Engage, Educate, Activate
Rooted in the vibrant cultures we serve, we work to engage, educate, and activate Latino communities across the Chesapeake Bay and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Through partnerships with nonprofits, private enterprises, and public organizations, we help create meaningful connections between grassroots movements and the organizations that can amplify their impact.
Our Knowledge About Communities
We don’t just work in these communities—we are part of them. Our knowledge of their strengths, struggles, and values allows us to foster authentic relationships that drive real change.
Our Mission
To connect and empower Latino communities in the pursuit of social and environmental justice through meaningful engagement, education, and activism across the Chesapeake Bay Region.
Our Vision
A world where Latinos leave their green footprint on the Earth, shaping a more just, sustainable, and thriving future for all.
Our Belief
ecoLatinos operates on the premise that Latinos deserve to be a part of the growing environmental movement to protect and conserve Madre Tierra. The world is stronger when all communities can come together under the common goal of sustainability.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
In the environmental movement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are essential for creating innovative solutions, ensuring fair access to resources, and empowering marginalized communities to contribute their expertise in the larger movement. Prioritizing DEI strengthens the movement and produces more effective strategies for preservation and conservation.
Environmental Justice
Communities of color have historically faced disproportionate effects of climate change. With issues such as increased proximity to hazardous waste and pollution, there is a need to bridge the gap to reduce climate inequity.
ecoLatinos in the News
Why Language Matters in the Environmental Field
Equitable Landscaping – Green Infrastructure Training for Latino Landscape Professionals
Ruby Stemmle
Founder and CEO of ecoLatinos
Ruby R. Stemmle leads ecoLatinos, a transformative nonprofit advancing Latino leadership in climate action, conservation, and environmental justice across the Chesapeake Bay region. Originally from Colombia, she brings creativity, heart, and deep community connections to everything she does. Under her leadership, ecoLatinos has become a vibrant force for change—training Latino landscapers in sustainable practices, inspiring youth to become environmental stewards, and uniting local governments and faith groups to restore and protect natural spaces across the Chesapeake Bay region. With more than two decades in public service and community engagement, Ruby is a bridge-builder—connecting people, cultures, and environmental institutions to create a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.
Sergio García Mejía
Director of Programs & Science
Sergio is a civil engineer with integrated water resources and disaster management specializations. He holds a BA in Civil Engineering from the University of San Carlos in Guatemala and a Civil Engineering MSc and PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park. Originally from Guatemala, Sergio came to Maryland, USA, as a Fulbright Scholar in 2018.
Sergio has a passion for integrating science, public policy, community participation, and education. He contributed to advancing Environmental Justice policy analyses during his time as a Sea Grant Knauss Fellow in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. His multidisciplinary research explores intersections of disaster resilience, human societies, and infrastructure.
Sergio has worked in municipal planning in rural and semi-rural Guatemala and has served for several years as a tutor in educational projects in marginalized neighborhoods of Guatemala City.
Sergio is an advocate for environmental justice and disaster resilience. He has presented his research at major international conferences on disaster risk reduction, and he regularly collaborates with journalists as an analyst for investigative reporting on environmental issues in Guatemala.
As the Director of Programs at ecoLatinos, Sergio oversees program development and delivery, as well as the expansion of inclusive, culturally sensitive programs that drive environmental and community-centered impact.
Jeidy T. Barrios
Program Manager
Jeidy T. Barrios is a first-generation Guatemalan American from Lynn, Massachusetts, and an environmental and human rights advocate with a regional focus on Central America.
She has served in roles across research, fieldwork, and public engagement, including as an international observer with Witness for Peace Solidarity Collective in Honduras, where she supported Indigenous and campesino communities facing environmental and human rights threats.
In her role as Program Manager at ecoLatinos, she designs and manages community-centered programming for Latino and marginalized communities that advances environmental justice, expands language access, and strengthens workforce development pathways.
Jeidy holds graduate degrees in International Affairs and Natural Resources & Sustainable Development from American University and the UN University for Peace.
Victor Ramírez, JD, 2018, Chair
Is a seasoned trial attorney and the principal owner of the Law Office of Victor R. Ramirez, LLC. He is the former state delegate and state senator for District 47 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Ramirez is also Vice President of the Salvadoran-American Chamber of Commerce and Trustee of Prince George’s Community College.
Michael D. Burke, 2022, Board Member
Is the Director of Clean Water Partnership’s Contractor Development and Mentor Protégé Programs. He is also a John Maxwell certified coach, trainer, and speaker, as well as a TTI Success Insights VAA, with 30 years of experience helping businesses and individuals reach their full potential.
Lora Harris, 2025, Member
Lora Harris is an estuarine ecologist who studies nutrient dynamics, primary production, and ecosystem function in estuaries, focusing on how climate and management influence water quality. Dedicated to community engagement, she values communicating science to both policymakers and academic audiences. Dr. Harris earned her B.S. from Smith College, Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island, and completed a postdoc at the Marine Biological Laboratory before joining the faculty in Maryland.
Sarah Hall Aguila, 2025, Member
Sarah lived and worked in El Salvador, first as a volunteer with Brethren Volunteer Service, teaching English and conflict resolution skills with youth, then as Grassroots Program Coordinator with the SHARE Foundation, building relationships with Salvadoran communities and faith groups in the United States. A common theme in Sarah's career trajectory is relationship building, and has consistently served as a bridge in her many roles in Central America and in the US.
Carlo Sanchez, 2022, Member
Is an Assistant Director of Public Safety at Montgomery College as well as the Chapter Chair for Sierra Club Maryland Chapter. He is also an American politician who served as a Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly representing Maryland’s 47th Legislative District in northwestern Prince George’s County from 2015 to 2019.
Advisors and Consultants
Climate and Sustainability Program Director at Environmental Finance Center
Special Events Consultant
Director of Data Justice, College Park Scholars, University of Maryland
Community Outreach Consultant
Regenerative Land Management Specialist, Maryland NCPPC, Department of Park and Recreation, Prince George's County