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[[link removed]]Dear John,
How can we possibly expect to achieve our vision of clean, healthy rivers
everywhere for everyone if members of our society are oppressed, silenced and
killed with impunity?
I want to make American Rivers’ position clear: We cannot fight for the
environment without also fighting for justice. White America, and the
conservation movement, have a responsibility to speak out against the injustices
perpetrated against Black people, as well as Indigenous people, Latinx people
and other marginalized communities.
At American Rivers, we continue to examine our operations, culture and
conservation priorities to disrupt cycles of systemic injustice — even those we
perpetuate unwittingly. We recognize there is more we need to do to fulfill our
mission and commitment to our core values
[[link removed]] , which include diversity, equity and inclusion. We also know we’ll misstep at
times. But we’re listening, we’re learning and we’re taking action. Click here
[[link removed]] to read our president Bob Irvin’s blog, “Fighting for rivers means fighting for
justice.”
As Bob writes, “I’m not naïve enough to think that American Rivers will, on its
own, achieve the justice our society needs. But I’m idealistic enough to know
that unless American Rivers does its part to fight for justice in all we do, we
will continue to experience the horrors we have seen this spring and we will not
achieve our mission. That outcome is unacceptable.”
I’m also writing to invite you to join us in conversation.
June is National Rivers Month, and American Rivers is teaming up with NRS and
Orvis for Just Add Water
[[link removed]] , a campaign to break down barriers and elevate the importance of racial and
ethnic diversity in the outdoors.
We’re following documentary film producer and outdoor enthusiast Faith Briggs,
and avid kayaker, former river guide and all-around outdoorsman Adam Edwards, as
they share their adventures and lead conversations about making the outdoors
safe and accessible for all.
In Faith’s words:
“The world is hard. All of the inequities that we deal with daily have boiled
over. It is past time and we can’t pretend things are ‘normal.’ I’m glad,
because normal hasn’t been normal or just for many of us for a long time.
While we keep getting into the important conversations about identity politics
and environmental justice, we’re also going to keep celebrating joy through
representation in the outdoors. We have a stellar line up of films and folks in
the next few weeks who will guide us through hard and important conversations
about how we engage and protect the places we love and each other.”
We invite you to join us in a series of virtual film screenings and discussions.
You’ll enjoy excellent films and dig into a rich and necessary conversation
about the importance of ensuring everyone can enjoy our rivers and trails — no
matter the color of their skin or where they come from.
Please visit NRS’s Just Add Water
[[link removed]] page to learn about details and dates, and sign up.
We hope you will join us.
For the rivers,
[[link removed]] Amy Kober
Vice President, Communications
American Rivers [[link removed]] [[link removed]] [[link removed]]
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©AMERICAN RIVERS
1101 14th Street NW, Suite 1400, Washington, DC xxxxxx | 202-347-7550 Big Sunflower River, MS | Photo by Stephen Kirkpatrick
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