Black Bodies in Nature and Wilderness
Rue Mapp founded Outdoor Afro to celebrate and inspire Black connections to nature. Mapp focuses on building outdoor leadership and creating a new narrative of who gets outdoors. She will discuss how she draws on literature, history, music, and radicalism to create relevant outdoor experiences.
Originally beginning in 2009 as a blog, Outdoor Afro has since captured the attention and imagination of millions through a multi-media approach, grounded in personal connections and community organizing. From its grassroots beginning, now Outdoor Afro enjoys national sponsorship and is recognized by major organizations for the importance of diversity in the outdoors.
Mapp's ongoing work has been recognized with numerous Awards and Distinctions: The Root 100 as one of the most influential African Americans in the country, Outdoor Industry Inspiration Award, 2014 National Wildlife Federation Communication award (received alongside President Bill Clinton) and in May 2015, Family Circle Magazine selected Rue as one of America’s 20 Most Influential Moms. She is proud to serve on the board of the American Camp Association, and the Outdoor Industry Association. In 2014, Rue was appointed to the California State Parks Commission by Governor Jerry Brown.
Mapp is a graduate of UC Berkeley (with a Degree in Art History), resides in Oakland, CA and is the proud mother of three active teenage children.
Part of the Cities and Bodies speaker series.
IMPORTANT: 494 Wurster is in the SOUTH Tower of Wurster Hall. If you are on the fourth floor in the North Tower you cannot walk across to the South Tower unless you go down to the third floor. When you enter Wurster Hall's main (west) entrance, turn right and take the single elevators in the South Tower up to the fourth floor. If you take one of the double elevators you are in the North Tower.