Outdoor Retailer - January 2021 - 40

indigenous, and migrant issues
NEEDS: People with a variety of skills who can
offer pro bono work for Get Out, Stay Out,
including a bookkeeper and/or accountant
Karen Ramos feels most like herself on
the beach, on the trail, and anywhere in
nature. Through her Instagram, @naturechola, Ramos documents her experiences
as a Oaxacan indigenous outdoor adventurer. " Why can't these two paradox identities merge? " she says about her social media
handle. " Why can't I merge these two things
that I feel strongly define my identity more
than anything else? " She shares about racism
and gaslighting in the outdoor industry, being
the representation she wanted growing up,
sustainability and environmental justice, and
more. She also opened up this year about her
mental health journey.
Ramos is also the founder of Get Out, Stay
Out, a nonprofit that serves indigenous migrant youth in Southern California and gives
them space to write their own narratives in the
outdoors. It started a few years ago when she
was still a teacher and took 16 students on an
after-school hiking trip. " As soon as we got to
the trail and we let everybody out, it was like,
three kids were over there, five kids over there,
one wanted to hold my hand, " she says. " My
immediate instinct as a teacher was, I need to
round these kids up ... and then I'm like, wait,
no, this is what I wanted. " Programming kicks
off again this spring.
Also later this year, look for her heritagehonoring fabric designs on a fanny pack created in collaboration with Granite Gear, as
well as outdoor leaders José González and
Teresa Baker.

Jeff Jenkins of Chubby Diaries
explores Grand Teton
National Park, Wyoming.

The High Fives Foundation
trained disabled skiers at the
2020 High Five the Hill at
Winter Park Resort, Colorado.

ROY TUSCANY
@roytuscany
travel and realize that they are just as worthy
and capable of seeing the world; they don't
have to wait until they're a certain weight,
shape, or size. " Although I know there are a
lot of plus-size people in the world, I don't see
them traveling much, " Jenkins says. " I wanted
to see more people who looked like me. "
His recent posts include " Can Chubby
People Ski? " and " What Plus-Size Travelers
Need to Know Before Going to Disney World. "
He also writes about food, facts about destinations in the U.S. and other countries, and

40 OUTDOOR RETAILER

/ January 2021

about racial justice. As a founding member
of the Black Travel Alliance, he advocates for
safe spaces and equality in the travel and outdoor industries. With a growing following and
influence, he considers himself a conduit between his audience and brands who have the
power to improve access and representation.

KAREN RAMOS

WHERE TO FIND HER: vamosafuera.org,

@naturechola,
RELEVANT ISSUES: Speaking up about Latinx,

RELEVANT ISSUES: Preventing life-changing inju-

ries and providing resources if they do happen
through High Fives Foundation
NEEDS: Donations and exclusive partnerships
As one of the newest members of Eddie
Bauer's One Outside program, Roy Tuscany
is pushing for inclusivity for people with disabilities in the outdoors and encouraging
businesses to see people who participate in
adaptive sports as true athletes.
Tuscany founded High Fives Foundation

From top: Courtesy of Jeff Jenkins, courtesy of High Fives Foundation

WHERE TO FIND HIM: highfivesfoundation.org,

http://www.highfivesfoundation.org http://www.vamosafuera.org

Outdoor Retailer - January 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Outdoor Retailer - January 2021