COVID has made it hard to motivate to write for my own blog of late. But I’ve still done a lot of writing. I contributed a few blogs lately to SheJumps, and just completed the next edition of Mountaineer magazine. I’m working on a few posts for the coming weeks. In the meantime, here’s a “Q&A with Kristina Ciari” I did for the SheJumps Board of Directors:
Q: Why SheJumps?
A: SheJumps is an incredible community of women and girls. Our programs teach confidence, trust, communication, grit, and resilience. Every time I attend a program, talk to a participant, or read one of our blogs I find inspiration and motivation to go over my own outdoor dreams.
Q: What’s your involvement been with SheJumps before joining the board?
A: I was introduced to SheJumps in 2014 through a film screening of Pretty FacesI at The Mountaineers. The energy of the event was unparalleled, and I was surprised to hit it off immediately with so many women. After that, I attended every event I could because I loved the supportive energy of this community. I learned how to mountain bike with SheJumps, instructed at Get The Girls Out ski days, and supported the launch of the first Wild Skills event. I joined the board two years ago, and am excited to be involved with shaping the future of this wonderful nonprofit.
Q: What goal of the SheJumps 5 year Strategic Plan is the most important to you?
A: I think the strategic plan was put together thoughtfully, and each piece of the plan is dependent on the success of the others. I’m most excited to see SheJumps move the needle when it comes to being a leading resource of free and low-cost access to outdoor education for people of all backgrounds. Everyone should feel like they belong in the outdoors, and I’ve seen how invested the leadership is in JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) work. The outdoors is not a place that has been welcoming to everyone, particularly people of color, and while we have a long way to go, I’m excited to see SheJumps investing in JEDI programming directly and supporting partnerships that offer inclusive opportunities as well.
There’s more! Read the full Q&A interview here.
And, on a related note, we’re doing an open call for more people to join our Board of Directors! Learn more.
