Hollywood actor and activist, will present and host a dialogue entitled, "Overcoming Adversity and Stigma, the Power of Diversity, and the Forging of Environmental Stewardship." Additional main attractions will be talks by Bianca Jagger (Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation), Pati Ruiz Corzo (UN Champion of the Earth), Jose Pablo Orrego (Goldman Environmental Prize), Congressman Raul Grijalva and Ed Begley Jr., actor and environmental activist.
While anchored in deep, thought-provoking discussions, ALEF is also backboned by a robust entertainment, cultural, artistic and culinary agenda reinforcing Latino culture's roots with the land and Mother Earth. Highlights include:
-- K-12 Eco Exhibit titled "Migrating Birds of the Americas" with 15 schools
-- 10 Art Exhibits with seven artists present for workshops
-- Family Day with a Food Fiesta, a Green Markets Fair, and a Migrar en Palabras Book Expo
-- Performance Fest featuring unique and exciting talent including the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, the Berta Rojas Concert hailed as "world's guitarist extraordinaire" by the Washington Post, and Grammy Award Winning group, La Santa Cecilia
-- "Latinologues: Green Go!" Originally a Broadway comedy hit produced by Rick Najera, Latinologues brings to Colorado a new production with the theme "Green Go" and five Broadway actors: Carlos Gomez, of "In the Heights," Yanira Marin of "West Side Story," Jesse Garcia of "The Pee Wee Herman Show," Rafael Agustin, a nationally touring comedy star, and Rick Najera. ALMOST WHITE: Rick Najera: Comedy stage play production by acclaimed writer Rick Najera (In Living Color, MADtv) brings his humorous memoir, Almost White: Forced Confessions of a Latino in Hollywood, to the stage. Revisiting his childhood, career and new family life, Najera's story is about the 5 Ls: Latinos, life, love, laughter and la familia
-- Boulder premieres of award-winning films: "Antarctica: A Year on Ice" with Director Andrea Juan, Why in My Backyard, Hydroaysen, Angel Azul, Children of the Amazon, Fierce Green Fire, Who is Dayani Crystal, Food Chains, Go for Sisters with Edward James Olmos, Extreme Realities, BBOY for Life
-- World-Renowned Artists: Andrea Juan (Argentina), Alan Manuel Gonzalez (Cuba) Nadia Guthman (Argentina), Rafael Lopez (Mexico) Margarita Cabrera (Mexico) Alfonso Piloto Nieves (Mexico) David Garcia "Ocelotl" (US)
-- A Latinovating Green Americas and Colorado Entrepreneurs Summit
For more information, please visit: www.americaslatinofestival.org. To schedule an interview with the event founder, contact: lora@screamagency.com.