Roots and purpose

Line drawing of an oak leaf outline on a dark background.

Illustration of a tree ring cross-section with some segments cut away, showing growth rings.

our vision

People who live, work and learn in and near Richmond spend more time outdoors receiving the many benefits related to health and wellness, social justice, positive youth development and education

Group of diverse young people standing in a circle outdoors, holding hands and a stick, engaging in a team-building activity, surrounded by trees and sunlight.

Photo Credit: ESCAPE Club

our mission

To collectively expand equitable access to the outdoors for people who live, work and learn in and near Richmond

core values

We value inquiry and exploration. We encourage asking questions, seeking new experiences, and being open to different perspectives. We believe that curiosity drives innovation, creativity, and growth. We believe in the importance of continuous growth and development. We often turn to the natural environment for inspiration and wisdom. We actively seek knowledge, acquire new skills, and reflect on experiences to improve and adapt to changing circumstances. We engage in a culture of lifelong learning, where we learn and grow from our mistakes.
We consider the long-term impact of our actions and decisions on those who will come after us. We encourage practices that prioritize the well-being of future generations, fostering a sense of intergenerational responsibility. We are committed to creating equitable systems, protecting natural resources, and promoting cultural heritage, ensuring that future generations inherit a world that is not only livable but also thriving.
We are committed to fostering holistic wellness in individuals, communities and the environment. This encompasses physical, mental, and emotional health, actively addressing racial and social disparities, as well as the health of our air, waterways and local ecosystem, recognizing that each aspect is interconnected and essential for overall quality of life. We value community-centered approaches to the health benefits of spending time in nature, ultimately leading to more vibrant, joyful, and fulfilling lives.
We believe in the importance of empathy, understanding, and support for others. Kindness involves acts of goodwill, generosity, and consideration, while compassion goes deeper, encompassing a genuine concern for the suffering of others and a desire to help alleviate it. Embracing kindness and compassion towards the human and more than human world fosters a culture of connection and inclusivity, encouraging individuals to treat one another with respect and care. This core value promotes emotional intelligence, strengthens relationships, and builds community resilience by creating an environment where people feel valued and supported.
We believe in the importance of collaboration, communication, and collective effort in achieving common goals. Just as biodiversity is essential to a thriving ecosystem, we recognize that diverse perspectives and skills enhance problem solving and innovation, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose among individuals and organizations. We encourage open dialogue, trust, and mutual respect, creating an environment where team members feel valued and empowered to contribute. This value highlights the significance of working together, leveraging each person's strengths, and supporting one another to overcome challenges.
We believe in the importance of actively listening to and appreciating the perspectives and experiences of others. Understanding involves seeking to comprehend the thoughts, feelings, and motivations behind people's actions, while empathy goes further by fostering a deep emotional connection and a genuine desire to support and help those in need. We believe that our understanding and empathy should extend to the more than human world, including the plants, animals and waters on which all life depends.

Going beyond land acknowledgements

Lisjan Ohlone and Muwekma Ohlone ancestral lands

The Richmond Outdoors Coalition is based on the unceded territory of xučyun (Hooch-yoon), within the homeland of the Ohlone (Oh-low-nee) people, including the Lisjan (Leeshawn) Ohlone and Muwekma Ohlone tribes, in what has been colonized as Richmond, CA, in a country that has been (and continues to be) built by unpaid and underpaid labor.

We acknowledge and celebrate the ongoing role of the Ohlone people in Richmond and their current day activism to preserve sacred shellmound sites, revitalize Indigenous practices and the Chochenyo (Cho-chen-yo) language, and to rematriate land back to Indigenous stewardship, through the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust and beyond.

We also recognize that harm can be caused by simply acknowledging the land on which we live, work, play and learn and we are committed to Going Beyond Land Acknowledgements. This is an ongoing process of unlearning, listening, learning and taking actions in partnership with and for the benefit of the Ohlone people.