Outdoor Afro

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Vote the assholes out: Patagonia hid a provocative message on the back of some clothing tags this season. People just recently noticed, and the revelation is now making waves on the internet. [BACKPACKER] Body recovered in ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web $2 billion for sustainability: Amazon has announced the creation of a new Climate Pledge Fund to invest in sustainable technologies and work toward the ecommerce giant's goal of carbon neutrality by 2040. [TechCrunch] Rue ...read more

To honor the 155th celebration of Juneteenth, we wanted to take a moment to honor some of the amazing people working to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within our industry. As recent events have taught us, we have a long way to go before the industry—and society at ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Ski resorts open: Some Oregon ski areas are gearing up to reopen. [Oregon Public Broadcasting] Shoe launch during the pandemic: Why did On Running launch a new product during the coronavirus crisis? [Fast Company] Q&A with ...read more

This story is the first of three examining how the path to equity and inclusivity in the outdoor industry is full of halting steps. Diversity is an easy sell. Make the outdoors more welcoming? Sure thing. Be more progressive? Done. Widen the industry's consumer base? But of ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] This weekend: SNEWS Assistant Editor Amelia Arvesen is heading to Bend, Oregon, to attend a new outdoor festival called Outdoor City USA. Bikes will be abundant, ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Illegal offense: During the month-long government shutdown that ended Jan. 25, 2019, the Trump administration illegally used National Park fees to keep parks ...read more

Just when the outdoor recreation industry seemed to be making serious progress on the complex issues of racial diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the best efforts of a leading advocacy organization were stopped dead in their tracks. Despite its good intentions the initiative ...read more

One-hundred fifty days ago, a conservation and recreation program that protected public lands and water expired—a devastation to the future of public lands. But after months of build up, hope was restored today when the U.S. House passed the Natural Resources Management Act (S. ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. Is the end of the government shutdown in sight? Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), a non-partisan alliance of more than 100 groups including the YMCA of the USA, ...read more

Victoria Payne describes herself in 2006 as a non-athletic, African American single mom who was trying to climb the corporate ladder as a number cruncher in corporate America. Her closet was filled with colorful silk tops, pant suits, and pumps. She sat in a cubicle and she was ...read more

Hailing from Oakland, California, Rue Mapp sheds light on her journey to founding Outdoor Afro, a non-profit organization that aims to connect black people nationwide to the outdoor experience. The video is part of The North Face's Mentors series. In summary, Mapp is amazing and ...read more

“Purpose-led” was the term of the day at the Camber Outdoor Thought Leader Keynote during Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, when the VF Corporation's CEO Steve Rendle detailed the company’s plans to redefine the conglomerate’s internal mission. “What’s that common thread that’s ...read more

If Outdoor Retailer Summer Market's event lineup was any indication, the outdoor industry is putting diversity issues front and center. From a lack of ethnic diversity in leadership positions and brand marketing to cultural appropriation of native designs and symbols, our ...read more

1. Camber Outdoors Thought-Leader Keynote 7 to 9 a.m. at the McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave.: Speakers Steve Rendle, chairman and CEO of VF Corporation, and Rue Mapp, CEO and founder of Outdoor Afro, will lead a talk about diversity and being purpose-led ...read more

Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) elected six new board members, who will officially take their seats at the meeting preceding Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. "The OIA Board plays a significant role in helping to guide and shape our focused work in policy, sustainable business ...read more

Each one of these 11 organizations deserves your dollar, but if you could pick one, which would it be? An organization for youth? One that advocates for inclusivity, diversity, and women? Or one that's focused on conservation? In no way is this an exhaustive list. Vote now to ...read more

The newest outdoor shop in St. Louis, Missouri, KAMP, is doing more than just bringing cool hiking gear to the city streets. Jason and Mandi Gray, the store's owners and parents of two young boys, had two goals in mind when they opened the doors on March 7, 2018. First off, ...read more