It is no secret that diversifying the outdoors has been a common thread on social media for the past few years. Diversify Outdoors is the brainchild of a savvy and diverse group of individuals and organizations that saw a seed of potential and came together to help make real their goal: Promote diversity in outdoor spaces where people of color, 2SLGBTQ+, and other diverse identities have historically been underrepresented. Diversify Outdoors is described as a coalition of social media influencers—comprised of bloggers, athletes, activists, and entrepreneurs—who share that collective vision. They are passionate advocates of promoting equity and access to the outdoors for all, which includes being body positive and celebrating people of all skill levels and abilities.
What Does Diversify Outdoors Do?
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Diversify Outdoors increases visibility and exposure for outdoorsy people in underrepresented groups by documenting their experiences on the organization's blog and social channels, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. In addition to content creation, Diversify Outdoors engages in advocacy by building campaigns and organizing events at the grassroots level and beyond.
The team is made up of a few different positions that keep the wheels turning. The group was founded in 2018 by Danielle Williams, senior editor and founder of Melanin Base Camp, and co-founder of Team Blackstar Skydivers. Williams is an avid skydiver and a disabled Army veteran with 10.5 years of service. Dr. Logan D. A. Williams serves as the Diversify Outdoors business manager. Williams has co-authored chapters on Colorado and Texas in the 2010 report Building Clean-Energy Industries and Green Jobs: Policy Innovations at the State and Local Government Level. The team is rounded out by social media graphic artist Sarai Pak, social media coordinator Shi-Lynn Campbell, membership coordinator Jess LaPolla, and assistant editor Khristina Rhead.
Diversify Outdoors is a paid membership organization that depends on the engagement of members to be successful. The members are people who are invested in the mission to promote diversity in the outdoors. Members include folks on all levels of the advocacy spectrum. There are members whose full-time work focuses on organizing and advocating for diversity and equity in the outdoors, and there are individuals who do that work while also balancing full-time careers in separate fields.
Some Diversify Outdoors members are digital influencer leaders who are regularly sought after to be featured in nationally distributed magazines, newspapers, podcasts, radio shows, documentaries, and digital media. Some members hold leadership positions in environmental, conservation and outdoors recreation organizations. Other members might work with businesses and brands as ambassadors and consultants. Still others engage in this advocacy work behind the scenes, less visible but no less important.
Looking Ahead
The Diversify Outdoors coalition aims to grow its community and provide resources to others seeking information, allyship, and collaboration opportunities. Those interested in becoming a member can find information on the website and check out some of the social media content using the hashtag #diversifyoutdoors.
