Courageous Strides

Throughout my life, I’ve seen how BIPOC and Queer folks do not have the same opportunities to explore the outdoors and focus on their wellness. Being bombarded with the same cookie-cutter influencers created a continuous narrative excluding my communities. As someone who has lived throughout the U.S., I have experienced the negative effects of these limitations through trauma, abuse, racism, and rejection. Being determined to thrive through these adversities, I pride myself in standing up against the societal boxes we have been placed in. My unrelenting willpower continues to strive toward this goal through Courageous Strides.

As nature-based wellness often excludes people with disabilities, various fitness levels, those residing in urban areas, and with low incomes, I want to make the outdoors more inclusive. The concept of Courageous Strides is to increase the representation of BIPOC and Queer folks in nature-based wellness. Doing this will not only support my communities with their identities and life goals, but also create ripples in society’s expectations of who can benefit from putting their wellness first.