2024 award recipients for Outdoor Afro’s 10th annual fundraiser Glamp Out announced
Each year during Outdoor Afro’s fundraising gala, Glamp Out, the national not-for-profit organization recognizes outdoor leaders who have accomplished extraordinary impact work across U.S. communities. These nature innovators have contributed to Outdoor Afro’s mission to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature. Since the organization's 10th annual Glamp Out will synchronously honor its 15th anniversary as a national movement, this milestone event will roll out the red carpet to uplift the amazing experiences, scholarship, and stewardship of the following award recipients Friday, Oct. 25, at the Claremont Hotel in Oakland-Berkeley Hills:
LEADER OF THE YEAR: MICHAEL CHEEK
DMV volunteer leader Michael Cheek became Outdoor Afro's 2024 "Leader of the Year” for providing excellence in volunteerism and for his dedication to strengthening Outdoor Afro’s mission work. "My initial reaction to this recognition is one of gratitude," said Michael when he received the news. "Words can't express how grateful I am for the love, support, and encouragement I have received from Outdoor Afro, its volunteer leaders, and its participants the last 8 years." Michael added: "I am also appreciative that I was given the freedom to plan and facilitate activities that represent who I am and what I personally enjoy about the outdoors. My hope is also that this recognition showcases yet another vision of what Black joy in the outdoors looks like."
PARTNER OF THE YEAR: NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation (NPF) received Outdoor Afro's 2024 "Partner of the Year” award for demonstrating meaningful partnership for years now that has helped Outdoor Afro create transformative, joyful, and life-changing nature experiences nationwide. "It’s an honor to work so closely with Outdoor Afro to inspire and grow a diverse and passionate community of national park enthusiasts, leaders, and stewards," said President and Chief Executive Officer Will Shafroth of the National Park Foundation. "Together, we will work to ensure that all people feel welcome in our national parks and other public lands."
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT RECIPIENT: DR. RAE WYNN-GRANT
Wildlife ecologist and research scientist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant earned Outdoor Afro’s 2024 “Lifetime Achievement” award for her enduring impact in nature; strong leadership and advocacy work; and mentorship and community engagement as powerful examples of joy and impact in the outdoors. “I had a moment of stunned silence when Founder and CEO Rue Mapp called me about this recognition,” said Wynn-Grant. “When I think of this honor, I’m envisioning people who have lived long, full lives like previous Glamp Out recipient Dr. Mamie A. Parker. She has devoted so much valuable time to the outdoors. Then, I thought about it: It's not to question but accept that I’ve lived several different lives in a short amount of time. What a great honor to receive this reminder about the importance of community and fellowship – exactly what Outdoor Afro is – and to continue to work toward environmental goals that bring us all together.”
Glamp Out stands as Outdoor Afro’s signature annual fundraiser. The always-special occasion will honor 2024 success stories and revisit past accomplishments in the organization’s history – in pioneering leadership, sincere partnerships, and outdoor community programming. The 10th annual affair will toast to Outdoor Afro’s now 15-year nature achievements, sharing with attendees how it evolved from Mapp’s kitchen table blog to a nationwide nature organization. Glamp Out’s 2024 goal is to raise more than $250,000 in support of its yearlong and healing community programs. Funds raised during the event will support:
MAKING WAVES: The organization’s promise is to teach every child and caregiver within its sphere of influence how to swim. The program was developed in 2019 by Mapp after learning through CDC research that Black children now drown at a rate almost 8 times that of their white peers due to historical barriers. To date, Making Waves has awarded hundreds of “Swimmerships” (or swim lesson scholarships) around the country. The program funded 1,500 new swimmers this year.
OUTDOOR AFRO LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Now in its 12th year, this training teaches more than 100 men and women from across the United States how to guide their local communities safely and sustainably – for healing and greater health of all people and the planet. Contributions help Outdoor Afro’s network of volunteer leaders expand their training to include wilderness first-aid, recreational water activity skills, and model aspirational nature opportunities.
MULTIMEDIA STORYTELLING: Outdoor Afro’s ongoing nature narratives include inspiring stories documented through its website and social. The organization encourages community support to continue to amplify neighborhood voices and share the powerful experiences its volunteer leaders guide in local communities. Together, Outdoor Afro wants to remind the world that Black people and communities everywhere are strong, beautiful, and free.
SIGNATURE CAPSTONE EVENTS: These experiences introduce volunteer leaders and local neighborhoods to the exploratory possibilities in nature, changing the face of who can become an outdoor explorer. In the past, Outdoor Afro has prepared more than a dozen climbers to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro and certified 26 leaders as canoe or kayak instructors. Glamp Out helps advance the skill-building, confidence, and growth opportunities through pioneering models of adventure.
Each year, Glamp Out welcomes more than 250 supporters, cultural champions, nature leaders, elected officials, and celebrities. Everyone coming together on behalf of Outdoor Afro’s mission. It’s also a chance for Outdoor Afro’s national community to exercise generosity within the outdoors. Glamp Out purposefully recognizes individual and community contributions to the not-for-profit organization – Outdoor Afro’s way of upholding one of its key values of changing the narrative of who leads in outdoor spaces.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro at outdoorafro.org and @outdoorafro today.
Outdoor Afro x Foss Swim School make national splash, life-saving impact through Making Waves Program
National not-for-profit organization Outdoor Afro and U.S. swim provider Foss Swim School have poolside partnered for the past year to teach kids and caregivers the basics of swimming. The neighborhood result: a major splash for local families to transition their lessons confidently from community pools to waterfront parks. “Cannonball!” belted 6-year-old Making Waves Program participant Denver Post at Foss Swim School’s Rock Hill, Missouri, location. “I like swimming 100 percent. My favorite part is jumping in the pool. I feel like I’m going to the Olympics.” Since 2019, Outdoor Afro’s swim program Making Waves has funded swim lessons and water safety courses nationwide so younger generations like Denver can cultivate relationships with water at an early age. Outdoor Afro’s 2024 goal is to provide more than 1,500 new families with the same opportunity Denver had to learn and continue to develop this life-saving skill by the end of the year.
APPLY FOR SWIM SCHOLARSHIPS HERE
Already, Outdoor Afro has funded more than 1,500 new swimmers this year in partnership with swim providers like Foss Swim School and certified swim instructors who put care in the forefront of each lesson. “I don’t ever want a kid to fear water,” said Kendra Williams, 21, swim instructor at Foss Swim School, “and there’s no real timeline for you to become a good swimmer. I always want to ensure they’re comfortable and safe as we segue into each lesson.” Donating at least $200 to Making Waves here provides a swimmership to a children and their guardians for a series of four to six swim lessons. Families have the option of selecting their preferred swim vendor.
“Collaborating with Outdoor Afro has helped us bolster our purpose of providing a lifetime of confidence and safety around water,” shared FOSS CEO Craig O’Halloran. “We’re passionate about helping close the gap between the racial disparities in swimming abilities and thankful to be working with partners to help us do just that.” Outdoor Afro’s CEO and Founder Rue Mapp echoed O’Halloran’s words, adding: “In addition to the urgency to save lives with the help of supporters like Foss Swim School and Winnebago Industries, we know that if a child does not know how to swim they won’t ease into a tippy kayak, cast a pole in a lazy lake, or care about the crisis of plastics filling our oceans,” Mapp said. “Positive connections with water start with learning how to swim. And Outdoor Afro is proud to continue our efforts with providers who are also true partners.”
CLICK HERE TO WATCH MAKING WAVES IN ACTION
Through Making Waves, Foss Swim School has provided 294 students with swimming lessons across all 29 of its locations. The Winnebago Industries Foundation supports the program’s efforts by helping to fund Making Waves swimmerships through Foss. “At Winnebago Industries, we believe that time spent outdoors is time well spent,” said Jil Littlejohn Bostick, president of the Winnebago Industries Foundation. “We know the great outdoors is a place to find health and happiness and to create cherished memories with family and friends, and being comfortable in and around water is an important part of that experience. We believe in investing in programs that eliminate barriers, promote access and connect all people with the social, mental, and physical health benefits of the outdoors.”
Open to all ages, these lessons are another way to bring awareness about U.S. drownings. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black youth ages 10 to 14 drown in swimming pools at a rate more than 8 times that of white peers. Outdoor Afro launched Making Waves five years ago in response to the growing and alarming number, providing a solution to help families unlock the joy of developing positive connections with water. “I’m so grateful for the Outdoor Afro scholarship because everybody needs the opportunity to swim and have good swim instruction,” said Williams. In addition to Foss Swim School, Outdoor Afro collaborates with the following U.S. swim providers to fund 2024 swim lessons: Black People Will Swim in New York; Evolutionary Aquatics in Charlotte, North Carolina; LEGITswim in Washington, D.C.; Oshun Swim School in Seattle, Washington; and Yu Ming Charter School in Oakland, California. “Since I've learned about Outdoor Afro’s Making Waves, I've noticed a huge change in my daughters,” said Denver’s father, Zachery Post. “In their confidence, comfortability, and desire to know how to swim.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization. Outdoor Afro’s U.S. networks include nearly 100-plus volunteer leaders who guide nature activities in up to 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Connect with @outdoorafro on social and visit outdoorafro.org to follow our year-round nature narratives.
ABOUT FOSS SWIM SCHOOL: Jon and Susan Foss opened their first swim school in 1993. They created an age-appropriate curriculum, helping even the youngest swimmers confidently learn water adjustment, safety, strokes, and technique. With 31 years of expertise, FOSS has redefined the swim lesson experience by providing a fun, original, technically sound, and safer style of teaching. FOSS currently has 29 wim schools in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Connect with @fossswimschool on social and visit fossswimschool.com. Photos by Techboogie.
Outdoor Afro searches for visionary Chief Operating Officer to lead not-for-profit's pivotal ‘Year of Innovation’
Outdoor Afro is where Black people and nature meet. It’s also where a new Chief Operating Officer can help strategically guide the national not-for-profit organization’s daily operations. “We’re now in search of a Chief Operating Officer who can partner with me as an executive leader,” said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp, “an individual who can lead and manage our talented team. Someone who is also a skilled organizational manager.” In its “Year of Innovation” and now 15th year since its founding, Outdoor Afro seeks a leader who can inspire and drive innovation internally for high-impact program results. This role involves optimizing operations, providing financial oversight, and leading development, partnerships, and board engagement.
Outdoor Afro is seeking a candidate who can ensure operational efficiency, strategic alignment, financial health, strong board relations, high-performing teams, domain expertise, and thought leadership. The organization started as a blog and social enterprise by Mapp. She incorporated Outdoor Afro in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) and has led it since as CEO. The organization has grown from that blog and three founding board members to 12 full-time staff and a 13-member Board of Directors. Outdoor Afro's operating budget has grown from a modest $110,000 in revenue in 2015 to now $4 million – largely from foundations, individuals, and corporate partner support.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization. Outdoor Afro’s U.S. networks include nearly 100-plus volunteer leaders who guide nature activities in up to 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Connect with @outdoorafro on social and visit outdoorafro.org to follow our year-round nature narratives.
Outdoor Afro seeks new board members
National not-for-profit Outdoor Afro is in search of experienced and innovative board members. The organization seeks those who can provide strategic guidance and strong governance in service of celebrating and inspiring Black connections and leadership in nature. “This is an opportunity for strategic and experienced leaders from all fields to embody their personal love for the outdoors," said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp, "embracing the adventurous spirit of Outdoor Afro, our programs, and our board with excitement and integrity." New board members will help support Outdoor Afro’s mission by giving time and resources toward governance, strategy, fundraising, and network-building. As the nation’s leading organization where Black people and nature meet, Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people year-round to land, water, and wildlife through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Outdoor Afro amplifies Black joy and connection to each other and nature by sharing powerful stories of community-building and leadership outdoors.
The now 15-year organization creates programs that uplift togetherness and collaborates with partners to scale collective impact. Outdoor Afro has made historic and sustainable strides since its founding, achieving 10 times more growth in its last five years. Serving on the board today is an invaluable opportunity to grow the organization’s strategic insight, exemplify best nonprofit governance practices, and build connections for funding, partnerships, and visibility. Board members will leverage personal networks; promote Outdoor Afro’s work; build mutually beneficial partnerships with corporations and community organizations; support and oversee the CEO; ensure a high-functioning governance structure; evaluate the organization’s opportunities and risks; and exercise fiduciary responsibility by ensuring financial accountability.
Outdoor Afro is looking for board members who will advance the strategic pillars from its recently completed strategic plan, including building staff and organizational foundations; strengthening the accessibility of Outdoor Afro’s brand and programs; and maintaining long-term financial sustainability. Outdoor Afro retained Potrero Group, a national strategy and search firm, for this opportunity. While many nonprofits recruit board members through their own personal networks, Potrero Group believes an open board search is a critical chance for organizations to expand their network, raise their visibility, and multiply their impact. Click this link to learn more information about the position and how to apply. Interested candidates should apply by Aug. 19, 2024, for priority consideration. Email Potrero Group Founder and CEO Cleveland Justis at [email protected] to share recommendations.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization. Outdoor Afro’s U.S. networks include nearly 100-plus volunteer leaders who guide nature activities in up to 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Connect with @outdoorafro on social and visit outdoorafro.org to follow our year-round nature narratives.
Save the Date: Outdoor Afro's 10th annual fundraiser celebrates its 15-year org history
Glamp Out stands as national not-for-profit Outdoor Afro’s signature annual fundraiser. In its 10th year, the fashionable gala will take place Friday, Oct. 25, at the Claremont Hotel in Oakland-Berkeley Hills at 6 p.m pacific time. The always-special occasion will honor 2024 success stories and revisit past accomplishments in the organization’s history – in pioneering leadership, sincere partnerships, and outdoor community programming. “This is a milestone year,” said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. “I can’t believe how fast time has flown as we have forged ahead in our work and impact for the past 15 years, setting a high bar for reconnecting more communities with nature.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The 10th annual affair will toast to Outdoor Afro's now 15-year nature achievements, sharing with attendees how it evolved from Mapp’s kitchen table blog to a nationwide nature organization. Glamp Out’s 2024 goal is to raise more than $250,000 in support of its yearlong and healing community programs. Funds raised during the event will support:
MAKING WAVES: The organization’s promise is to teach every child and caregiver within its sphere of influence how to swim. The program was developed in 2019 by Mapp after learning through CDC research that Black children now drown at a rate almost 8 times that of their white peers due to historical barriers. To date, Making Waves has awarded hundreds of “Swimmerships” (or swim lesson scholarships) around the country. The program’s 2024 aim: supporting 1,500 new swimmers.
OUTDOOR AFRO LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Now in its 12th year, this training teaches more than 100 men and women from across the United States how to guide their local communities safely and sustainably – for healing and greater health of all people and the planet. Contributions help Outdoor Afro’s network of volunteer leaders expand their training to include wilderness first-aid, recreational water activity skills, and model aspirational nature opportunities.
MULTIMEDIA STORYTELLING: Outdoor Afro’s ongoing nature narratives include inspiring stories documented through its website and social. The organization encourages community support to continue to amplify neighborhood voices and share the powerful experiences its volunteer leaders guide in local communities. Together, Outdoor Afro wants to remind the world that Black people and communities everywhere are strong, beautiful, and free.
SIGNATURE CAPSTONE EVENTS: These experiences introduce volunteer leaders and local neighborhoods to the exploratory possibilities in nature, changing the face of who can become an outdoor explorer. In the past, Outdoor Afro has prepared more than a dozen climbers to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro and certified 26 leaders as canoe or kayak instructors. Glamp Out helps advance the skill-building, confidence, and growth opportunities through pioneering models of adventure.
Each year, Glamp Out welcomes more than 250 supporters, cultural champions, nature leaders, elected officials, and celebrities. Everyone coming together on behalf of Outdoor Afro’s mission to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature. It’s also a chance for Outdoor Afro’s national community to exercise generosity within the outdoors. “Because of our partners and supporters, our team has moved the organization to achieve record-breaking results through generative and healing community programming with operational excellence,” Mapp said. “It’s an exciting time to look forward to the future and celebrate with our community the accomplishments we’ve achieved together.”
Glamp Out purposefully recognizes individual and community contributions to the not-for-profit organization – Outdoor Afro’s way of upholding one of its key values of changing the narrative of who leads in outdoor spaces. Throughout the summer months, Outdoor Afro will use its social platforms (@outdoorafro) to surprise 2024 attendees with Glamp Out’s roster of special guests. “Our whole community programs welcome everyone,” said Mapp. “Leading to lasting, positive change for people and the environment, Glamp Out celebrates our community impact while helping us continue to build durable relationships between people and our planet.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro at outdoorafro.org and @outdoorafro today.
Outdoor Afro x Black People Will Swim enter ‘World’s Largest Swimming Lesson’
Jump in! Outdoor Afro’s annual Making Waves program will partner with Black People Will Swim (BPWS) for the second year in a row – this time making a cannonball splash Thursday, June 20. A summer day internationally known as The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL). “This global lesson is a first-time experience for both our organizations and connects perfectly to Outdoor Afro’s sixth annual Making Waves program,” said Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. “Partnering with our swim provider, Black People Will Swim, makes the moment historic to support this life-saving skill.” Outdoor Afro will sponsor BPWS in offering free swim lessons to up to 200 Black kids and caregivers in a single day at York College Natatorium in Jamaica, Queens, New York. When registration opened Saturday, June 8, the day lesson already attracted 250 registrants. “Our sessions are always sold out,” said BPWS Founder Paulana Lamonier. “This free event is our way of saying we haven’t forgotten about you. Here’s your chance to practice water safety with us. Let’s make a splash by starting summer off on a safe note."
The two organizations are simultaneously providing free swim lessons with hundreds of swim schools across the globe. This epic pool experience will build on Outdoor Afro’s 2024 Making Waves goal to fund 1,500 new swimmers to learn water safety and basic swimming techniques by the end of the year. Open to all ages, the 30-minute pool sessions led by BPWS will rotate from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST. These lessons are another way to bring awareness to drownings in the United States, said Lamonier. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black youth ages 10 to 14 drown in swimming pools at a rate more than 8 times that of white peers. During 2019, Outdoor Afro launched Making Waves in response to the growing and alarming number. Meanwhile, WLSL developed through the World Waterpark Association and became a worldwide public relations event to help educate the public about water safety and prevent drownings.
Supported by aquatic centers, waterparks, swim schools, and community pools, the awareness day is also celebrating its 15-year anniversary this year like Outdoor Afro. Both organizations collaborate with swim operations nationwide to help families unlock the joy of developing positive relationships with water. WLSL aligns with the opportunity Outdoor Afro and BPWS are creating to reach newer generations of confident swimmers, explorers, and conservationists, said Mapp. “In addition to the urgency to save lives, we know that if a child does not know how to swim, they won’t ease into a tippy kayak, cast a pole in a lazy lake, or care about the crisis of plastics filling our oceans,” Mapp said. “Positive connections with water start with learning how to swim. And Outdoor Afro is proud to continue our efforts with Black People Will Swim as part of this year’s roster of partner providers.”
FAST SPLASH FACTS:
- In addition to BPWS, Outdoor Afro collaborates with the following U.S. swim providers to fund 2024 swim lessons: Evolutionary Aquatics in Charlotte, North Carolina; Foss Swim School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota; LEGITswim in Washington, D.C.; SwemKids in Atlanta, Georgia; and Oshun Swim School in Seattle, Washington; and Yu Ming Charter School in Oakland, California.
- BPWS is the only swim school in the five boroughs participating in WLSL that is sponsored by Outdoor Afro.
- WLSL will serve as an Open House for families wanting to meet the BPWS team and take a swim assessment before registering.
- After this event, BPWS aims to expand to the Long Island area to provide further instruction.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization. Outdoor Afro’s U.S. networks include nearly 100-plus volunteer leaders who guide nature activities in up to 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Connect with @outdoorafro on social and visit outdoorafro.org to follow our year-round nature narratives.
Outdoor Afro asks America to commemorate Juneteenth 2024 by visiting local waterways with family, friends
What’s that one place of peace for you in nature? Specifically those local waterways of joy and tranquility? During Outdoor Afro’s fourth annual Juneteenth 2024 commemoration, the national not-for-profit organization encourages U.S. communities to plan visits to those special shoreline lakes, swimming holes, and familiar streamlets to strengthen connections to neighborhood water sources. “This year’s Juneteenth commemoration will continue to reflect, educate, and reconnect about the significance of this day,” said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. “Outdoor Afro will also elevate both conversations and actions about local waterways to reach a new generation of confident swimmers, explorers, and conservationists.” The organization is revisiting its theme “Freedom to Access Water” on June 19.
CONTRIBUTE TO BLACK JOY IN NATURE
Outdoor Afro’s only ask: Spend 2.5 hours at a water site that you enjoy individually or with family and friends. This number of hours represents the number of years that freedom delayed for 250,000 enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas. The news of freedom didn’t make it to the coastal city until June 19, 1865 – 2.5 years after the Emancipation Proclamation (signed Jan. 1, 1863) went into effect. “It’s important to remember that the federal holiday isn’t a celebration but a ‘commemoration’ to remember what it meant for Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, to realize their additional years of enslavement long after slavery had been officially abolished,” Mapp said. “Today, Juneteenth at Outdoor Afro is an invitation for everyone to reflect on the value of freedom for all.” The observance day also launches Outdoor Afro’s sixth annual Making Waves program, which teaches Black kids and caregivers within its sphere of influence how to swim.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black children drown at a rate more than 8 times that of their white peers. This statistic ties to the historic prohibition of Black entry onto public beaches and into public pools. Making Waves’ Swimmerships (swim lesson scholarships) offer a series of beginner swim sessions – typically four to eight classes – funded by Outdoor Afro and in collaboration with select U.S. swim providers. Officially launching immediately after Juneteenth, Making Waves’ goal is to fund up to 1,200 new swimmers nationwide until the end of the year. “In addition to the urgency to save lives, we know that if a child does not know how to swim, they won’t cast a pole in a lazy lake, ease into a tippy kayak, or care about the crisis of plastics filling our oceans,” said Mapp. “We are clear that a positive relationship with water starts with learning how to swim. Outdoor Afro is proud to continue to support this endeavor that both our people and planet gravely need.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization. Outdoor Afro’s U.S. networks include nearly 100-plus volunteer leaders who guide nature activities in up to 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Connect with @outdoorafro on social and visit outdoorafro.org to follow our year-round nature narratives. Illustrations by Dajah Callen.
Outdoor Afro counts down to 2024’s annual leadership training in this pivotal Civil War, small college town
That family reunion time of year is almost here: Outdoor Afro Leadership Training (affectionately nicknamed OALT) for national not-for-profit organization Outdoor Afro. “2024 is extra special because this training will mark 15 years in nature for us,” said Founder and CEO Rue Mapp. “We’re also returning to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center, which is where we’ve hosted past OALT events throughout our organizational history.” OALT will take place Friday, April 12, through Sunday, April 14, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia – the oldest town in the Appalachian Mountains state and a historic Civil War area. Shepherdstown also serves as home to the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC). The center leads the nation in education and training for natural resource managers to meet the goal of conserving fish, plants, wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of the American public. The quintessential venue for Outdoor Afro to provide nature-based learning and skill-building experiences to veteran volunteers and newest leadership cohort in its “Year of Innovation.”
Annually in April, OALT teaches all volunteer leaders how to guide their local communities in nature sustainably and safely during modern times. This year’s training will greet nearly 40 new volunteer leaders to Outdoor Afro’s 100-plus Volunteer Leader Program roster. Volunteers will travel from Northeast, South, Midwest, and West regions, bringing with them subject matter expertise in education, law, business, medicine, and agriculture. “This year’s cohort includes innovative rock climbers, foragers, skiers, roller skaters, paddlers, cyclists, and mountain bikers,” Mapp said. “They’re also parents, spouses/partners, students, and caretakers. What they all bring to OALT is a shared passion for our mission – to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature.” OALT will equip these outdoor trailblazers with strategies that authentically reconnect Black communities to nature through planned and guided year-round adventures across America.
With the support of staff, board members, and select partners, seasoned volunteers and the Class of 2024 will learn Outdoor Afro’s framework, values, and best practices to lead outdoor activities in their neighborhoods. OALT's outdoor scholarship also includes risk management, health impacts on nature, basics to trip planning, conservation ethics, and pro tips for effective social media storytelling. Last year, OALT gathered at IslandWood in Bainbridge Island, Washington. The year before in Granby, Colorado, at Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains. Along with these charming nature backdrops are opportunities for volunteers to gain field insights and career encouragement from Outdoor Afro’s designated partners and expert guest speakers announced right before the training begins.
Volunteers follow up OALT with original network activities like fishing, camping, animal tracking, and backpacking once a month in their Outdoor Afro networks. Whatever their community genuinely wants to learn about to strengthen local relationships with land, water, and wildlife, networks offer it. These nationwide network events concentrate on joy and healing while also disrupting a false perception that Black people do not have a relationship to nature. A formula that has worked for the past 15 years now. Mapp founded Outdoor Afro in 2009 and developed OALT in 2012 with a dozen outdoor enthusiasts – each literally answering the call to learn directly from her how to create and lead nature activities with hospitality at the forefront of the experience. “OALT is one of those events that everyone involved always looks forward to attending every single year,” said Mapp. “The intergenerational fun and outdoor learning is life-changing.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization. Outdoor Afro’s U.S. networks include nearly 100-plus volunteer leaders who guide nature activities in up to 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Connect with @outdoorafro on social and visit outdoorafro.org to follow our year-round nature narratives.
DD Johnice: Outdoor Afro's Chief Program & Innovation Officer
She's a lot of cool titles. Serial entrepreneur, accomplished strategist, innovation executive, and mom. DD Johnice has successfully built a career of solving problems that matter to employers, customers, and society. Today, she serves as Outdoor Afro’s inaugural Chief Program & Innovation Officer. In this role, she implements original programmatic strategic initiatives; leads the organization’s digital strategy and transformation; and engages in fundraising and partnership endeavors to scale the national not-for-profit organization.
Johnice collaborates across the senior management team and board of directors on operational and programmatic strategies, including marketing strategy, customer journey optimization, and external relationship development. She plays a vital role in cultivating existing relationships with public and private funders while driving marketing efforts to enhance program impact and reach.
For more than 20 years, Johnice has held leadership roles in every aspect of innovation — creative, technical, human capital, and business — across the healthcare, advertising, retail, and media industries. She also serves as CEO and Chief Product Officer of The Wonder Guild, a speculative design advisory she founded in 2000. Johnice nurtured a global following of senior leaders she advises on developing products and systems that grow enterprises while protecting the environment; respecting and improving human lives; and becoming global citizen leaders with ESG-based growth models.
Within the healthcare industry, Johnice led a multidisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, designers, and strategists as the Vice President, Health Transformation Lab for Blue Shield of California. The team partnered across the enterprise to develop partnerships, products, and services that make healthcare more affordable, equitable, and valuable to members, healthcare providers, and customers.
Prior to joining Blue Shield, Johnice guided digital health, community health, and social innovation teams at Kaiser Permanente. She and her team applied technology and startup economy approaches to tackling the social determinants of health to improve health outcomes and quality of life for all. Johnice describes herself as a “weaver,” a natural dot connector.
She excels at combining the best from every industry, market, and people to new teams and ventures; building new capabilities; crafting new products and services; and leading transformative, sustainable, and equitable change. When not working, Johnice enjoys nature hikes and aquaponics with her brilliant daughter. She also likes writing, sculling, and collecting cute robots and Japanese dollhouses.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization. Outdoor Afro’s U.S. networks include nearly 100-plus volunteer leaders who guide nature activities in up to 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro @outdoorafro and outdoorafro.org.
Outdoor Afro names Dr. Mamie A. Parker 'Lifetime Achievement' recipient
She ascended to the stage, glimmering in the night’s joy. Her maroon and silver gown sashayed with each quaint step. Bringing the memory of her late mother, Cora Parker – an Arkansas maid and tenant farmer – front stage to celebrate in the moment. Overjoyed, Dr. Mamie A. Parker squeezed Outdoor Afro friend, Founder, and CEO Rue Mapp before the award exchange. It’s the national not-for-profit’s ninth annual fundraiser, Glamp Out, held Oct. 20, 2023. Mamie, 66, recently received Outdoor Afro’s distinguished “Lifetime Achievement” award at Bloc15 in Oakland for her decades of innovative conservation work.
Mamie pledged her outdoor career to fish and wildlife biology, as a success coach, and to later serve as a principal consultant for countless state and federal agencies. Because Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman” played as her Glamp Out walk-on song, it was only customary for the wildlife conservationist to give the crowd a quick two-step and a few shimmies as she approached the podium. “Good evening,” she said with a well-grounded tone and delicately sliding her readers onto her smiling face. “I know you can do better than that. In my culture, when we call, we ask you to respond.” The crowd gladly did with louder claps, whistles, and good evenings in reply to the Wilmot, Arkansas, hometowner.
Mamie emphasized her roots to help explain her call-and-response request. It’s due to her purpose-driven travels from a sharecropping South to serving as a key presidential appointees’ house adviser with several administrations that she often delivers messages of resilience across America. Hopeful words she’s shared in different formats across world stages. Against-all-odds stories that crowds either hear for the first time or need to hear again. “Dr. Parker is a history maker,” said Mapp to Glamp Out guests. “She served as the first African American U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) regional director of the 13 Northeastern states.”
FWS is the oldest federal conservation agency, tracing its lineage to 1871. It’s the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the management of fish and wildlife for the American public. Notably and repeatedly, Parker entered outdoor spaces as a “first” in similar conservation and wildlife environments. Appointed by the governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Parker was also elected as the inaugural Black chair of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Commission. Mamie earned the American Fisheries Society’s highest honor – named after its first woman president – for her outstanding work promoting clean drinking water in nationwide streams.
This presidential rank awardee also became the first Black woman to serve as Head of Fisheries in the United States. The avid angler was appointed as the special assistant to the director and later became the assistant director in the FWS headquarters located in Washington, D.C. – the first Black person to hold this title. Among other pioneering roles, Parker also held the post of the board chair of the Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries Commission. While there, the board passed a resolution that became a model for other states, changed the board name from “game” to wildlife, and protected migratory birds threatened by major bridge construction. “I always say that if it weren’t for my mother, I probably would have been kissing instead of fishing,” said Parker, chuckling with the evening’s Glamp Out audience.
Cora raised Mamie and her ten other children in a four-room house. In an era where young women were expected to step into homemaking and caretaking roles. Cora, along with the hit song “Mercy, Mercy Me” by Motown sensation Marvin Gaye, inspired Mamie to look after Mother Nature instead. Mamie spent almost 30 years as a fish and wildlife biologist to tackle challenges like radiation and pollution because of Gaye’s lyrics. Just as Mamie looked up to her mother and the musical artist, Mapp admired Mamie’s pioneering outdoor trajectory for years. Mamie served as the first Black judge of the 2013 Federal Duck Stamp Contest held in Ohio.
Ten years later, Mapp followed in this webbed footpath as an art judge as well. FWS produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $25 and raises approximately $40 million annually. Revenue from stamp sales is used to protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System, benefiting wildlife and contributing to people's enjoyment. Since its establishment in 1934, sales of the Federal Duck Stamp to bird watchers, outdoor enthusiasts, collectors, and hunters have helped raise more than $1.2 billion to conserve more than 6 million acres of habitat for birds and other wildlife.
This year’s contest of more than 200 submissions took place Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 in Des Moines, Iowa. For the first time in Federal Duck Stamp Contest history, the judging panel included all females: Gail Anderson, MJ Davis, Rebecca Humphries, Dr. Karen Waldrop, alternate judge Jennifer Scully, and Mapp. “Becoming a judge for the contest was an opportunity I had no idea existed for me,” said Mapp, “even though I have been purchasing the annual stamp in recent years.” Mapp did know Mamie pioneered this fun but nail-biting platform. A role that required weighing in thoughtfully to determine only one creative’s artwork on behalf of U.S. citizens. “Dr. Parker has blazed a path for people like me and organizations like Outdoor Afro,” Mapp said to nearly 140 fundraising attendees, “to step into positions of conservation policy, governance, advocacy, and influence that continue her legacy.”
Mamie’s lifetime in outdoor play and professional circles always left lasting impacts regardless of the waters trodden. She adds her Glamp Out recognition to a hefty list of avant-garde honors: The Governor of Arkansas enshrined Mamie into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame. During 2020, she became the recipient of the John L. Morris Lifetime Achievement Award, named for the founder of Bass Pro Shops. She earned The William P. Reilly (the first head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Environmental Leadership Award. Followed by the Presidential Rank Award – the highest honor bestowed upon federal employees. Above all these credits: “Dr. Parker is a connector, friend, homegirl, wife, and mother,” Mapp said to conclude her appreciation and love for Mamie, “who never ceases to light up every room she’s in.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities, with network participation reaching 60,000 people. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro @outdoorafro and outdoorafro.org.
