[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1534 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1534

           Recognizing the 15th anniversary of Outdoor Afro.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 4, 2024

   Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Lee of 
 California, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Huffman, Mr. 
Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Costa, and Mr. Veasey) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
           Recognizing the 15th anniversary of Outdoor Afro.

Whereas Outdoor Afro started as a blog by Rue Mapp about nature in 2009 and has 
        grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with volunteer leaders in 
        33 States and the District of Columbia, guiding hundreds of outdoor 
        events each year based on a simple mission to celebrate and inspire 
        Black-American connections to nature through recreational activities 
        like camping, hiking, birding, fishing, gardening, skiing, biking, 
        environmental education, conservation stewardship, and more;
Whereas, in the past 15 years, Outdoor Afro, a national not-for-profit 
        organization, has cultivated and trained more than 1,000 outdoor 
        leaders, leading thousands of outdoor events and reaching well over 
        150,000 participants;
Whereas Outdoor Afro has disrupted the false perception that Black Americans do 
        not have a relationship with nature and is inspiring access to the most 
        pristine nature as well as urban nature, including local parks, trails, 
        and open spaces;
Whereas Outdoor Afro not only promotes a healthy lifestyle, it also helps 
        communities find healing and connect to Black history found in many 
        natural areas, and inspires an increased desire to protect vulnerable 
        public lands for all to enjoy;
Whereas Outdoor Afro held its first international expedition in 2018 to climb 
        Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, which was widely covered in the media;
Whereas Outdoor Afro launched Making Waves in 2019 in response to the alarming 
        and disproportionate number of Black children who drown while swimming 
        as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the 
        goal is to strengthen relationships with water through lessons provided 
        by certified swim instructors in water safety and basic swimming 
        techniques;
Whereas, since its inception, Making Waves has funded nearly 1,950 
        Swimmerships<SUP>TM</SUP> scholarships and has a 2024 goal of reaching 
        1,500 new swimmers; to date, 520 new scholarships have been funded in 
        2024 and 1,000 new swimmers have pledged to learn this lifesaving skill;
Whereas Outdoor Afro has engaged millions of people through digital outreach to 
        80,000 people per day, and is changing the narrative and visual 
        representation of who can connect with and lead in the outdoors by 
        posting thousands of photos and stories;
Whereas Outdoor Afro's growing network mostly comprises civically engaged men 
        and women, many of whom plan outdoor activities on behalf of children 
        and senior community members, thereby restoring Black-American 
        leadership in nature at home;
Whereas Outdoor Afro is a leading voice in the Black-American community for 
        advice on where to recreate, which outdoor gear to use, and which causes 
        need the greatest attention;
Whereas Outdoor Afro's founder Rue Mapp has been featured in publications 
        including the Wall Street Journal, Backpacker magazine, the Seattle 
        Times, the Los Angeles Times, Ebony Magazine, and Sunset magazine, and 
        by National Public Radio (NPR), has received several awards including 
        the Heinz Award for the environment, the Outdoor Industry Inspiration 
        Award, and the National Wildlife Federation's National Conservation 
        Achievement Award for Communications, and has been recognized by the 
        Root 100 as one of the most influential African Americans in the country 
        and by Family Circle magazine as one of America's 20 Most Influential 
        Moms; and
Whereas 2024 marks the 15th year since Outdoor Afro has established itself as a 
        community that supports reconnecting Black Americans with natural spaces 
        and one another through recreational activities: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the recognition of the 15th anniversary of 
        Outdoor Afro; and
            (2) commends the leadership of Outdoor Afro for changing 
        the face of conservation by leading the way for inclusion in 
        outdoor recreation and nature for all.
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