Latino Conservation Week Kick-Off

The Hispanic Access Foundation kicks off Latino Conservation Week (LCW) locally with an evening celebrating Hispanic culture, conservation, and the natural beauty of Houston’s Garden, with a focus on nature’s benefits to our well-bring.

LCW — Sept. 12-20, 2026 — is a national initiative created by the Hispanic Access Foundation to connect Latino communities with the outdoors and inspire long-term stewardship of our land, water, and air. By partnering with local spaces like the Garden, LCW works to dismantle historical barriers to outdoor recreation, celebrate the community’s deep cultural ties to nature, and elevate Latino voices in environmental advocacy. You can learn more at latinoconservationweek.com.

Non-member ticket price: $12/adult, $8/child/student/senior/military
Member ticket price: Free, per the benefit(s) of membership level

For an additional fee of $8 each, attendees can choose to take part in an hour-long yoga session (led by Jose Portillo) and/or an hour-long Zumba session (led by Sandi Morales).

Houston Botanic Garden offers free parking for Summer Saturdays programs.

5:00-6:00 p.m. – Viyasa Flow with Jose Portillo

Flow classes tend to be geared towards those that enjoy movement and the challenge of pushing yourself to new limits. Jose firmly believes in connecting the physical practice with the roots and philosophy of yoga, while at the same time getting participants connected to their bodies and finding their physical and internal growth. The event will feature a wide variety of musical genres (tribal, pop, Latin, classical, EDM, hip hop, R&B, rock, and current hits). Participants should bring their own mat, towel(s), and a refillable water bottle.

With certifications in vinyasa, meditation, trauma-informed yoga and yin/restorative training, Jose Portillo has a passion for creating experiences and spaces for people to meet themselves through movement and breath. The yoga practice has given him the tools to live a life that is authentic, intuitive, and powerfully connected to his purpose. His greatest desire is for others to find the same through his teachings of the practice. By connecting to that which gives us life, this practice of honoring the breath and the body by way of yoga asanas (postures) and pranayama (breath practice) helps us better connect to all the amazing things available to us here and now. More importantly, this practice offers us the freedom and the empowerment to seek our physical, mental, and spiritual growth.

6:30-7:30 p.m. Zumba with Sandi Morales

Sandi Morales is a Houston-area fitness instructor with a passion for Latin dance, movement, and community-centered wellness. In addition to teaching Zumba classes across the greater Houston region, she shares choreography, dance content, and performance videos on her YouTube channel, “SalsaSheek1,” where she highlights her love for salsa and Latin-inspired fitness. Known for creating upbeat, inclusive environments, Sandi combines fitness and dance to help people build confidence, stay active, and enjoy movement in a social setting. Her classes and online content emphasize fun, rhythm, and self-expression, making dance accessible to students of varying experience levels.