Brett Wiley
Brett's Summer Explore-A-Thon for Justice Outside
Fundraising for Justice Outside
Story
I grew up roaming around the neighborhood forest and fields with friends, biking to and from on trails around town, and camping & hiking across the country on family vacations. The outdoors felt comfortable and relaxing. The same cannot always be said for black, Indigenous, and other people of color.
I didn't know or consider at the time that this comfort and relaxation was because I was always welcomed. No one ever questioned my presence or asked where I was from, even when I hopped a fence or wandered around a campground. No one ever threatened me or called the police. Almost everyone around me, from Boy Scout leaders to park visitors to park rangers, were white. The same can be said today. People of color represent 42% of the U.S. population but less than 20% of National Parks staff and only 23% of the visitors are people of color.
What would the outdoors feel like if everyone was welcomed, and participation - from recreation to workforce - represented the world we live in?
I want to be part of that solution and it's why I joined the Board of Justice Outside (formerly Youth Outside. New name, same mission) to work on creating equitable access, participation, and leadership in the outdoors.
As a black woman led non-profit, Justice Outside's work encompasses multiple approaches that all aim toward our ultimate goal: systems change. We are building a network of individuals, institutions, and communities taking collective action to build a more just and sustainable outdoor movement. We realize this work in three ways:
- Strategic programs. Our programs provide access and elevate youth into career pathways in the outdoors. Our Outdoor Educators Institute is a transformative three-month career development training cohort for young leaders interested in outdoor education. The Rising Leaders Fellowship supports the continued racial equity commitment of individuals in entry- to mid-level positions within the environmental sector.
- Grantmaking. Traditional philanthropy continues to miss the mark in equitable funding in the environmental and outdoors, especially to black-led and grassroots organizations. Justice Outside grantees are rooted within their communities, with the lived experience they need to understand what approaches will work the best for their communities. We support leaders of color to design and lead the types of joyful outdoor experiences and environmental efforts that are most meaningful to them and their communities.
- Field leadership. We embrace our leadership role in the field of outdoor education and programming. We continue to convene the field around critical issues like cultural relevancy, the link between health and outdoor access, as well as building the next generation of environmental advocates. Our Organizational Trainings help outdoor and environmental organizations advance anti-racism within their own ranks through consulting and individualized coaching sessions.
Your support means that we can grow. Last year's Explore-A-Thon allowed us to expand our work outside of California for the first time. Donations from this yeaer's Explore-A-Thon funding will allow us to deepen our work in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington.
We intend to keep right on growing, until our rooted leadership busts right through the ceiling of systemic injustices—and until we build a stronger, more resilient environmental movement. We will continue to invite you to join our work, and we will also keep inviting you to co-create the magic that happens when people of all ages enjoy, explore, or find meaningful work in the outdoors.
We intend to keep right on growing, until our rooted leadership busts right through the ceiling of systemic injustices—and until we build a stronger, more resilient environmental movement. We will continue to invite you to join our work, and we will also keep inviting you to co-create the magic that happens when people of all ages enjoy, explore, or find meaningful work in the outdoors.
