VISTA—FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS: How one volunteer 
helps her community to connect with nature and a 
brighter future…ahead on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas 

They say you can never go home again. Just don’t 
tell that to Nicole Roque (RO-k). After graduating 
college, she moved back to El Paso; in March, she 
took a job as an AmeriCorps volunteer with TPW.

05—AmeriCorps is a national service program designed 
to alleviate poverty.

Headquartered at Franklin Mountains State Park, 
Nicole says a question she usually gets is:

03—How are you alleviating poverty [via] parks?

Research supports the theory that people who 
engage the outdoors 30 minutes to one hour a day 
are happier, healthier and smarter. 

07—Kids do better in school, they have higher self-
esteem. They’re just more confident in general. It’s more 
than just going out and hiking.

A solid education, a high level of confidence and 
good self-esteem are all tools that help people to 
move beyond barriers and to lean into success.

10—We’re definitely looking to help kids feel more 
welcome by environmental science careers and STEM (?) 
careers in general – and strengthen them in that way.

Tomorrow Nicole tells us about a program where El 
Pasoans turn trash into art while learning about 
environmental stewardship. 

That's our show for today… Funding provided in 
part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti. 


Total sound bite time:		        0:25.0
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