Environmental Resources Center: Agua Pura

Agua Pura: A Leadership Institute Planning Manual for Latino Communities

Pilot Study Description

The Agua Pura Leadership Institute in Santa Barbara County was designed by UC Cooperative Extension-Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara City College, County public health and water agencies and local Latino and environmental groups. The Institute was developed to provide support for youth leaders who can involve Latino youth in understanding local water quality issues and local water protection. The focus of the Institute was on local watershed issues, strategies to involve the Latino community and how resources should be adapted to local needs and interests. The Leadership Institute relied on local expertise to address environmental science, the arts, computer resources, youth qualities, and education processes. Education resources from Give Water A Hand, Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN), Adopt-A-Watershed, and California Aquatic Science Education Consortium (CASEC) served as the foundation for improving understanding of how to involve local youth in watershed protection. Latino community leaders and other community members were involved in learning to use these materials and then analyzed how the materials could be adapted for local use.

Agua Pura Continues

Relying on a small army of local college students led by one of the participants in the pilot Leadership Institute, Agua Pura continues to involve Latino youth and youth leaders throughout Santa Barbara County in workshops, camp programs, and after-school activities.

To learn more about the Agua Pura Project, or to learn more about conducting a leadership institute in your community, view or download a copy of the Agua Pura Manual below.

Agua Pura: A Leadership Institute Planning Manual for Latino Communities - Complete 53 pages

Cover and table of contents

For more information contact: Michael Marzolla, University of CA, Cooperative Extension, (805) 692-1730, ammarzolla@ucdavis.edu or The Environmental Resources Center, University of Wisconsin, 1-800-WATER20, erc@uwex.edu.