On Belonging & Environmental Justice: Laura Lemus

As part of our "Intersections of Resilience" series, we honor the transformative leadership within our comunidad. This April, we're illuminating the stories of Latine leaders in the environmental and climate space who are reimagining a sustainable, just future. Through their lived experiences, visionary work, and commitment, we witness the profound power of Latine leadership.

Finding Her Voice: The Power of Intersectional Advocacy

For Laura, environmental justice isn't just work—it's a natural extension of her lived experience. As a former Dreamer and committed advocate in the immigration rights movement, she brings a unique perspective to environmental philanthropy that challenges traditional narratives about who belongs in these spaces.

This commitment to be intersectional — to bring together worlds that have historically remained separate, “I didn’t really understand the environmental movement from that perspective before," Laura shares, reflecting on her journey from immigration advocacy to environmental grantmaking. "It taught me a lot about where the majority of the funding goes and how little goes to people, especially people of color and those who are most impacted."

When Laura joined the Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA), she found herself explaining to some funders why equity matters in environmental work. The questions she faced revealed gaps in understanding the inherently intersectional nature of environmental challenges.

Redefining Environmentalism

Like many Latines, Laura's environmental consciousness was shaped by cultural practices long before she formally entered the movement. Her familia's commitment to reusing containers, recycling plastic bags, and maximizing resources reflects sustainability principles that have existed in Latino households for generations.

"These were just things I learned at home," Laura explains, describing how her upbringing naturally aligned with environmental values.

She shared more about her father, a landscaper who tends to plants with deep knowledge and care, exemplifying this connection. "My dad is an environmentalist," Laura says with pride, describing how he creates year-round blooming gardens through an intimate understanding of plant cycles. "He has this whole system and knows when each flower blooms and dies... There's a beautiful connection to nature."

This transformed Laura's understanding of who "belongs" in environmental spaces. "I wish we could be successful in changing that environmentalist narrative..." she reflects, pointing to the wisdom and practice that exists within our communities, often unrecognized by mainstream environmental movements.

A Dream Project: Nopalito Verde Fund

Despite the challenges—from political pushback to resource scarcity—Laura finds hope in the resilience of frontline organizations like those supported by the Nopalito Verde Fund. 

"Nopalito Verde was my dream project," Laura shares, her voice filling with emotion. "When I came to HIP three years ago, I was like, this is what I want to do." Though Laura acknowledges the challenges facing environmental work, the fund stands as a testament to what's possible when we honor the intersections of identity, experience, and advocacy.

Nopalito Verde is a fund by HIP that supports Latine-led environmental initiatives in the US. It represented everything Laura felt was missing from the environmental movement—a recognition of Latine environmental leadership and resources directed toward communities doing necessary work outside the spotlight. "Frontline organizations give me hope," she says. "In the face of all the horrible news... they're not backing down. They're like, OK, we have to keep doing the work because the work is for the people." She points to initiatives like Abuelitas for Climate Justice—a network of grandmothers organizing for environmental justice in their neighborhoods—as examples of how our communities are already doing the work, even if they don't use the label "environmentalist."

Built thoughtfully with the support of regional leaders rather than a top-down approach, Nopalito Verde demonstrates how philanthropy can authentically support community-led environmental initiatives. 

Finding Your People: The Power of Community

This conviction comes from her own experience of finding allies and mentors who opened doors. She credits Marisa Quiroz, a fellow Latina she met at EGA, who approached her offering support when she first started. "That probably changed my course and trajectory in the environmental movement—seeing someone literally opening the door for me and saying you're welcome here.”

"Find your people," Laura advised. This philosophy of humble collaboration guides Laura's approach to creating change. "We're here for the greater community advancement," she emphasized, not for individual recognition.

In recognizing the chingonas who enlightened her path—Rachel Leon, Hilda Vega, Marisa Quiroz, and Melanie Allen—Laura acknowledges the power of representation and community in creating change. These "badass women" created paths that allowed her to imagine herself in spaces she never thought she belonged in.

"I would have never otherwise imagined myself in the environmental movement," Laura reflects, highlighting how important it is to see ourselves represented in leadership. She advises young people entering the field that, "We belong in those spaces and we have to be in those spaces... our voice matters, our experience matters, and we can make an impact."

By bringing our full selves to the work—our cultural wisdom, our lived experiences, our community connections—we transform not just what environmental justice looks like, but who gets to define it.

Laura Lemus was formerly the Associate Director of Donor Engagement at HIP. She most recently served as the Senior Program Manager for Membership and Equitable Initiatives at the Environmental Grantmakers Association, where she led racial equity strategy and learning for Board, staff, and membership. Before EGA, Laura was the Program & Communications Associate at the Andrus Family Fund after completing one of the country’s top leadership programs, the National Urban Fellows, which culminated with a Master of Public Administration from the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. Throughout her career, Laura has been committed to several social justice issues, including immigration advocacy work at Long Island Wins and gender equity work at the United Nations as a Youth Representative for Soroptimist International, an NGO that empowers women and girls globally. In her spare time, Laura enjoys dining in NYC, reading, and spending time with her loved ones.

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This profile is part of HIP's "Intersections of Resilience" series, highlighting Latine leaders reimagining environmental and climate justice through their unique experiences and visionary leadership. You can read more about the series featuring