Founder of the Acequia Institute, Scholar-Activist in Indigenous Agroecology

Peña has dedicated his work to preserving traditional acequia irrigation systems and promoting sustainable farming practices in the Southwest. His efforts bridge cultural heritage and ecological resilience, empowering communities to protect land, water, and food sovereignty.

Devon will be speaking about the San Luis Food Sovereignty Initiative, which aims to improve community health outcomes in Costilla County—where diabetes and obesity rates are two to three times the state average—by reviving traditional acequia farming systems, growing healthy heritage crops, and connecting farmers and interns to the community through the San Luis Peoples Market as it transitions into a community food cooperative.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.