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Featured Outdoor Diversity Organization: The Charles Roundtree Bloom Project
A previous blog post highlighted the disproportionate statistics between outdoor spaces and population demographics. As outdoor recreationists, we continue to recognize this problem.
We hope to continue our education journey with our readers and do our best to help bridge these gaps between (underrepresented) minority communities and nature.
One of the ways we can create change within the outdoor industry is to support organizations who are already at the forefront of connecting communities of color to the outdoors.
During the month of October, the organization we’re featuring is the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project.
About the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project
The Charles Roundtree Bloom Project is a non-profit organization based in San Antonio, Texas with the mission to create communal healing spaces in the outdoors for youth impacted by incarceration.
By facilitating outdoor activities and providing environmental education, the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project aims to give youth the access to resources so they can reach their full potential, thrive and be inspired to become leaders of their respective communities.
The Impact of Incarceration on Youth of Color
With the United States as the top incarcerating country in the world, millions of families are impacted by this. The greatest impacts are on low income youth of color.
Not only do these children have to deal with the hardship of losing a parent to mass incarceration, but not uncommonly, youth of color also deal with race-based police encounters and traumas of their own.
Anxiety, depression, and lower academic achievement are a few of the effects that these youth populations face.
Why the Outdoors?
Studies show that there are significant mental health benefits from spending time outdoors, with the most positive benefits being a reduction of symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression.
Unfortunately, as the population most impacted by incarceration, youth of color often have less access to green spaces and fewer opportunities to spend time in nature.
Healing Justice
The Charles Roundtree Bloom Project aims to connect these youth populations to nature in order to heal, facilitate self-exploration, self-discovery and self-expression in ways that will benefit themselves and their communities.
Unprocessed trauma of youth from having an incarcerated parent and possible trauma from their own experiences with the American police force can cause disruptions in their sense of safety, belonging and purpose.
The healing justice programs give youth the tools and support to name and understand the oppressive systems that they’ve been impacted by, while allowing them to heal from the traumas that have impacted their lives and relationships with others.
Founder
Ki’Amber is the founder of the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project. Growing up in San Antonio in communities that were over-policed, over-incarcerated and over-burdened with environmental inequity, Ki’Amber experienced both her mother and grandfather being incarcerated at different points of her life.
She also had several other extended family members who were incarcerated, giving her a personal, intimate knowledge of the impacts of incarceration on youth and their families.
She attended Pomona College in California where she was able to experience the healing benefits of the outdoors.
“Through outdoor healing, Ki’Amber was able to find her purpose and inspiration for the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project and its mission to support youth populations impacted by incarceration.”
Photo Credit: Charles Roundtree Bloom Project 
Photo Credit: Charles Roundtree Bloom Project
Shortly after coming up with the idea for the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, Ki’Amber’s younger cousin was murdered by the San Antonio Police Department. He was only 18 years old at the time. The program is named in honor of him.
Support and Donate
Please consider supporting this organization directly. Donations can be made in the following ways:
Donate
Donations fund the various outdoor experiences provided to youth participants. Funding goes towards trips to state parks, camping experiences, food and outdoor gear.
All donations are tax deductible and can be made as a one-time or recurring payment. We encourage recurring donations to be made as they’re a reliable source of support for Charles Roundtree Bloom Project’s mission.
Follow Charles Roundtree Bloom Project
Website: https://crbloomproject.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crbloomproject/
You Can Help Bridge the Race Gap in the Outdoor Industry
An overview of organizations we have supported can be found here. This document contains information about what these organizations are doing and how you can donate to them directly.
We also set up a submission form you can use if you know an organization that’s working to make the outdoors more diverse and inclusive. If you want to see them supported, please submit via this form.
We encourage anyone in the outdoor space who wants to become more involved to join us!