Together We Are A Force: James Edward Mills and Jose Gonzalez

In 2016, we conducted an extensive series of interviews and surveys to find out how OIA—the outdoor industry’s membership trade association—can best support outdoor companies. What we learned is that our members see us as a convener—the unifying entity best equipped to galvanize the industry around three important issues: policy, participation and sustainable business. We then identified individuals who are already working to move the needle on those issues within their respective companies.    We’ve all heard the stereotype: "The outdoors is for old white guys." James Edward Mills, a freelance journalist and photographer, and Jose Gonzalez, founder of Latino Outdoors, are out to change that perception, one outdoor experience at a time. Together, they’re a force for diversity in the outdoor industry, and they’re not stopping until the demographics of the outdoor recreation population reflect those of the American populace.   Want to learn more about these individuals and the work OIA is doing to foster collaboration throughout the industry and to catalyze change? Visit outdoorindustry.org/outdoorist to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and our Audio Outdoorist podcast.