For Nadia Iris Mercado, her connection to nature begins with her mom. Growing up in a working-class community with her single mother, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Nadia found her love for the outdoors in her backyard. In Mi Mamá, Nadia reflects on her mother’s story of resilience and the sacrifices she made to realize her daughter’s dreams. Now, as a cardiac nurse, athlete, and advocate, Nadia continues to find connection to ancestry through reclaiming outdoor spaces. This is an inter-generational story of Nadia Mercado and her mother Clariza Valdez and their intertwining journey to healing through the outdoors.
