The Intersection of Food Justice and Conservation

In this episode, we talk to Desiree Vargas, Food Sovereignty Director of Presente! Maine is a non-profit organization working to empower displaced indigenous and Afro-Latinx peoples of Maine through survival programs, community power building, cultural celebration, and transformative healing practice. Presente! targets three key program areas: Community Health and Wellness (Bienestar), Food Sovereignty and Land Stewardship, and Leadership and Community Power Building.

Since 2020, Presente’s critical initiatives have been to get people fed, prevent eviction, advocate for public health emergency funds for community-based organizations across Maine, deploy public health response, restore indigenous foodways, and win MaineCare for people regardless of immigration status, all while working with a small staff and a few dedicated volunteers. Join us for another fascinating conversation!

Click here to learn more about Presente! Maine

Redefining Conservation is written, edited, and produced by the staff and volunteers of Sierra Club Maine, including Nyalat Biliew, Matthew Cannon, Nasreen Sheikh-Yousef, Anna Siegal, Philip Mathieu, Grace Deng, Minot Weld. It was recorded at WMPG in Portland, ME. Our theme music was composed by Nathan Kroms Davis.

Head to sierraclub.org/maine to learn more about how you can get involved with environmental activism in your community. Questions or comments? Submit them here or email us at maine.chapter@sierraclub.org.