Chapter Members Participate in National Diversity Conference

BY MELODY ANDERSON

Several members of the Angeles Chapter recently participated in the inaugural Breaking the Color Barrier in the Great American Outdoors conference in Atlanta. The conference, which was held September 23-26 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport, focused on increasing diversity in all types of outdoor-related activities.

Angeles Chapter member Juan Martinez spoke at the conference as part of a panel discussion on historical challenges encountered by people of color and how we are moving forward so that all Americans can feel a sense of ownership with respect to our public lands. He also moderated another panel discussion on engaging and connecting youth to the outdoors. Juan is the Volunteer Youth Coordinator of the Club's Building Bridges to the Outdoors program. In recognition of the many contributions he has already made, Juan received the conference's Looking to the Future Award for his leadership and selfless dedication that are necessary to maintain a sustainable planet for all life.

Other Angeles Chapter members in attendance at the conference included Melody Anderson, Chair of the Chapter's Diversity Task Force, and Bill Vanderberg, Lead Volunteer Coordinator for Building Bridges to the Outdoors. They were joined by Club volunteers and staff from across the country.

The conference, which will be a bi-annual event, is the brainchild of Frank and Audrey Peterman, a charming African American couple who, after a whirlwind cross-country trip to visit many of our National Parks, noticed the dearth of people of color enjoying these beautiful public lands. They now devote their time to combating the lack of information in urban communities and communities of color regarding the National Parks and other public lands, and to dispelling the myth that Americans of color are uninterested in outdoor experiences and environmental issues.

Approximately 275 people attended the conference, including numerous representatives of the federal land management agencies. One of the many highlights of the conference was the inspiring keynote address by Robert G. Stanton, former Director of the National Park Service, who now serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget. The conference moderator was Emmy Award-winning journalist Julia Yarbrough from the NBC affiliate in South Florida.

For more information regarding the conference, visit this site: www.breakingthecolorbarrier.com. For further information on Building Bridges to the Outdoors, see the Club's website at www.sierraclub.org/youth.Additional information regarding the Chapter's diversity efforts can be obtained from Melody Anderson at melody_grace@sbcglobal.net.