We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Luisana Mendez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Luisana below.

Luisana , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken in my life was leaving my home country, Venezuela, in 2018.
At that time, I was an established professional— a civil engineer with a master’s degree in urban planning and over 14 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. I had my own business, ongoing projects, financial stability, and a strong support network of family and friends. But the deepening political, economic, and social crisis in Venezuela forced me to make a painful and life-changing decision: to emigrate.

Leaving everything behind—my career, my community, my language, and my culture—to start over in the United States was a leap into the unknown. I arrived in Minnesota without knowing anyone, facing not just an unfamiliar language and climate, but also the emotional weight of starting from scratch.

Amid this vulnerability, I began to rebuild myself. Nature became a source of healing, grounding, and connection. Through that process, I reconnected with my essence, rediscovered my purpose, and in 2021, I founded Huellas Latinas, a nonprofit organization that empowers Latinx immigrants through outdoor experiences that promote well-being, environmental awareness, and a sense of belonging.

What started as a tremendous risk—filled with fear, loss, and uncertainty—ultimately became the path to personal growth, resilience, and the creation of something meaningful that now impacts many lives beyond my own.

Luisana , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Luisana, and I’m the founder and executive director of Huellas Latinas, a nonprofit organization based in Minnesota that promotes connection to nature, wellness, and environmental conservation within the Latinx community.

Huellas Latinas was born from my own immigrant experience. When I arrived in the U.S. from Venezuela in 2018, I faced many of the challenges immigrants go through: cultural barriers, the emotional weight of starting over, social isolation, and a search for new purpose. In the midst of that transition, nature became a space of healing, reconnection, and empowerment for me. It was during those first hikes in Minnesota parks that the idea to create a community space for other Latinx individuals began to take shape.

Since 2021, Huellas Latinas has offered free or low-cost outdoor programs—guided hikes, forest therapy walks, family camping trips, environmental education workshops, and a podcast in Spanish—all designed to promote belonging, emotional and physical well-being, and to reduce the cultural and economic barriers that often prevent access to nature.

What sets us apart is that we approach this work through a culturally relevant lens, offering our programs in Spanish and with a deep commitment to community, healing, and environmental justice. It’s not just about going outside—it’s about creating safe and inclusive spaces where people feel seen, represented, and empowered to care for themselves and the planet.

I’m deeply proud of how Huellas Latinas has become a platform for transformation for so many Latinx individuals in Minnesota. We’ve built community, supported mental health, opened up new opportunities, and created bridges between Latinx culture and the local environmental movement.

If there’s one thing I want new audiences to know, it’s this:
Huellas Latinas is more than outdoor activities—it’s a space for healing, rediscovery, and walking together, step by step, toward a healthier, more connected, and more conscious life.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One of the experiences that best reflects my resilience was the process of rediscovering myself after emigrating.
It wasn’t just about moving to another country—it was about rebuilding myself from the inside out. When I arrived in Minnesota in 2018, I left behind not only my professional career, my home, and my country, but also a part of me that no longer fit in this new reality.

I had to adapt to a new language, a harsh climate, and an unfamiliar environment, all while facing the uncertainty of starting over from scratch. In the midst of that transition, I turned to something that helped me heal and reconnect with myself: nature. Walking through Minnesota’s parks became a form of resistance, self-care, and deep connection.

From that experience, Huellas Latinas was born—an organization I founded in 2021 to support other Latinx immigrants on similar paths of healing, wellness, and belonging through outdoor experiences.
What began as a moment of loss and uncertainty has grown into a project that builds community, creates impact, and helps many others discover their own resilience in nature.

For me, resilience is not just about bouncing back—it’s about transforming pain into purpose and building something meaningful out of the unknown.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe what has helped build my reputation within my community and market is the alignment between my values, my personal story, and the purpose behind my work.
My experience as a Latina immigrant has allowed me to genuinely connect with others who have gone through similar processes of adaptation, loss, and rebuilding. That authentic connection builds trust, closeness, and a strong sense of belonging—key elements in community work.

From the very beginning, I have led Huellas Latinas with clear values: empathy, inclusion, equity, and a deep commitment to the well-being of our community. I don’t just offer outdoor programs; I create safe and welcoming spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported.

Maintaining transparent communication, showing tangible results, and building relationships based on respect and collaboration—with both participants and partner organizations—have also been essential in strengthening that reputation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.huellaslatinas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huellas.latinas/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuellasLatinasMN
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/huellas-latinas/?viewAsMember=true
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@huellaslatinas9030

Image Credits

Image credits belong to Huellas Latinas