From making trips to Washington D.C. to provide input on initiatives ranging from Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign to providing ideas to the Department of Interior on ways to engage African American families in outdoor recreation, Rue Mapp, Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO, realized, “I can’t do all of this myself,” and sought out more leaders to work along side her to engage more African Americans with the outdoors.
Over the past four months, she recruited thirteen Outdoor Afro volunteers (“disciples” she likens them to), who share her passion for nature and connecting more people to it. But these folks are not just advocates. They will organize outdoor activities across the country, from day hikes to overnight camping trips.
The Outdoor Afro Leadership Team (OALT) will organize trips on a quarterly basis, but Rue is prepared for the effort to grow beyond that.
Leveraging the Outdoor Afro social media community to recruit volunteers, she said, “I feel blessed to have found a group of like-minded people who can help literally move African Americans into the outdoors in greater numbers than I could alone.” The team represents a wonderfully diverse group from around the country, with a range of interests and expertise.
All regional leaders will be organizing day hikes, casual recreation, camping trips, bicycle rides and other activities on a quarterly basis and in their local regions.
Schedules of upcoming outings will be posted on Outdoor Afro as they become available, and check out the newly-launched Meet-Up groups as well:
Outdoor Afro thanks REI, the national outdoor retail cooperative, KEEN Shoes, and Camp-California who are sponsoring the OALT with gear and practical support to inform trip ideas and support our success!
Douglas “Birdman” Grey, Outdoor Afro Contributor If you haven’t...
I always remind people that there are many ways to engage with nature. I have found bird...
Great looking group of people.
I agree!
Sent from a hand held device. Apologies for typos or brevity.
Welcome everyone to the family! This is awesome Rue, great work!!!
Thank you! So excited!
Sent from a hand held device. Apologies for typos or brevity.
aww check my sis out!
I’ll def be on the lookout for the outings in the Bay Area while I’m there
We have one coming up soon! Check out the Bay Area MeetUp for details!
Rue
This is awesome. I love that the team includes a neighbor I had not heard of. Can someone connect me with fellow Bronxite Charles Yellowday?
Sincerely, Morgan Powell, Bronx River Sankofa editor
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bronx-River-Sankofa-African-American-History-of-the-Bronx-River-in-NYC/142834315808816