It is with much excitement that we recognize Brandon Hill, Natural Areas Outreach Specialist, for being accepted as a Rethink Outside Fellow for 2021/2022. Brandon joins 20 other leaders and story tellers from across the country for this inaugural cohort sponsored by the Blue Sky Funders Forum.
The Rethink Outside fellowship was launched in 2019 to “unify voices to express the benefits of time spent outdoors”. In this work, Rethink Outside has engaged with hundreds of communities and organizations around the United States who are “committed to changing the prevailing public narratives around time spent in nature.” There is an intense focus on highlighting leaders of color who are working to create outdoor experiences and connections to nature.
The work of Rethink Outside aligns with the mission of Wilderness Louisville and with what we are trying to accomplish within the Natural Areas Division. Together, we continue to expand our efforts to engage with communities who have been historically structurally neglected within park systems, especially natural systems. In addition, we are working to support a culture that engages, enjoys, and protects are natural world through education, engagement, and exposure. It is an honor that we have one of our own in this program. We are excited for Brandon to use this experience to amplify the voices in Louisville who have been misrepresented or under-represented so that we can challenge the dominant narrative of who should be able to enjoy the outdoors.
