Equity in the Outdoors:
Our Commitment to Change
Dear Supporters,
At Color My Outdoors, we are dedicated to being a beacon of inclusivity, justice, and equity within the outdoor industry. Our mission transcends traditional boundaries, aiming to inspire systemic change across industries. Our work challenges and transforms the narratives, structures, and systems that perpetuate racial inequities. We actively dismantle stereotypes and systemic barriers, empowering People of Color to reclaim their rightful place as enthusiasts and stewards of the great outdoors.
While Color My Outdoors’ mission is specific to racial equity, we expressly believe that everyone–regardless of their race, ethnicity, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, education, and/or socioeconomic background–should have equal access to nature, outdoor spaces, and outdoor recreational activities. We seek to amplify the voices of those who have historically been marginalized in the outdoor narrative, centering and celebrating their stories in all our endeavors.
Achieving equity requires ongoing self-reflection, continuous learning, and a commitment to challenging our own biases. We commit to holding ourselves accountable to our equity goals. We will continually measure and track our progress, transparently share our successes and challenges, and adapt our strategies to ensure meaningful and lasting change.
Through storytelling, advocacy, education, and community engagement, Color My Outdoors will foster a culture of belonging in the outdoors that can spark generational change.
Respectfully,
Color My Outdoors Board & Staff
Want to Learn More?
Here are some of the specific ways we demonstrate our commitment to equity:
Representation
First and foremost, we strive to show diverse voices and perspectives in our leadership, staff, and board. Color My Outdoors is led by a Black woman and fiscally managed by a board of directors that reflects the diversity we promote. We actively seek individuals from different backgrounds to ensure diverse viewpoints are represented in our decision-making processes.
Safe & Inclusive Spaces
Color My Outdoors prioritizes creating safe and inclusive spaces for all participants involved in our programs and activities. By partnering with diverse-led organizations or strong allies with intentional equity practices and by promoting affinity groups/events, we foster an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing themselves, sharing their stories, and participating fully in outdoor experiences.
Storytelling
Color My Outdoors was founded with the understanding that a key factor contributing to the under-representation of People of Color in the outdoors stems from the fact that our nation’s history lessons and the outdoor industry have excluded all but the white male from the stories told about the outdoors. By hosting events where stories are told by People of Color about People of Color in the outdoors, we aim to challenge stereotypes and change the narrative.
Financial Aid Opportunities
Color My Outdoors seeks to alleviate financial barriers for People of Color to access the outdoors. Financial aid opportunities include fiscal sponsorships and mini-grants for diverse-led, mission-aligned organizations; individual scholarships for conferences, leadership development training, and wilderness medicine or water safety certifications; and discounted pricing on gear/events through partnerships. We are also open to collaborative grants with diverse-led organizations.
Partnerships
Color My Outdoors collaborates with diverse community organizations, nonprofits, and stakeholders. While allyship is imperative to our success, we prioritize relationships with other diverse-led organizations. When considering partnerships with cis-gender, white, and/or male-led ally organizations, we employ a vetting process to ensure our allies are mission-aligned and will actively support our equity goals. This approach helps to create meaningful collaborations and maximize the positive impact on racial equity and diversity in the outdoor industry.
Language
We are constantly listening to our supporters and adjusting our language to be reflective of what is welcoming and inclusive. As a practice, in conversations with an individual, we trust that the best language to describe that person is the term they use to describe themselves. In our content, we make an effort to steer away from language that is controversial, ambiguous, or dismissive. We deliberately choose to ignore grammar rules and we ALWAYS capitalize the first letter when speaking about those people who have historically been marginalized. We most often refer to our audience as “People of Color” or “Black and Brown” folks
This work toward equity is a journey, not a one-time event. Together, in a collaborative effort with other diverse-led organizations and our allied organizations, we will pursue a future where the outdoors is a space of belonging, healing, joy, and empowerment for all. We invite individuals, organizations, and communities to join us on this journey as we pave the way for a more equitable and just outdoor industry for generations to come.