Together We Are A Force: James Edward Mills and Jose Gonzalez
In 2016, we conducted an extensive series of interviews and surveys to find out how OIA\u2014the outdoor industry\u2019s membership trade association\u2014can best support outdoor companies.\xa0What we learned is that our members see us as a convener\u2014the unifying entity best equipped to galvanize the industry around three important issues: policy, participation and sustainable business. We then identified individuals who are already\xa0working to move the needle on those issues within their respective companies.\xa0 \xa0 We\u2019ve all heard the stereotype: "The outdoors is for old white guys." James Edward Mills, a freelance journalist and photographer, and Jose Gonzalez, founder of Latino Outdoors, are out to change that perception, one outdoor experience at a time. Together, they\u2019re a force for diversity in the outdoor industry, and they\u2019re not stopping until the demographics of the outdoor recreation population reflect those of the American populace. \xa0 Want to learn more about these individuals and the work OIA is doing to foster collaboration throughout the industry and to catalyze change? Visit\xa0outdoorindustry.org/outdoorist\xa0to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and our Audio Outdoorist podcast. \xa0