Connect with us

#NNPA BlackPress

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Outward Bound Adventures show children a new world

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — Kids, leave your phones and electronics at home; you’re going on an adventure. For some, Outward Bound Adventures’ excursions are a time to unplug and be worry-free as participants experience the outdoors, often opposite of the concrete jungles they live in.

Published

on

Outward Bound Adventures (Courtesy Photo)

By Wave Newspapers

Kids, leave your phones and electronics at home; you’re going on an adventure.

For some, Outward Bound Adventures’ excursions are a time to unplug and be worry-free as participants experience the outdoors, often opposite of the concrete jungles they live in.

For nearly 60 years, urban youth and families in Pasadena and Los Angeles County have joined the nonprofit on trips that last from days to almost a month, visiting islands, mountains, beaches and deserts.

“It is absolutely critical for every child to have access to the outdoors and not just because of the stewardship value that it promotes, but for the emotional, social and physical health benefits of having children connected to nature,” Charles Thomas, program director, said.

Thomas knows this because he was once a child participating in Outward Bound’s programs.

“I got in a lot of trouble as a kid and I was one of those kids that needed a lot more attention,” he said. “The founder of Outward Bound Adventures, she always took the time to share with me the value I brought to the conversation even if I was 14 years old. I said I would always take the time to listen when a child speaks, to understand them.”

The commitment to providing access to the outdoors to families in urban cities began with Pasadena school teacher, Helen Mary Williams, and the after-school club of her creation, Junior Audubon Society.

Williams wasn’t alone in her mission to bring children to the outdoors. She worked with other teachers like Helen Criss and one of the original Tuskegee Airmen pilots, LeRoy Criss. The mountaineering aspect of Outward Bound Adventures comes from Eldridge “Bud” Ross Jr., one of the first African Americans to join the Sierra Club Los Angeles chapter.

According to the organization, about 80,000 youths and families have been impacted by Outward Bound Adventures. Currently, there are four main programs the organization uses to teach youth from marginalized communities.

Each program uses six areas of focus: eco- and cultural-literacy; community engagement; stewardship and Leave No Trace ethics; team building and leadership; physical challenge and outdoor careers in conservation.

The Environment Restoration Teams offer short- and long-term paid positions to dropouts, veterans and recent high school graduates.

Families are most involved in the Natural Resources and Stewardship Academy, a year-round series of trips and courses about environmental conservation and education. Teach Me to Camp also helps families get involved with a guided introduction to wilderness and camping basics.

Because much of the staff are volunteers, programs like the Youth Advisory Council and the Diverse Outdoor Leaders Institute help train youth and adults to lead wilderness trips that will inspire the next generation.

“What I care about is that we have a larger community of color serving communities of color,” Thomas said. “I want certified, qualified instructors of color throughout Los Angeles — whether they’re at another nonprofit or starting their own — I want people who look like the kids that we’re trying to serve.”

Other than volunteers, donations keep the business running at its best with people offering money, equipment, training and educational support. The donations from the community allow Outward Bound Adventures to leave worries about equipment, food and transportation on them and not the people who take part.

In the future, Thomas would like the organization to expand to San Bernardino, San Fernando, Oakland and other cities. He also plans to focus on foster children and starting satellite campuses in Compton, Watts and East L.A.

“We’re not just an outdoor camping organization, that’s what we do when we’re out there, but what we’re trying to do is introduce these kids to a lifetime of outdoor recreation and careers in conservation and the environmental field. And that starts with them being comfortable outdoors.”

The article first appeared in The Los Angeles Sentinel

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#NNPA BlackPress

Remembering George Floyd

Published

on

Continue Reading

#NNPA BlackPress

OP-ED: Oregon Bill Threatens the Future of Black Owned Newspapers and Community Journalism

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Published

on

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

For decades, The Skanner newspaper in Portland, the Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium have served Portland, Oregon’s Black community and others with a vital purpose: to inform, uplift and empower. But legislation now moving through the Oregon Legislature threatens these community news institutions—and others like them.

As President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), which represents more than 255 Black-owned media outlets across the United States—including historic publications like The Skanner, Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium—l believe that some Oregon lawmakers would do more harm than good for local journalism and community-owned publications they are hoping to protect.

Oregon Senate Bill 686 would require large digital platforms such as Google and Meta to pay for linking to news content. The goal is to bring desperately needed support to local newsrooms. However, the approach, while well-intentioned, puts smaller, community-based publications at a future severe financial risk.

We need to ask – will these payments paid by tech companies benefit the journalists and outlets that need them most? Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors, and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption, and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Legislation that sends money to these national conglomerate owners—without the right safeguards to protect independent and community-based outlets—rewards the forces that caused this inequitable crisis in the first place. A just and inclusive policy must guarantee that support flows to the front lines of local journalism and not to the boardrooms of large national media corporations.

The Black Press exists to fill in the gaps left by larger newsrooms. Our reporters are trusted messengers. Our outlets serve as forums for civic engagement, accountability and cultural pride. We also increasingly rely on our digital platforms to reach our audiences, especially younger generations—where they are.

We are fervently asking Oregon lawmakers to take a step back and engage in meaningful dialogue with those most affected: community publishers, small and independent outlets and the readers we serve. The Skanner, The Portland Observer, and The Portland Medium do not have national corporate parents or large investors. And they, like many smaller, community-trusted outlets, rely on traffic from search engines and social media to boost advertising revenue, drive subscriptions, and raise awareness.

Let’s work together to build a better future for Black-owned newspapers and community journalism that is fair, local,l and representative of all Oregonians.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President & CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

Continue Reading

#NNPA BlackPress

Hate and Chaos Rise in Trump’s America

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Tactics ranged from local policy manipulation to threats of violence. The SPLC documented bomb threats at 60 polling places in Georgia, traced to Russian email domains.

Published

on

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The Southern Poverty Law Center has identified 1,371 hate and antigovernment extremist groups operating across the United States in 2024. In its latest Year in Hate & Extremism report, the SPLC reveals how these groups are embedding themselves in politics and policymaking while targeting marginalized communities through intimidation, disinformation, and violence. “Extremists at all levels of government are using cruelty, chaos, and constant attacks on communities and our democracy to make us feel powerless,” said SPLC President Margaret Huang. The report outlines how hard-right groups aggressively targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives throughout 2024. Figures on the far right falsely framed DEI as a threat to white Americans, with some branding it a form of “white genocide.” After the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, a former Utah legislator blamed the incident on DEI, posting “DEI = DIE.”

Tactics ranged from local policy manipulation to threats of violence. The SPLC documented bomb threats at 60 polling places in Georgia, traced to Russian email domains. Similar threats hit Jewish institutions and Planet Fitness locations after far-right social media accounts attacked them for trans-inclusive policies. Telegram, which SPLC describes as a hub for hate groups, helped extremists cross-recruit between neo-Nazi, QAnon, and white nationalist spaces. The platform’s lax moderation allowed groups like the Terrorgram Collective—designated terrorists by the U.S. State Department—to thrive. Militia movements were also reorganized, with 50 groups documented in 2024. Many, calling themselves “minutemen,” trained in paramilitary tactics while lobbying local governments for official recognition. These groups shared personnel and ideology with white nationalist organizations.

The manosphere continued to radicalize boys and young men. The Fresh & Fit podcast, now listed as a hate group, promoted misogyny while mocking and attacking Black women. Manosphere influencers used social media algorithms to drive youth toward male-supremacy content. Turning Point USA played a key role in pushing white nationalist rhetoric into mainstream politics. Its leader Charlie Kirk claimed native-born Americans are being replaced by immigrants, while the group advised on Project 2025 and organized Trump campaign events. “We know that these groups build their power by threatening violence, capturing political parties and government, and infesting the mainstream discourse with conspiracy theories,” said Rachel Carroll Rivas, interim director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project. “By exposing the players, tactics, and code words of the hard right, we hope to dismantle their mythology and inspire people to fight back.”

Click here for the full report or visit http://www.splcenter.org/resources/guides/year-hate-extremism-2024.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to receive news and updates from the Oakland Post

* indicates required

CHECK OUT THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OAKLAND POST

ADVERTISEMENT

WORK FROM HOME

Home-based business with potential monthly income of $10K+ per month. A proven training system and website provided to maximize business effectiveness. Perfect job to earn side and primary income. Contact Lynne for more details: Lynne4npusa@gmail.com 800-334-0540

Facebook

Trending

Copyright ©2021 Post News Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.