‘Together Outdoors’ DEQ Initiative Reflects on 1st Anniversary

RV Business

Together Outdoors (TO) is marking its first year by launching several new tools (included below) for people around the country who are supporting TO’s mission to build a more inclusive outdoors, but first TO’s Coalition Lead, Gerry Seavo James reflects on what has been an inspiring, thrilling, and challenging beginning:

“Together Outdoors is a coalition committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the outdoor recreation experience. It was born out of outdoor industry leaders asking how they could help foster education and desperately needed change highlighted by the 2020 racial injustice movement that propelled many segments of American society into a period of self-examination and learning. Outdoors industry leaders were among those asking, ‘how did we get here and how can we help foster change?’

We all know, or think, that getting outdoors is great, but it is not always great for everyone. Feelings of exclusion, real or perceived threats of violence, lack of accessibility, and difficulties in outdoor career advancement have limited the extent to which all Americans spend time outside. The outdoor community, our systems, and our culture must evolve to better welcome our collective diversity —in race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, income status, and many other factors. The initial interactions that participants have with outdoor advocates like park rangers, guides, dealers, or gear shop employees can make or break their feelings of safety and belonging in the outdoors.

Together Outdoors unites outdoor businesses, agencies, and nonprofits to help ensure positive outdoor experiences and enable lifetimes of outdoor recreation for underrepresented groups, including Black and other People of Color, Indigenous People, Disabled People, the LGBTQ+ community, recent immigrants, and those of different socioeconomic statuses. And most importantly, TO amplifies and supports the work of the individuals, groups, and communities doing this work on the ground.

Together Outdoors’ initial efforts were inward facing, as the coalition focused on educating coalition members on the history of exclusionary practices in the outdoors and the challenges that remain for members of under-represented groups who seek to enjoy America’s outdoor spaces.

Together Outdoors Members and New Initiatives:

Meet TO’s Members, Over 100 Strong – TO’s members include over 100 businesses, non-profits, grassroots groups, and government agencies who have joined the coalition to help create a more accessible and welcoming outdoor environment. Together Outdoors advances this cause by providing members with learning opportunities, resources, and experiences to support their unique journeys and unlock their ability to contribute to this transformational effort.

Resource Hub Beta Launch – This innovative online database provides a wealth of curated information dedicated to understanding how we can build an outdoor community where everyone belongs. These materials include books, articles, research papers, videos, podcasts, and toolkits. Additionally, the hub includes a directory of inclusion-related outdoor organizations, a grant opportunity directory, and the ability to host web-based training programs. The platform will be launched as a Beta with user feedback providing the basis for constant upgrades and improvements.

Inclusive Spaces Program – Together Outdoors, in partnership with the Trust for Public Land, is piloting a program to help recreation space operators and public land management agencies improve accessibility and inclusion in their spaces. Findings from the pilot program, conducted in the Chattanooga, TN region, will be used to develop best practices in every area of outdoor space operation, including the design of physical facilities, staff trainings, storytelling, and language used in printed materials and signage.

“Spending time in the outdoors is a balm to many of the challenges we face today, and has a transformational effect on the health, resiliency, and well-being of communities everywhere,” said I Ling Thompson, Senior Vice President at Trust for Public Land. “That is why it is essential we make the outdoors accessible and welcoming to all. That effort requires matching strategic investments with expertise in breaking down barriers and is why we are thrilled to partner with Together Outdoors to make real progress on connecting everyone to the outdoors.”

Branding and Merchandise – Together Outdoors is pleased to unveil its new logo, which visually conveys the coalition’s message of accessibility and inclusion across all aspects of the outdoor experience. Together Outdoors’ new online store offers logoed clothing that allows people to show their support for TO and a more accessible and welcoming outdoors for all people.

Grant Program – TO recently debuted a grant program designed to support organizations on the front lines of the effort to build a more accessible, welcoming outdoor ecosystem thanks to support from THOR Industries and Winnebago Industries. To help offset the history of exclusion of marginalized communities in the grant-making process, TO’s criteria will give priority to individuals from those communities, as well as organizations run by members of those groups.

The 2022 grants focus on:

Research and Resources – The development of effective research and resources around inclusion in the outdoors, i.e., toolkits, research papers, guides, and audio and video resources.

Activating Change Outdoors – Outdoor recreation-related programming, events, and leadership development initiatives that benefit communities of color and intersecting minority groups.

Together Outdoors’ efforts also benefit from the wisdom and engagement of the coalition’s Advisory Council and Governance Councils, whose members are steeped in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts and who provide vital recommendations to the Together Outdoors team on programming and initiatives.

Additional Commentary and Reflection from Coalition Members and Partners:

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/together-outdoors-deq-initiative-reflects-on-1st-anniversary/