The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative would improve equitable access to the outdoors
For many people who love the outdoors, they got their start young, going hiking, camping, or exploring with family or friends. Early exposure to the outdoors makes an individual much more likely to continue participating in outdoor recreation and being connected with the outdoors. Everyone deserves to have access to the outdoors, yet research shows that there is a significant “nature gap” for many underserved, low-income, or racially and ethnically diverse communities.
Earlier this year, a coalition of organizations launched the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative, a national outdoor equity fund that builds on two outdoor equity programs developed in New Mexico and California. Senator Heinrich (D-NM) has indicated that he will introduce the initiative as federal legislation soon, and the outdoor community will have an important role in building support for the legislation.
The initiative is pioneered by a group of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color who run outdoor-equity organizations, including Gabe Vasquez (an Outdoor Alliance board member), Ángel Peña of Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, Angelou Ezeilo and Eboni Preston of Greening Youth Foundation, Jaylyn Gough of Native Womens Wilderness, José G. González who founded Latino Outdoors, and many others.
The initiative would create an outdoor equity fund to provide funding for underserved youth across the country to get outdoors. The initiative is based on the success of the New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund, which was launched in 2019 and provided grants of up to $15,000 for nonprofits, local and tribal governments, and other organizations to provide outdoor experiences to underserved youth. Demand for the program was so high that it led Vasquez and his colleagues to build their work on the national level, creating the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative. “There is no question that we should afford more opportunities for our nation's underserved youth to have access to the great outdoors, the question is, how do we do it? Representative Barragan and Senator Heinrich have transformational policy solutions that will help spur the creation of the next generation of stewards of our air, land, and water — stewards that can truly reflect the diversity of country,” said Vasquez.
Senator Heinrich has said, “"Outdoor opportunities in our parks and public lands should be accessible to all Americans regardless of wealth, where you grow up, or the color of your skin. I look forward to working with this powerful national group of leaders from diverse backgrounds and communities to build on recent historic victories for conservation and make our parks and public lands places everyone can enjoy.”
The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative, as well as legislation like the Outdoors for All Act, the Active Transportation Act, and the Transit to Trail Act that are aimed at improving equitable access to the outdoors, are gaining momentum in Congress. There’s an important role for the outdoor community to play in generating support for these initiatives.
Outdoor Alliance is thrilled to haved hosted a panel discussion on the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative as part of our Outdoor Alliance California DC Fly in.
The panel featured Gabe Vasquez, Teresa Martinez, José G. González, and Gabaccia Moreno, with special guests Senator Heinrich and Congresswoman Barragán. You can watch it here: