The Daily - August 12,2021 - 6

First Words
T H E J O Y T R I P P R O J E C T
James Edward Mills
spreads outdoor
stoke and ideas at
joytripproject.com.
Welcome to
the Future
The outdoor industry is finally becoming
more inclusive-let's keep it going.
AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS AS
a professional in the outdoor
recreation industry, I have found
a lifelong home in this exciting
vibrant community. As we gather
this week in Denver, following
a long year of separation due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, we are
finally reuniting to celebrate our
mutual love for the great outdoors
and our passionate pursuit of physical
activity through adventure in
the natural world.
Unfortunately, through much of
my tenure in the business of outdoor
recreation, I have been among
the relatively few people of color
to enjoy a career of such enduring
6
longevity. But I am profoundly
grateful to witness the emergence
of many Black and brown entrepreneurs
and social activists who
are forging a path forward that
will assure the growth and prosperity
of the outdoor industry well
into the future.
I am certainly concerned that
much of the progress we have
made throughout the past year
may slowly diminish. The tragic
deaths in 2020 of George Floyd,
Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna
Taylor sparked a great awakening
of social consciousness within our
industry, and prompted companies
and institutions to look very
/ OUTDOOR RETAILER SUMMER 2021
carefully at their internal cultures
as they reflect a lack of racial diversity,
equity, and inclusion. Many
organizations have made significant
changes in their practices of
recruiting, hiring, and retaining
people of color as both job candidates
for entry-level positions and
senior executives in roles of leadership.
This is so encouraging to see!
But truly, my greatest confidence is
inspired by those outstanding individuals
who, with limited resources
and guidance, are taking it
upon themselves to become part
of our industry as active contributors
to our economic expansion
and our identity as a united people.
They are helping us to define
who we are.
It was my pleasure to bring
the artist Lamont Joseph White
to Denver this year to share his
incredible painting of Charles
Madison Crenchaw, the first Black
climber to reach the summit of Denali
in 1964. Commissioned with
the support of Seirus Innovation
and Outdoor Research, two leading
outdoor apparel manufacturers,
this work of art firmly grounds
people of color in the enduring
legacy of outdoor recreation
going back to the earliest days of
our industry.
Among those who attended an
event to mark the unveiling of
this portrait was specialty retailer
Jahmicah Dawes, owner of Slim
Pickins Outiftters and the retail
winner of the 2021 Outdoor Retailer
Inspiration Award. Also on
hand: Charnell Parker McMullen
Bushman and Crystal Egli, the
founders of Inclusive Journeys.
This innovative start-up is an
online community that provides
informative resources to encourage
underrepresented members of our
society to find safe and supportive
places to recreate in the outdoors.
Earl Hunter, the charismatic
founder of Black Folks Camp Too,
has forged relationships with many
industry organizations, including
Leave No Trace and NoSo Patches,
to spread the message of his Unity
Blaze. This iconic symbol worn as
a decal on backpacks and jackets
reminds all who see it to treat " everyone
equally everywhere. " And
a new sock company called Tough
Cutie started by Brittany Coleman
aims to " literally and figuratively
support working women in their
walk through life. "
As we conclude the final day
of the Outdoor Retailer Summer
Show, I think we can come away
knowing that we have experienced
something truly special.
We are now seeing a new generation
of outdoor professionals that
reflects the broad diversity of the
global population that will shape
our destiny toward a brighter
tomorrow. From our time this
week in Denver, we have been
given a shimmering glimpse into
a world in which all are made to
feel welcome, none are ignored,
and everyone is encouraged to
succeed. Welcome to the future.
Sincerely,
JAMES EDWARD MILLS
Contributing Editor
Photograph by Carlo Nasisse
http://www.joytripproject.com
The Daily - August 12,2021

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