Rue Mapp - Founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro. Author: “Nature Swagger Stories and Visions of Black Joy in the Outdoors”

<div>Rue founded <a href="https://outdoorafro.org/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://outdoorafro.org/&source=gmail&ust=1665155746045000&usg=AOvVaw18cT_OiDc4TOq8V_4s9Qxz">Outdoor Afro</a> as a social enterprise in 2009. </div> <div> </div> <div>The now national not-for-profit celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Outdoor Afro incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2015. Today, the staffed organization includes more than 100 trained volunteer leaders, led and designed by Rue to innovate not-for-profit as movements of change. </div> <div> </div> <div>International cruise line <a href= "https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-us/expeditions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-us/expeditions/&source=gmail&ust=1665155746046000&usg=AOvVaw2N8P-82BB1h1wzGxJ6F9oe">Hurtigruten Expeditions</a> made cruise industry history with the creation of its <a href= "https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Hurtigruten-launches-Black-Traveler-Advisory-Board" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Hurtigruten-launches-Black-Traveler-Advisory-Board&source=gmail&ust=1665155746046000&usg=AOvVaw3PJfwH71MjGZ28lgxtBfdm">Black Traveler Advisory Board</a>. Hurtigruten invited Rue to become one of its founding members. Rue took an 18-day Antarctica voyage in February 2022 to help drive change and new opportunities for Black people in the adventure cruise industry, increasing visibility and inclusivity of Black travellers.</div> <div> </div> <div>When Rue shares stories from the land, people of all walks of life listen. She’s served on national platforms with congresspeople, outdoor professionals, corporate partners, and global leaders.</div> <div> </div> <div>“Nature Swagger” is Rue’s first book by American publisher <a href="https://www.chroniclebooks.com/" target= "_bla