Outdoor Access for All: Exploring Safety, Equity & Inclusion

Last year, hate crimes in the U.S. rose to the highest level in more than a decade, according to the FBI. In Oregon, hate crimes and bias incidents spiked 366% with several high-profile reports from Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQ+ community members being harassed in public parks and other public recreation areas. We can and must do better.

No one visiting the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Coast, or any lands held for the benefit of the public should have to fear that they and their loved ones might be harassed or attacked due to their skin color, gender identity, or ethnic background. But we still have a long way to go to ensure safe and equitable access on public lands.

Join for a virtual discussion— hosted by Friends of the Columbia Gorge and organized in collaboration with Comunidades, Love is King, and People of Colors Outdoors—to explore the opportunities and challenges in ensuring equitable access for all to state parks and lands in the Columbia Gorge and beyond across both Oregon and Washington.