Joaquin Miller Park

Rue Mapp used to work for Morgan Stanley. She was good at her job and was considering going to graduate school to earn an MBA. All that changed, however, a few weeks after a conversation with her mentor. Instead of graduate school, in 2009 Rue started a blog that focused on the things she truly loved — nature, community, technology. That first step of pursuing her passion quickly grew into Outdoor Afro (where Black people and nature meet), a national organization with more than 60 leaders in 28 states around the country.

An Oakland native, Rue has always loved the Oakland Hills and the world-class park system just minutes away from everywhere. She grew up running and hiking the trails of Joaquin Miller Park and feels fortunate to be able to reconnect people of color to the outdoors, and help them realize that nature truly is for everyone.

So please take a minute to visit the Outdoor Afro website and learn about this amazing organization doing such incredible work right here in the heart of Oakland.