Nature is for Everyone: Equity in the Outdoors
Nature is nurturing. As we cope with an unraveling of an imperialist governance structure + reimagine what a liberated future looks like for us all, it’s only natural to seek solace + grounding from nature. We need to keep natural spaces accessible to all. Tap in to the 6th episode of The Joy Report to learn about the organizations and heroes fighting for equity + inclusion in the outdoors
"The Joy Report" is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality, optimism, and joy. Tune in to hear stories and updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct, accessible way by Arielle King (@ariellevking), an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education.
Episode Transcript
“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. This podcast aims to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”
Episode Agenda
In this episode, we’re discussing inclusion and accessibility in outdoor spaces, whichever form they take.
Main Topic
Malcom X once said: “Revolution is based on land. Land is the basis of all independence. Land is the basis of freedom, justice, and equality.”
For millennia, human beings have thrived by connecting with nature in ways that feel right for them. With the rise of industrialization + globalization, the relationship between humanity and the outdoors was fissured, in a very intentional way. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, on average, Americans spend 87% of their life inside buildings and 6% of their lives in automobiles.
Nature is for everyone and as people, it’s our duty to protect our collective home and maintain its accessibility to all. Humans’ symbiotic relationship with nature has lasted for millennia; if it were any other way, we wouldn’t be here. With everything going on in our world over the last few weeks, spending time outdoors is probably one of the most nurturing and restorative privileges we can tap into right now. We all deserve the appropriate time to rest and process all that we’re seeing in the news and scrolling past on our feeds. We have every right to be angry— but our energy can’t stop there. Advocacy is a mindset. Remaining optimistic amidst calamity is a choice.
As Sherri Mitchell wrote in her book Sacred Instructions: Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change, “thankfully even in the darkest night, we can anticipate the coming of a new dawn. What we are seeing now is only part of the story. In order to see the larger picture, we must once again expand our vision. We must be willing to step back and look at the long view of conscious evolution. When we do, we begin to realize that what appears to be a time of darkness, descent, and destruction is a time of new birth.”
In the midst of chaos, we can ground ourselves and expand our perspectives around what a liberated and equitable future might look like if we take time to unplug and step outside. Nature is nurturing. Spending time outside has countless benefits— from increased endorphins to reduced irritability and lowered blood pressure. Being outdoors has also been found to keep stress and feelings of loneliness at bay. It’s no wonder so many of us spent time outside the house— in whatever ways we could access the outdoors — during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when the pandemic was at its peak. Let’s rewind a bit here, though. Almost three quarters of people who spent time participating in traditional outdoor activities in 2020 were white.
Are we surprised? Most recreational and preserved outdoor areas historically exclude Black, Indigenous, and other non white communities. In 2020, it was found that low-income communities and nonwhite communities have a higher chance of living in areas that are nature deprived, with little to no access to parks, paths, and green spaces.
The historical legacies of structural and systemic racism uphold a huge disparity in access to safe, healthy outdoor spaces for many people of color. A 2020 study commissioned by the Hispanic Access Foundation and the Center for American Progress found that the United States has fewer forests, streams, wetlands, and other natural places near communities that are predominantly Black, Latino, and Asian American. And in another report released that year, the Outdoor Foundation explains that adults who were not exposed to outdoor recreation as children are far less likely to participate as adults.
Redlining, forced migration, and economic segregation are just a few of the ways environmental racism has been institutionalized to further disconnect BIPOC communities across the US from access to clean, healthy outdoor areas. Until the mid twentieth century, many state and national parks posted signs that read “for whites only.” Not to mention the vast majority of beaches and public swimming areas such as pools, creeks, lakes expanded the gap in accessing nature for recreation and joy. The legacy of these policies, and subsequent status quo, has left longstanding reverberations in communities of color.
Inevitably, mainstream environmentalism has traditionally excluded people of color from leadership or any involvement in the movement to preserve our planet. In many cases, the ways in which excluded groups of color view, understand, and practice connectedness with the Earth, can differ from the standard practices being taken today. By listening to communities of color and supporting them in leading the fight to preserve our planet, we can shape more holistic ways of protecting the planet, while advocating for the needs and perspectives of those most impacted by the climate crisis.
Scientists are urging policymakers to protect at least 30% of U.S. lands and ocean areas by the year 2030 to address the climate crisis. Let’s pause for a moment. These pushes to preserve natural areas generally fail to mention preserving access to these landscapes for all people. In pushing for conservation policy, we must make sure these policies ensure equitable access to nature for all people, regardless of their race, ability, socioeconomic status, or proximity to what we consider traditional outdoor recreational spaces.
Unfortunately, when marginalized people do spend time outdoors, discrimination, violence, and intimidation are constant threats to their peace and joy. Those who spend time participating in outdoor activities risk being targeted, stereotyped, or even harmed for enjoying nature or trying to protect it. Thankfully, there are many people and organizations working tirelessly to change this narrative and reclaim our rightful place within a safe and accessible outdoor environment.
For this episode of the Joy Report, we’re spotlighting dynamic individuals who have dedicated their careers to making the outdoors accessible for all, so we can restore and heal our relationships with nature, and nurture ourselves by being in nature.
Featured Story
Throughout history, pioneers of all races, ages, and abilities have achieved tremendous feats in the outdoors.
In 1990, Bill Irwin hiked the Appalachian trail from Georgia to Maine over the course of 8 months. He was the first blind person to complete the hike.
Betty Reid Soskin is the Nation’s oldest park ranger. She retired at the age of 100 back in March of this year after leading public programs at the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historic Park in Richmond, California.
Evelyn Escobar, who founded the California-based organization, Hike Clerb, recently explained in a New York Times interview that “there are so many people around the country who just want to feel a sense of belonging and be able to tap into the healing energy of a collective space outside.”
This sentiment has been seen and felt over the last few years as we’ve watched the emergence and expansion of organizations with the common intention of making the outdoors more inclusive, diverse, and accessible:
Let’s take Jaylyn Gough for example. They created Native Women’s Wilderness, an organization aiming to elevate indigenous perspectives in the outdoor industry by sharing stories, and learning from one another through exploration and celebration of the wilderness and their native lands.
Syren Nagakyrie’s organization, Disabled Hikers, advocates for autonomy and representation for the disability community in the outdoor industry. The organization has developed a series of trail guides and a rating system to help disabled hikers anticipate what they’ll encounter before they begin hiking.
Or the founder of Color Outside, Nailah Blades Wylie. Her organization helps women of color harness the power of the outdoors to create the joy-filled, balanced lives they crave through coaching, workshops, and one-of-a-kind retreats.
What about Haroon Mota + their organization Muslim Hikers. They support Muslim people finding joy in the outdoors.
Or Pinar Sinopoulos-Lloyd, the co-founder of Queer Nature, a trans-run nature-based/naturalist education project serving mostly LGBTQ2+ people.
Some people used the unrest and uncertainty of 2020 to propel deeper commitments to ensuring the outdoors are inclusive, diverse, and accessible:
Like Kai Lightner, a professional rock climber who in 2020 launched Climbing for Change, an organization that provides role models and funding assistance to young climbers, with the goal of contributing to greater representation in all parts of the climbing and outdoor industries.
Or take Teresa, for example
And what gap exactly is she talking about?
[Unscripted interview with Teresa Baker— explaining the issue with diversity in the outdoors]
That gap.
[Unscripted interview with Teresa Baker]
You’re listening to the voice of one of Intersectional Environmentalist’s first council members, Teresa Baker: [Unscripted interview with Teresa Baker— personal introduction]
The In Solidarity Project’s goal is to reimagine the outdoor industry in a more inclusive and accessible way by providing communities across the United States with opportunities to participate in outdoor events that speak to culture, heritage, and lifestyle. To ensure accountability, the In Solidarity Project has developed the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge . [Unscripted interview with Teresa Baker]
This pledge helps connect leading outdoor brands with inclusion advocates to advance representation for people of color across the industry, with a focus on building relationships of support, empathy, and understanding, instead of external skepticism and internal stress, to move the outdoor industry closer toward authentic inclusion.
[TB interview: 13:04-13:35]
Teresa comes to this space with a wealth of knowledge, compassion, gratitude, and honor. She recognizes the role her identity has played in her current work:
[Unscripted interview with Teresa Baker]
She attributes much of her work and existence in this space to the legacy created by other Black environmentalists throughout history [Unscripted interview with Teresa Baker]
Teresa, and every other leader spotlighted in this episode represent just a small portion of the growing network of folks creating space for marginalized people to comfortably explore the outdoors, and reshape narratives associated with what nature means and what it’s supposed to look like. People of color and other marginalized communities have always been involved in environmental work, and we deserve to continue to do so safely, equitably, and without fear.
Topic Related Calls To Action
What can you do to help make the outdoors more inclusive and accessible?
Understand the history of exclusion in the environmental movement that has brought us to this place. Environmental racism is deeply embedded in the way conversation efforts have developed throughout American history. Countless Black, Indigenous, and people of color scholars have written about this history over the last few decades.
Hold your elected officials accountable to ensure equitable greenspace for all people. Scientists estimate that every dollar spent on creating and maintaining park trails can save almost three dollars in health care.
There are now countless organizations committed to this work. Find one near you, share their information, engage with their content to broaden their reach, volunteer, and donate if you can.
Positive News Stories
Here’s some positive climate and environmental news you should also know about:
Christian Cooper will host a brand new series on National Geographic called “Extraordinary Birder”. You might recall back in 2020 when the video Christian recorded of the heated, racially charged encounter he had with a white woman in New York’s Central Park who called the police and falsely claimed he was threatening her led to the development of Black Birder’s Week and other initiatives to amplify the existence of Black people in the environmental conservation space.
After a 13 year legal battle, indigenous Ogiek people in western Kenya have finally been granted reparations and their sovereignty over the largest indigenous forest in the country, where the tribe had been evicted multiple times.
President Biden has announced that he will invoke the Defense Production Act in response to the recent energy crisis spurred by fossil fuels and the invasion of Ukraine. The act will spur additional domestic manufacturing of solar panels, increase the production of parts needed for clean energy technology, and create a 2-year bridge to rapidly scale domestic renewable production.
Rue Mapp, the creator of Outdoor Afro, has a new book coming out this fall titled: “Nature Swagger: Stories and Visions of Black Joy in the Outdoors”. Make sure you pre-order your copy today.
IE + Community Updates
And in the world of Intersectional Environmentalist:
Our next Earth Sessions is taking place on July 17th in LA. If you’re unable to make it to this event, make sure to check out our Spotify playlist featuring local LA artists and follow our new events page at earth sessions dot IE on Instagram so you can be the first to know about upcoming in-person events. (@earthsessions.ie)
As people fighting to protect people and planet, the IE team is disheartened and adamantly opposes the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. We understand that reproductive justice is a critical part of environmental justice, and this current decision will have severe, adverse, and even deadly repercussions in low-income, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color communities across the United States. As such, we have been compiling a list of abortion access and reproductive justice resources that we will be sharing soon.
The team at IE also wants to encourage you to take care of yourselves in whatever way feels correct right now. There’s a lot happening in our world right, and maintaining our collective endurance to keep fighting for change is possible if we’re all individually taking breaks and getting proper rest when we can.
Closing Statement
As always, remember, fighting the climate crisis is a marathon, not a sprint. We need everyone to get involved in a way that feels right for them, now more than ever.
If you’ve been enjoying The Joy Report please don’t forget to leave us a review and rating on whichever platform you’re listening to this episode on right now.
Tune in next episode where we’ll be discussing regenerative agriculture. (…energy justice)
I’m your host, Arielle King, and thank you for listening to this episode of The Joy Report
