Today we’d like to introduce you to Simone Adams.
Hi Simone, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story begins with my love of the outdoors. That love started when I was just a girl who spent my days catching tadpoles in the creek by my house or playing in the woods in our neighborhood. I grew up in Marietta, long before it was the overdeveloped suburb we know today. Back then, there was plenty of undeveloped lands and I wasn’t afraid to explore. As an adult, when I moved to East Atlanta, I was pleased to find that the city still had a few hidden pockets of undeveloped land or nature trails where I could connect with nature. With the recent development boom (a.k.a. gentrification), most of those places no longer exist but there are still a few gems around the city–like Cascade Nature Preserve or Constitution Lakes.
As a Black woman in a metropolitan area, I simply never met anyone else who had experience camping and so it remained an activity I only did with my father. Although I had hiked by myself many times, I was in my late thirties before I took my first solo camping trip. Despite all my experience, I did everything wrong—I packed my backpack too heavy, I miscalculated the number f miles to my campsite, and worst of all, as the sun started to set, I realized I was terrified to be alone in the dark woods at night! But I was so exhausted that I eventually fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, all my fear had drained away and I had a peaceful understanding that I could do this on my own. In 2019, I took a three-month solo-road trip, camping and hiking throughout the Pacific Northwest. It was the most freeing and joyful time of my life.
Today, I’m a bit of a nomad—with a full-time residence in a rural area among the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and staying part-time in Atlanta as I build a new business to help other people of color experience the outdoors.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With that metaphor, I think the road may have been relatively smooth but sometimes, my vehicle was janky!
I had a great childhood. My parents had successful careers, but I’m the first in my family to get a bachelor’s degree and now I have my master’s degree. I’m an entrepreneur, making more now than I ever did when I was employed under someone. I’ve moved away from my hometown, traveled cross-country, and settled into a lifestyle that is unconventional but suits me perfectly.
But also, I grew up in a racist suburb and attended a majority-white school system. At my high school, not a single teacher took the time to help me understand how to apply for college. I had my son my sophomore year of college and struggled through night classes while working full-time and caring for a child before finally graduating. I’ve survived my car flipping over down I-16 (always wear your seat belt!) and an apartment fire in the middle of the night (thank goodness for diligent neighbors who knocked on everyone’s door to get us out). I married a narcissist and was divorced a few years later. I’ve burned out at two nonprofit jobs where being overworked and underpaid was an understatement. Only recently have I earned enough money to save any, but I still carry school loans. And despite my persistent optimism, I know that another challenge is always over the horizon.
I know that it’s both the good and the bad that make me who I am today—and I like me, so I wouldn’t change a thing.
As you know, we’re big fans of Color My Outdoors. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My work is my joy! Last year, I had a eureka moment: after taking kayaking lessons where not a single guide or participant was a person of color, I decided to merge my experience as a consultant for nonprofits with my passion for the outdoors. I’ve launched a nonprofit called Color My Outdoors to improve racial equity in outdoor recreation by providing scholarships for leadership training and collaborating with other diverse-led outdoor organizations and influencers. I want to see more people of color enjoying the outdoors and leading outdoor adventures.
The stereotype is that Black and Brown folks don’t enjoy the outdoors. But if you think about it, we all come from cultures that had a deep connection to the Earth and to nature. It’s only the result of generations of racial discrimination and harm that led us to believe we don’t belong outdoors. This country has a long history of land acquisition, segregation, economic inequality, and historical and present-day racial violence that perpetuate the diversity gap in the outdoors. Justifiably, people of color have become afraid of or unfamiliar with the outdoors—especially in the south. But Color My Outdoors is part of a movement to change that story.
Earlier this year, I was able to work with REI Co-op, one of the biggest outdoor recreation retailers, on an event they held to introduce camping to the community of color here in Atlanta. More than 5000 people registered for the event. We’re out here—we’re still underrepresented but we’re out here. And I’m making it my mission to get more of us outside. I’m excited for a future where we all feel welcomed and empowered in the outdoors. If people are interested in learning more about Color My Outdoors or other organizations that can help them gain the confidence to venture outdoors, we’re online at ColorMyOutdoors.org and all the social media channels as @ColorMyOutdoors.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Outdoor recreation and activism among people of color is “trending”. I didn’t understand this until I connected with the community on Instagram and saw that, despite never seeing faces like mine on the trail, we were out there in masses. Now we are gracing the cover of outdoor magazines and getting nationwide attention. The outdoor industry never considered the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) marketplace until the past couple of years when racial equity became front and center for all industries and the pandemic pushed more people outside. Now, outdoor retailers and government agencies are scrambling to figure out how to reach us and make us feel welcomed in the outdoors. There’s a long journey to change generations of discrimination, but the path is clear. I think that the stereotype that Black and Brown folks don’t enjoy the outdoors will start to lose its hold. I expect to see more of us pursuing adventures and careers in the outdoors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ColorMyOutdoors.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colormyoutdoors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColorMyOutdoors
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmTEy820dZAjmeVGheXb3RQ/about
Image Credits
Frances Neyra Claudio Wildly Civil Simone Adams
