IV 

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. BARRAGA ́N, 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 notfor-profit organization, has cultivated and trained more 

than 1,000 outdoor leaders, leading thousands of outdoor 

events and reaching well over 150,000 participants; 


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•HRES 1534 IH 

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 SwimmershipsTM 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; 


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•HRES 1534 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the recognition of the 15th anni3 versary of Outdoor Afro; and 

4 (2) commends the leadership of Outdoor Afro 

5 for changing the face of conservation by leading the 


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•HRES 1534 IH 

1 way for inclusion in outdoor recreation and nature 

2 for all. 

Æ 


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