Diverse Voices Are Critical To Ensuring a Sustainable Water Future for All

By Jessica Thrasher, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program Leader at the Colorado Water Center and HECHO HCLC member from Colorado. 

My love of the outdoors started at an early age and came from my parents. One of my earliest memories is playing in a stream with my dad, born in Alabama, when I was 2 years old. My mom, born in Coahuila, Mexico, also has a deep passion for the outdoors that she shared with me growing up. To this day, we continue to spend a lot of time together hiking. This year, she turned 70 and the birthday present she chose was for the two of us to hike part of the Appalachian Trail together. We completed the 22-mile Triple Crown (Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs), in three days and had a blast. 

My husband and I both love going on outdoor adventures with our two boys (5 and 7). We went on a family trip to Grand Tetons National Park this summer where we saw bears and moose for the first time on our many hikes. I am very proud that our boys have learned so much about nature and have developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife. It is essential to instill the love of the outdoors in children early because then they will be motivated to protect, preserve, and care for it.   

Growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas, I spent most of my childhood near the ocean. As a child, I was always in awe of the power of water, and I still am. When I moved to Colorado, I missed the ocean but found a newfound appreciation for the forest, rivers, and lakes. Every time I go and sit by a body of water, I learn something new. This passion for water motivated me to achieve my master’s degree at Colorado State University in International Development Anthropology with a focus on Sustainable Water Management and to currently pursue my Ph.D. in Sociology at Colorado State University with a focus on environmental justice, water equity, and social change.  

My passion for the outdoors, water, and conservation inspired me to pursue a career in the water field focused on protecting our water resources for future generations. To create a sustainable future for all, we must have diverse voices and perspectives involved in creating innovative solutions to address our existing and future water challenges.  

Recognizing that low-income and communities of color have a much higher risk of living with water quality and quantity issues and that these communities have historically been left out of water conversations, has led me to focus on water equity.  I am privileged to be the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Leader at the Colorado Water Center, where I focus on creating and managing programs that promote a diverse water workforce representative of the communities served, equitable access to water resources and information, and developing resources that promote integration of DEI practices into the water field. 

I joined the Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council (HCLC) of HECHO because I wanted to be a part of this diverse and engaged group of Latino and Hispanic leaders who are also working on conservation issues that are critical to all of us. I have found a deep connection with other members who are passionate about water, our shared heritage, and the knowledge of these lands we inhabit. 

We are facing an unprecedented drought in Colorado. Millions of people depend on the water that originates in Colorado, including the Colorado River, therefore it is essential that we use our water more efficiently while preserving the quality and quantity of our water.  Being part of a network like the HCLC gives us, Hispanics and Latino leaders, a platform, and the opportunity to elevate the issues faced by our communities with decision-makers and work towards solutions together.   

I look forward to continuing to work with like-minded Latino leaders to elevate the voices and needs of our community so we can advance environmental justice and protect our land and water for future generations.