2019 Conference archive | Keynote address: get here if you can
Who’s using our national and local trails, who does not and why?
This keynote address will be an engaging conversation examining the social science behind why we don’t see more urban people of color using our trails. Specifically, the dialogue will be around barriers perceived and real; intentional and unintentional bias that causes trail use disparity; and tools and techniques we can use to assure a more diverse demographic of trail users.
This keynote address will be an engaging conversation examining the social science behind why we don’t see more urban people of color using our trails. Specifically, the dialogue will be around barriers perceived and real; intentional and unintentional bias that causes trail use disparity; and tools and techniques we can use to assure a more diverse demographic of trail users.
Join us as Charles Thomas, Jr. delivers our Keynote address. In his forthcoming book, From the Hood to the Woods, Mr. Thomas calls upon his more than 40 years of experience in positions with Outward Bound Adventures, the National Park Service, City of Pasadena, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in connecting under-served and low-income, communities of color to nature and the outdoors. Building on his recent Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Trails Industry presentation at the 2019 International Trails Symposium, Mr. Thomas will delve into the tools and techniques he has developed during his accomplished career that help promote diversity in the outdoor world.
Attendees will leave with a toolkit document developed by Mr. Thomas to help guide and inform their own strategies towards making trails a transformative place for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Don’t miss this lively discussion!
Attendees will leave with a toolkit document developed by Mr. Thomas to help guide and inform their own strategies towards making trails a transformative place for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Don’t miss this lively discussion!
| keynote_-_get_here_if_you_can.pdf |
About charles Thomas, Jr.
Charles Thomas is unique among urban people of color, being a rare mix of African American, Native American and Asian, who has dedicated his life to promoting diversity and inclusion in the outdoor world. He was the first person of color in the history of Southern Oregon University to graduate with dual degrees in Physical Geography and Environmental Studies. While at the university, he fought tirelessly with the administration to diversify its student body. Ultimately, the administration created the Minority Student Program, for which Charles became the chief recruiter.
Also while at the university, Charles created the Third World Union, a club for American minorities and students of color from around the world to share their common culture and experiences. During his college years Charles approached the U.S. Forest Service and assisted in the design of a program that recruited African-American students into seasonal employment positions in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in the state of Washington.
In graduate school Charles worked as a naturalist for the Los Angeles County Outdoor Schools where he wrote the section of the staff handbook on “how to work with ethnically diverse students.” Later as an ecologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he was honored by the Federal Equal Employment Opportunities Commission for designing a program that introduced urban youth of color to the environmental work of the Army Corps.
Following his work at the Army Corps of Engineers, Charles became the City of Pasadena’s first Environmental Affairs Coordinator, managing the largest environmental restoration project in the history of the city. Charles holds the distinction of being the principal author of the City of Pasadena’s Environmental Charter, a document that is used today to guide the city’s development and environmental initiatives.
During his years at the National Park Service as the Regional Youth Program Manager for the Pacific West Region, Charles designed youth programs to facilitate the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the NPS Director’s youth initiatives. Charles developed logistical processes that allowed for expansion of youth programs and initiatives in 59 National Parks. He managed and assigned $4 million dollars in congressionally appointed regional funds for Youth Conservation Corps, Public Land Corps, and Youth Partnership funds. Charles designed and implemented the Pacific West Region’s 5-year Youth Engagement Strategic Plan that included over 300 youth programs serving thousands of youth. In addition, Charles designed and implemented 3 extremely successful youth programs, Roots and Wings, The Public Lands Education Project, and the Park Poor Diverse Urban Youth Engagement Program, all created to engage underserved, overlooked and avoided youth populations.
Throughout his life his work has revolved around Outward Bound Adventures (OBA), where he worked seasonally and part-time for nearly 20 years, and worked full-time as Executive Director for 16 years. During that time, he created several award-winning programs dedicated to enriching the lives of underserved urban populations, especially low-income inner-city families, by introducing them to the therapeutic value of spending time in wild places and open spaces.
Charles developed all the programming for OBA’s Diverse Outdoor Leaders Institute (DOLI). DOLI was created by Charles to provide the National Park Service and the outdoor education sector with a qualified pool of diverse instructors from different cultural backgrounds who look like and relate to the face of an ever-increasing multicultural American demographic. DOLI is now a nationally recognized outdoor instructor training program.
Over the years, Charles has received numerous awards and recognition for his work. He has been a White House invitee, honored by his Congressman, honored by the State Senate, County Board of Supervisors, Board of Education, City Council and honored by numerous community based organizations. His most cherished award so far has been the National Mosaic Conference Award because it was given by a jury of his peers and from the communities he serves.
Charles holds positions on the board of directors for the following organizations: California Council of Land Trusts, Oak Crest Institute of Science, The Wildlands Conservancy, and Nature for All.
Charles continues his tireless efforts to ensure all youth have access and opportunity to engage in meaningful nature-based programs through his consulting work and his position with Outward Bound Adventures. Currently he is completing his book, From the Hood to the Woods, scheduled for release in November 2019. The book highlights his nearly 40 years of experience designing outdoor education programs and connecting urban youth to nature and careers in conservation.
Also while at the university, Charles created the Third World Union, a club for American minorities and students of color from around the world to share their common culture and experiences. During his college years Charles approached the U.S. Forest Service and assisted in the design of a program that recruited African-American students into seasonal employment positions in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in the state of Washington.
In graduate school Charles worked as a naturalist for the Los Angeles County Outdoor Schools where he wrote the section of the staff handbook on “how to work with ethnically diverse students.” Later as an ecologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he was honored by the Federal Equal Employment Opportunities Commission for designing a program that introduced urban youth of color to the environmental work of the Army Corps.
Following his work at the Army Corps of Engineers, Charles became the City of Pasadena’s first Environmental Affairs Coordinator, managing the largest environmental restoration project in the history of the city. Charles holds the distinction of being the principal author of the City of Pasadena’s Environmental Charter, a document that is used today to guide the city’s development and environmental initiatives.
During his years at the National Park Service as the Regional Youth Program Manager for the Pacific West Region, Charles designed youth programs to facilitate the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the NPS Director’s youth initiatives. Charles developed logistical processes that allowed for expansion of youth programs and initiatives in 59 National Parks. He managed and assigned $4 million dollars in congressionally appointed regional funds for Youth Conservation Corps, Public Land Corps, and Youth Partnership funds. Charles designed and implemented the Pacific West Region’s 5-year Youth Engagement Strategic Plan that included over 300 youth programs serving thousands of youth. In addition, Charles designed and implemented 3 extremely successful youth programs, Roots and Wings, The Public Lands Education Project, and the Park Poor Diverse Urban Youth Engagement Program, all created to engage underserved, overlooked and avoided youth populations.
Throughout his life his work has revolved around Outward Bound Adventures (OBA), where he worked seasonally and part-time for nearly 20 years, and worked full-time as Executive Director for 16 years. During that time, he created several award-winning programs dedicated to enriching the lives of underserved urban populations, especially low-income inner-city families, by introducing them to the therapeutic value of spending time in wild places and open spaces.
Charles developed all the programming for OBA’s Diverse Outdoor Leaders Institute (DOLI). DOLI was created by Charles to provide the National Park Service and the outdoor education sector with a qualified pool of diverse instructors from different cultural backgrounds who look like and relate to the face of an ever-increasing multicultural American demographic. DOLI is now a nationally recognized outdoor instructor training program.
Over the years, Charles has received numerous awards and recognition for his work. He has been a White House invitee, honored by his Congressman, honored by the State Senate, County Board of Supervisors, Board of Education, City Council and honored by numerous community based organizations. His most cherished award so far has been the National Mosaic Conference Award because it was given by a jury of his peers and from the communities he serves.
Charles holds positions on the board of directors for the following organizations: California Council of Land Trusts, Oak Crest Institute of Science, The Wildlands Conservancy, and Nature for All.
Charles continues his tireless efforts to ensure all youth have access and opportunity to engage in meaningful nature-based programs through his consulting work and his position with Outward Bound Adventures. Currently he is completing his book, From the Hood to the Woods, scheduled for release in November 2019. The book highlights his nearly 40 years of experience designing outdoor education programs and connecting urban youth to nature and careers in conservation.
