Black Lives Matter

Jun 29, 2020

Recognizing the complicity of silence in the long struggle for racial justice and equality, we understand our responsibility to speak up, to include our voice in this important conversation and to say Black Lives Matter. In its simplest form, recreation is about movement, and we are humbly awakened to the movement that is underway. Kingdom Trails stands in solidarity with protestors across the NEK, as well as throughout our state, nation and the world, who are walking together, raising their voices together, rallying together, standing together, marching together, and even riding together, as protesters are using their bikes to fight racism, demand meaningful and lasting change. There are few cases in our culture where racial disparity is more pronounced than in outdoor recreation. Further, we take for granted the carefree spontaneity and privilege many of us enjoy when we go for a jog, ride, or walk on our trails--it is not a life threatening proposition. As an organization with a mission of providing public access and offering a safe and welcoming environment to recreate, we realize we play a critical role in helping to dismantle systemic racism.

With profound humility and commitment to deeper learning, we will challenge our assumptions and biases to make sure our trails are welcoming and safe for all. Further, we need to better understand how to actively participate in building a just organization, ensuring a just experience for all.

So we return to the notion of movement. Words are not enough, we need to act. As such, we recently sought support and counsel from the In Solidarity Project’s Outdoor Diversity Pledge to help us identify steps we can take as an organization in creating a plan to establish programs and initiatives around diversity and inclusion in the greater outdoor recreation community. These action items will range from exploring diversity, equity, and inclusion education for our KTA team and Board of Directors to presenting representative efforts that welcomes and comforts new users to KTA. We commit to sharing our progress with the Outdoor Diversity Pledge Team, as well as our own community, to hold ourselves accountable to the goals we have set through this pledge.

We will also look forward to taking part in discussions and other initiatives with fellow Vermont outdoor organizations in their pursuit of equity and inclusion. We are inspired by the statements and stories from our friends at the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, Green Mountain Club, Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance, and others. Kingdom Trails will also seek guidance from regional organizations such as the NEK Collaborative, as they have shared opportunities for reflection and dialogue in our immediate Northeast Kingdom region.

We recognize that our commitment won’t solve our challenges overnight, but it is the first step toward building a more inclusive organization, hopefully leading toward a more inclusive and representative outdoor recreation community. As it states in our new Ride with Gratitude Code of Conduct, care for others, "If someone needs help, we help. If someone needs encouragement, we share our enthusiasm. And if it's going to make the situation better, we dismount. Be nice, yield to others, and give a smile."

We welcome your feedback. And above all, join us. Feel free to share your thoughts and add your voice to the conversation.

We are so grateful, The KTA Team & Board of Directors

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