Rue Mapp, is a pioneering leader in the outdoor industry, transforming how Black communities engage with nature. Born in 1971, in Oakland, California, she is the founder and CEO of ‘Outdoor Afro,’ a national not for profit that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature.
Mapp was placed into foster care at just 22 months old. She was raised by A.C. and Ella Mae Levias, who had a ranch in Lake County, California, roughly two and a half hours from Oakland. There, she spent countless summers and weekends developing her love for the outdoors. Her time on the ranch, learning to fish, hunt, and appreciate the wilderness, profoundly shaped her connection to nature and became the foundation of her lifelong commitment to ensuring that Black people feel that they belong in outdoor spaces.
Mapp founded ‘Outdoor Afro’ as a blog in 2009 with the goal of building a community of like-minded people and creating an outlet to reconnect Black people to the outdoors. She recognized that Black people often felt disconnected from these spaces usually due to historical segregation and cultural stigmas. Her goal was to break these barriers and help Black people rediscover nature’s joy and healing power. By 2015 she had garnered enough support to take the platform from a kitchen table blog to a full-blown not-for-profit organization.
Today, ‘Outdoor Afro’ has grown into a nation-wide organization with over 100 Volunteer Leaders across 32 states who lead 1,200 outdoor experiences each year. These Volunteer Leaders provide leadership, expertise, and community to people seeking a deeper connection and understanding of nature. Under Mapp’s guidance, Outdoor Afro has partnered with major organizations such as the National Park Foundation, the North Face, and CLIF Bar. Her efforts have earned national recognition, including accolades from the Administration of President Barack Obama.
Rue Mapp (Alameda Magazine)
Ella Mae Levias, Mapp’s adoptive mother, was a well-known seamstress in the Bay Area, and through her young Mapp also developed an eye for fashion. She started by making outfits for her doll collection, honing her skills through her teenage years. As an adult, she successfully created a clothing line called Rulette Wear, founded in San Francisco. This experience eventually inspired Mapp to found Outdoor Afro, Inc., a for-profit venture dedicated to designing stylish, technical outdoor gear and apparel that meets the needs of Black outdoor enthusiasts. In 2021 Outdoor Afro, Inc. partnered with REI to launch a clothing and gear collection that prioritized functionality, comfort, and style.
Mapp’s book, Nature Swagger: Stories and Visions of Black Joy in the Outdoors, published in 2022 recounts her own experiences in nature alongside the first-person narratives of 30 fellow Black outdoor enthusiasts. As a speaker she tackles topics such as: leadership, conservation, and entrepreneurship. Her influence on topics like these, and more, have led her to be featured on various news channels, talk shows, and her own TEDx Talk.
