The Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge (Friends) was established in 2011 with a mission to help shape and support Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and foster a community conservation ethic by promoting environmental and cultural awareness through public educational programs and recreational opportunities. The Refuge and the Friends aim to create a gateway for urban dwellers to the natural world, with a special focus on young people, by providing opportunities to work at the Refuge and advise on Valle de Oro NWR’s design and restoration. Together we are building engagement and support for the protection and conservation of lands in Albuquerque and beyond, while championing a new era of conservation. One of the key ways the Refuge is rooted in its local community is through its nonprofit support group, the Friends of Valle de Oro NWR. Originally founded by a small group of community members to assist in the establishment of the Refuge, the Friends were instrumental in advocating for and safeguarding the 570-acre former dairy farm along the Rio Grande. The Friends now support educational and interpretive programming, habitat restoration, community outreach, refuge development, volunteer activities, as well as environmental justice and equitable access initiatives. The Friends are a valuable community liaison and build partnerships and capacity to address mutual goals and the needs of its local community of wildlife and people.