CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Everybody Outside: Finding Joy and Belonging in the Outdoors will feature Alison Mariella Désir, an author, activist, and PBS host, as part of UVA’s MLK Community Celebration on Saturday, January 25. The event, hosted at the Irving Theater in the Code Building from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., is co-organized by UVA’s Office for Sustainability, The Equity Center at UVA, Prolyfyck Run Creww, and Black Girls Hike RVA.

Désir, the author of Running While Black and the host of PBS’s Out & Back with Alison Mariella Désir, will discuss environmental justice and equitable outdoor access. The event will include a panel discussion featuring James “Littlez” Dowell, co-founder of Prolyfyck Run Creww, and Nicole Boyd and Shara Cade, co-founders of Black Girls Hike RVA. A book signing will follow the discussion. Organizers highlight the importance of creating inclusive spaces in outdoor recreation. Andrea Trimble, Director of UVA’s Office for Sustainability, noted, “This open dialogue aims to foster inclusivity and diversity in outdoor recreational spaces, both locally and nationally.”

For more details, visit the event’s website.