Dear Friends,
This October, I celebrate my 43^rd birthday. I am proud to share this number, as I mark each year as both a blessing and a triumph.
This year also marks the fifth anniversary of the blog I whimsically named Outdoor Afro. As you all know, that blog was a key in the door to a world that changed everything.

But three years ago, I decided to take an even bigger “jump” and dedicate my entire life to the service of getting more people who look like me into nature to help them live better, take care of the planet, and change the cultural conversation about who can get connected to the Great Outdoors.
As a single mom with three school-aged children living in the Bay Area, everyone thought I was nuts for leaving a well-paying job to pursue this passion! While there have been fleeting moments when that sentiment felt true, every fiber within pulls me in a certain direction toward a sense of truth and purpose.

It has been fun to share the journey with you all via social media, and on many Outdoor Afro events led by a team of amazing professionals from around the country who reach thousands. I also notice that there are more people enthusiastically getting out with more regional efforts, which I consider a shared success on the path toward the culture shift I hope to help achieve through Outdoor Afro.
I just can’t relate enough how tremendously grateful I am for all the cheers, organizational partnerships, friendships, and amazing recognition this work has provided. And especially, the pride my own children, Seth, Arwen, and Billy each share with everyone they meet.

But we are just getting started, and today Outdoor Afro needs you now more than ever to increase its impact.
It’s simple: we want to get more people back into nature.
So today, as my birthday wish, I invite you to rededicate or increase your commitment to Outdoor Afro’s work in three ways:

1. Make a donation to Outdoor Afro
2. Come to an Outdoor Afro event near you (no Afro required!)
3. Spread the word to others

Newsflash!

We are so fortunate to have received a generous donation challenge and every dollar we raise this month will be matched up to $30,000!

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for our common cause. The best is yet to come!
Sincerely,