Joy Outside

Sanjana Sekhar is a South Indian-American author, narrative strategist, political educator, and filmmaker. With an eye to strategic communication and systems-thinking storytelling, her work crafts "thrutopian" stories aimed at making climate action the hottest place to be. Lensed with climate justice, pleasure politics, and futurism, Sanjana's focus is on reclaiming and healing extractive narratives to instead build a...

Tune into another episode of Joy Outside with Justice Outside's Communications and Advocacy Coordinator Rachida Mahamed, and Director of Movement Building & Advocacy, Sierra Mathias!

Jeremy Orr serves as the director of litigation and advocacy partnerships at Earthjustice. In this role, he helps Earthjustice’s offices, programs, and departments build strategies to deeply engage and genuinely partner with communities and...

We speak with LaTresse Snead, founder and CEO of Bonsai Leadership Group. She shares her insight into how environmental nonprofits can support and retain Black, Indigenous, and Leadership of Color, and speaks to her work empowering young Black, Indigenous, and environmental practitioners of color in the sector.

LaTresse mentioned Dr. Tiara Moore of Black in Marine Science and Imani Black of Minorities in Aquaculture

Check...

Jess Rivas, our Rising Leaders Manager, shares her journey from the streets of LA's 818 to advocating for racial equity in the outdoors. Jess discusses her evolving relationship with nature and insights on creating justice in environmental sectors. 

Jess references important work on White Supremacy Culture: Tema Okun's article and website can be found here, and the Dismantling Racism Works Web Workbook inspired by Kenneth J...

Our Director of Grantmaking, Efraín Chávez-Delgado, discusses building community in and expanding community access to the outdoors as a community member, professional, and parent.

The full episode transcript can be found here.

To learn about our Liberated Paths Grantmaking, click here.

The book Efraín referred to is Fresh Banana Leaves by Dr. Jessica Hernandez.

At the time of the recording, Efraín was a Grantmaking and Program Mana...

Rising Leaders Fellow alum Shirley Calderon interviews Dr. Darlene Hall, founder of Intersections Consulting. Dr. Hall discusses her book “Youth Development Theory and Practice: Integrating a Trauma Framework: A Social Justice Approach”, underscoring the importance of all workers that work with youth in the outdoors being trauma-informed to create truly safe spaces.

The full episode transcript can be found here.

To learn about Inte...

Mo Henigman, Justice Outside’s Movement Network Coordinator* speaks with Blanca Hernandez, a Network for Network Leader. Blanca discusses the importance of networks and network leaders in her life and for Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color working to expand equitable access to the outdoors. She also shares impactful memories in the outdoors that have shaped her understanding of equity in the environmental sector.

The full ...

We speak with Amelia Vigil, Liberated Paths: Youth Access to Nature Grant and Program Manager, about their long relationship with the backcountry and outdoors industry, prompting them to want to create safe, accessible, and inclusive spaces for Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color. They explain the changes they have witnessed and changes they hope to see in the industry.

You can find the episode transcript here.

The book Amelia re...

We speak with Laura Hernandez, Outdoor Educators Institute Program Coordinator, about their evolving connection with the outdoors through plant medicine and outdoor education. They discuss the importance of inclusive and safe spaces for young Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to build and explore connections with the outdoors.

The full episode transcript can be found here.

To learn about the Outdoor Educators Institute, click ...

We speak with Kim Moore Bailey, Justice Outside President and Chief Executive Officer, about her love of the outdoors since childhood. She shares key moments, conversations, and ideas that have guided her to shape Justice Outside into what it is today, as well as tips for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color people working in the field. She reminds us that trails have been blazed before, and there are many of us to continue the w...

We speak with Rena Payan, Director of Grantmaking, about the radical and restorative grantmaking program she has helped create at Justice Outside. She discusses the historical barriers for Black, Indigenous, and organizations of Color in traditional grantmaking and how an accessible, equitable alternative is possible. She also shares about her personal connection to the outdoors and how she’s nurtured it throughout her life. 

The f...

For our first episode, we speak with Danielle Wolfrum, our Director of Development. She shares how her relationship to the outdoors has evolved and her experience working in environmental non-profits as a Woman of Color. She highlights the importance of community-oriented relationship building and fundraising. 

The full episode transcript can be found here.

To learn more about community-centric fundraising, click here.

The line of ...