Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Call it what you want, the outdoors are for everyone. At Winter Wildlands Alliance, JEDI work isn’t a side initiative—it’s fundamental to everything we do. Protecting wild snowscapes and ensuring access for all people are inseparable projects.
SnowSchool
This write-up was originally featured in our Spring 2025 Trail Break issue.
In 2024 We:
Fought for Equitable Access
- Stood up for laws and policies that ensure all people have access to the outdoors, a say in public land management, and a voice in environmental decision-making.
- Advocated for Snowplay Areas on public lands.
- Defended the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to protect public input in land management decisions.
Engaged Underserved Youth
- Through our national SnowSchool, we led youth programs and provided outdoor education resources to inspire and engage K-12 students.
- Provided winter gear, transportation, and accessible SnowSchool programming.
- Partnered with Lambert House for a Pride Month blog & accessibility initiatives.
Defended Indigenous Lands
- Protecting wild snowscapes starts with honoring and supporting their original stewards.
- Supported Indigenous stewardship & opposed threats like the Ambler Road project.
- Sponsored Indigenous Idaho Alliance’s winter jacket drive.
- Funded Traditional Ecological Knowledge content & presentations.
Empowered the Grassroots
- Supported local groups in protecting public lands and created resources for sustainable, inclusive winter access.
- Created bilingual visitor materials & signage for National Forests.
- Secured four free Backcountry Film Festival screenings with Patagonia for local communities.
- Donated winter gear to reservation communities.
Amplified Diverse Voices
- Through events and publications, we funded and showcased a range of different perspectives on human-powered winter sports—so everyone felt represented.
- Awarded the annual Backcountry Film Festival Film Grant to Dani Reyes-Acosta and Connor Ryan.
- Featured inclusive films like “Peaks and Passages” & “NISEI.”
- Shared Outdoor Afro’s Juneteenth message & integrated Sofía Jaramillo’s “A New Winter” exhibit into our 25th Anniversary Celebration in Sun Valley.
