Creating an outdoor brave space
Finding joy for the sake of joy is at the core of what we should do.
Alison Mariella Desir is a Black activist, runner, and outdoors enthusiast who works to make the outdoors accessible to people who have faced racism and recognition for a place in the outdoors.
Will Cortez is a Pacific islander who advocates for Indigenous people, and people of color in Portland Oregon. Cortez founded BikePOC as a place for people not represented for their place in the outdoors by discovering nature and the freedom of exploration on a bike.
In my trail, cycling, and trail town advocacy, the need to include marginalized communities is prominent. Exploring trails on a bike improves mental and physical health. These benefits should be accessible to everyone regardless of appearance, skills, race, sex, and social and economic standing,
Desir hosts Out and Back, a PBS series that elevates the accessibility of the outdoors for all. In the Creating Brave Space episode, Desir and Cortez discuss Cortez’s vision of life and how a bike opens the doors to discovery and experiencing nature.
The words in this video align with my vision of an accessible outdoors for all. It heightened my awareness of what people who look differently seek as a brave space, a place outdoors that embraces them.
Being welcomed in the outdoors is a priority for those seeking its joys. We must understand the barriers that keep marginalized communities from the experience. This episode offered valuable insights on how to do just that.
We often don’t surrender ourselves to the energy of the world. Just understanding that like we can move through the world at a different speed. – Will Cortez
Life gets in the way of experiencing life. The outdoors is free of charge and always open. Life’s worries are left behind on the trail. The speed of a bike is therapeutic and good for your mental and physical health. Help others see this in your actions and advocacy.
As a middle schooler, bike riding provided a freedom that was otherwise lacking in my life. - Alison Mariella Désir
I remember the freedom of discovering the world beyond my driveway as a kid. A car became the vehicle for that freedom in my teens. Now is the time to rediscover the youthful freedom on a bike. Freedom on a bike is yours alone to own.
I find the most palatable version of myself and it really is to protect myself and to fly under the radar. - Alison Mariella Désir
Everyone should be free to be themselves outdoors. Be the enabler of a place where all present their true version of self. There are no traditional bikes or cyclists. Welcoming and including the not-so-traditional begins with you.
Would you rather be a sword going through my life than a butterknife?  Leaning into the discomfort. - Will Cortez
Change only happens when you challenge your comfort zone. Discomfort comes with living on the other side of the comfort zone. Use your voice and actions to welcome people feeling self-doubt and prejudice. Let this be your sword to help others share your joy.
Privilege is when you can carry everything with you in your backpack. And the lack of it is all the stuff you leave everything behind about your identity. – Will Cortez
Life lived at its best is being proud of what makes you who you are. Marginalized people may hide pieces of their lives to be accepted. Privilege is never leaving part of you behind at the trailhead. Encourage everyone to carry all of themselves in the outdoors.
The real and authentic relationships come from playing and adventure and exploring and fun. Like if we are not laughing, like then we are not connecting. - Will Cortez
The stress of everyday life disappears embracing the outdoors. Laughter is spontaneous when exploring the outdoors with others. Sharing fun experiences is a powerful connection bridging divides. If you aren't laughing, you are not connecting.
Finding joy for the sake of joy is the core of what we are doing. - Will Cortez
Cycling is a source of joy. When something sparks happiness, we invest more energy and make it a part of our lives. The beauty of cycling lies in its diversity. We ride for different reasons, but the unifying thread is the joy it brings to life.
Parting thoughts
I am guilty of not being a more active advocate for marginalized communities. We've all likely faced situations where we felt excluded. None of my experiences compare to the marginalization felt by Alison Mariella Desir and Will Cortez.
It seems many people might relate to this. I can never experience the world through the eyes of a person of a different race. I can listen to their stories and seek guidance on making a brave space welcoming to ALL. Be assured this will be more visible and a priority in my advocacy.
To be an activist is to speak. To be an advocate is to listen. Society can’t move forward without both. – Eva Marie Lewis