"We were founded in 2021. My board members, a few business partners and I all love the outdoors. We've always thought it was odd that we didn't see much diversity in the outdoors. We've had all these hypotheses. But - and studies have shown this - more times than not, most communities of color are not comfortable doing outdoor activities, because they don't see themselves doing these activities, and they have concerns around safety and accommodations."
"But people of color are doing outdoor activities in other countries. They're ziplining. They are going whitewater rafting. They're doing glamping excursions out in the middle of nowhere. I was like, "Well, why aren't they doing it for free here at our state and national parks?" My background is in public affairs and marketing, and I have experience working for the California Legislature and knowing how its budget operates. There was a moment when there was a surplus as a result of the pandemic."
Lake Putt sits within a 650-acre undeveloped property in the Sierra Nevada foothills that is being converted into Gateway Park at Tahoe National Forest. The park will offer camping, trails, fishing and nature learning opportunities and is expected to open in 2028. The restoration is the first project of California's first Black-led land trust, the 40 Acre Conservation League, led by board president and executive director Jade Stevens, an LA-based public affairs professional and competitive cyclist. The league was founded in 2021 to increase outdoor access and diversity. Studies and organizers cite safety, visibility and accommodations as barriers for communities of color. The group leveraged public funding opportunities related to a pandemic-era surplus and California's 30x30 initiative.
Read at The Mercury News
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