Welcome to Week 2!
View the full challenge online where you can view past weeks and navigate via the table of contents.
WEEK 2 - People and Stories
Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. - Chimamanda Adichie, from her TED Talk, The Danger of a Single Story.
-Challenge
Go to the library, browse online, or buy several outdoor magazines and look at the articles, imagery, and ads.
-Questions/Reflections
- Whose stories are centered? Whose voices are heard? How/is diversity shown?
- Whom do you believe this publication is targeting?
- Did you learn anything about diversity & inclusion from the stories & imagery?
- What or who did you find that impressed you?
- Did you find anyone actively working to grow a more inclusive and equitable outdoor community? Is there a way you would want to support them? Even something as small as telling a friend about them can make a difference.
-My Experience
From my challenge experience this week, I was most impressed by Outside. It wasn't just their flagship site Outsideonline.com that impressed me, although it did. I also spent a little time learning about their corporate values and approach to inclusion by studying their 2022 Impact Report. Have a look and see what you think.
-Related Links
At the risk of oversharing, 😁 here are links to a few things that I came across on my challenge this week.
5000 Schools and How Julius Rosenwald’s Revolutionary Project Changed America from the National Parks magazine.
Molly Cameron Never Wanted to Be Anyone But Herself, from Bicycling magazine.
In Florida, a Program Helps Children of Migrant Farmworkers Connect to the Outdoors from Sierraclub.org, the magazine of the Sierra Club.
Followed in Plain Site, by Shilletha Curtis from Backpackinglight.comm
Outdoor Industry-wide diversity and inclusion at the In Solidarity Project.
Sometimes learning a little about a publication's target audience is worth a detour, as it was for me to learn a few shocking stats about cycling and also get a little perspective on mountain biking and identity from David Robles.
Follow-up: Last week, I mentioned an article by Latria Graham that was published on Outdsideonline.com: We're Here. You Just Don't See Us. Here's a link to an interview with Latria and also a second article: Out Here, No One Can Hear You Scream. You can visit her website to view more of her writing. The first sentence on her website says, "Social issues deserve subplots." So true.
-Sneak Peek
Kristen Walker and Diamon Clark have paired together with the Sierra Club on a mission to showcase Black joy and inclusivity in the National Parks as part of the Sierra Club's Outdoors for All Initiative. They're calling their series, Our Parks Too. They recently visited Congaree National Park, which happens to be where I’m going next week. Get a sneak peek by watching their video about Congaree National Park.
-Speak Up
If you want to get a jump on the Speak Up part of our Challenge, here's an advocacy opportunity through the Sierra Club to use your voice to support the Outdoors for All Act that is before Congress.
Thanks for reading. If you're interested in building a more inclusive community and world, I'm sure you know others who are too. Please share this newsletter with a colleague or friend.
This newsletter is a publication from State of Inclusion.