North Carolina’s WNC Made By Mountains Partnership and Black Folks Camp Too announced a new “Return On Inclusion” campaign to engage Black folks from surrounding Southeastern metro areas to enjoy western North Carolina’s outdoors, and explore entrepreneurial and job opportunities in the outdoor industry hub of the East.
“Black folks are the fastest growing segment in the camping and RV industries and this audience will be vital for continued growth over the next five years,” said founder and President of Black Folks Camp Too, Earl B. Hunter Jr.
“There is a deep generational fear and a significant knowledge gap about the outdoors among Black people – as well as a lack of invitation to participate. Our team of marketing and social media experts can help outdoor brands and retailers, campgrounds, RV dealers, national and state parks – and anyone else looking to drive sales, expand their business through diversity,” he adds.
The effort will create and share more culturally relevant ideas that better reflect diverse representation in the outdoor economy, and invite Black folks from nearby metros like Charlotte, Greensboro and Atlanta to tap into the region’s outdoor industry ecosystem, discover job opportunities and add support for both new and existing outdoor ventures.
“Our job is to educate. Black Folks Camp Too believes that once we get everybody around that campfire, we will start having amazing conversations, and we’ll find out we got more same’s than we have differences. We are changing the world … one campfire at a time folks,” said Hunter.
The Made By Mountains Partnership is a collaborative of organizations and businesses working to expand the outdoor industry and economy across North Carolina’s Appalachian region by building vibrant outdoor communities, driving outdoor industry expansion, and increasing market access and recognition. Its programs include the WNC: MADE X MTNS regional outdoor brand, the Outdoor Economy Conference, and now, the Return on Inclusion campaign.
“WNC: MADE X MTNS looks forward to furthering a more inclusive and welcoming outdoor recreation industry and community in western North Carolina and beyond. Western North Carolina is uniquely positioned among America’s outdoor hubs. We are surrounded by some of the country’s most vibrant Black communities, and just a short drive away from the biggest concentration of HBCUs in the nation,” said WNC MADE X MTNS Communications Manager Joanna Brown.
Hunter kicked off the new ROI program on April 6 at the Outdoor Economy Conference in Cherokee, N.C. Multiple community training and industry engagement opportunities will occur throughout 2022 and 2023.