Doing the Work: Next Steps for Outdoor Alliance's Advocacy For Equality Outdoors
Photo credit: Fezbot2000
As people across America have protested police brutality, racial injustice, and white supremacy, the outdoor community has also been reckoning with its role in combating systematic racism and in striving for a more just world.
Here at Outdoor Alliance, we know we can do more to examine and dismantle racism and white supremacy in the outdoors, from better representing the diverse population of people that get outside on public lands and waters to advocating for policies that advance not just sustainable access, but also equitable access to outdoor places. While much of this work is ongoing, we also recognize the need to accelerate our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work.
Here are some of the ways we intend to take action moving forward, and what the outdoor community can do to make a difference:
Advocate not just for sustainable outdoor recreation, but for greater and more equitable opportunities for outdoor access through initiatives like the Great American Outdoors Act that will fund new parks and green spaces across the country.
Diversify our photos to reflect the diversity of Americans who get outside on public lands and waters. We will invest in establishing a more diverse set of imagery. If you are interested in licensing or sharing your photos, or know of a photographer with a diverse portfolio, please contact us.
Amplify the good work of the Black- and brown-led organizations in the outdoor community working on equity, stewardship, access, and conservation issues, including Outdoor Afro, HECHO, and Hispanic Access Foundation. These partners have been generous for years in sharing their insights and resources, and we want to continue to offer our resources and reach, including GIS capabilities, in return.
Better account for equity and racial justice across many aspects of our policy work, for example our coalition climate campaign and efforts to protect NEPA. There can be no climate justice without also addressing racial justice, since the effects of climate change disproportionately affect the Black community.
Continue to highlight the work of a diverse set of advocates in our Outdoor Allies series.
Increase focus on equitable access in our policy work, continuing our advocacy for bills like Sen. Harris’s “Outdoors For All,” Rep. Huffman’s “Active Transportation Act,” and Sen. Booker’s “Transit to Trail Act,” as well as Sen. Wyden’s “Recreation Not Red-Tape Act.”
Vote! Voting remains one of our most powerful advocacy tools. Vote for candidates that reflect your values, and who are committed to advocating for policy that protects the outdoors and the lives of black, brown, indigenous, and people of color. You can check your voter registration right here.
Internally, we will continue our work and training on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion issues. We have knowledgeable advisors and the full commitment of our board of directors to pursue this work. As we continue internal strategic planning, we will also be integrating these issues more deeply into our organizational plans, as well as convening leadership within our coalition of ten membership groups to advocate for how the entire outdoor community can better address systematic racism and inequality in our conservation work.