As three women of color working for decades in the Bay Area in a field that hasn’t historically reflected much diversity, it was surprising that our paths didn’t cross until 2019. We found each other after Ariana published an op-ed ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Open-Forum-Environmental-movement-lacks-people-14423063.php) in the San Francisco Chronicle lamenting the lack of representation in the Bay Area’s thriving environmental sector. The article struck a chord with Sejal, who was working to create a more inclusive culture at her own environmental organization. And as a relative newcomer to the environmental sector, Olivia was inspired to expand and diversify her professional network.
Soon after we started talking, we looked into Environmental Professionals of Color ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.cdeinspires.org/community-building/) (EPOC), a group that brings people together from diverse backgrounds to organize, strategize, and support the future leaders of the environmental movement. We noticed active EPOC chapters in Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle, but there wasn’t one in the San Francisco Bay Area.
So, in partnership with a few other motivated individuals, we launched a local EPOC chapter. Our group has been going strong for five years and now has over 150 participants. In addition to expanding our professional networks and supporting people of color within the local environmental movement, this effort has created a vibrant community of friends from all walks of life with similar interests.
And at this moment, when environmental laws and climate protections are being irresponsibly rolled back, when the words diversity, equity, and inclusion are being aggressively erased from federal policies, and when people of color across the country are being heartlessly devalued, the EPOC community feels more important than ever. That’s why we meet monthly for online discussions, in-person socializing, and outdoor adventures. Through the drama in the world (and sometimes in the workplace), these gatherings serve as a safe space to discuss challenging issues and provide support and mentorship.
As the year kicks off and the chaos feels never-ending, we recommend finding a group to connect with around a shared identity or interest. Finding your community can help ground you and keep you feeling sane when times are tough. Want to explore some local affinity groups celebrating people of color, people with disabilities, or those identifying across a spectrum of gender identities, orientations, and more? Below is a short list of Bay Area options to get you started. If you know of a relevant group not listed here, please let us know at enviroprosdecolor@gmail.com, and we’ll include it in a more comprehensive list on the EPOC Bay Area website ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.epocbayarea.org/networking/).
Sejal Choksi-Chugh is the executive director of San Francisco Baykeeper ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/http://baykeeper.org), Olivia White Lopez is the director of culture, equity, and belonging at Peninsula Open Space Trust ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://openspacetrust.org), and Ariana Rickard is the public policy and funding program manager at Sonoma Land Trust ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://sonomalandtrust.org). They are three of the founders of EPOC Bay Area ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.epocbayarea.org/).
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect their respective employers’ official views or positions.
Belonging in Nature: Queer and Trans Community Day
In October 2023, the community stewardship and engagement team from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy introduced a new series of monthly queer and trans community day programs at many National Park Service sites in the Bay Area from Lands End, Alcatraz, Crissy Field, Muir Woods, the Presidio Nursery, and many more spaces. These holistic events are grounded in land stewardship, art-making, meditation, disability justice/accessibility, community connection, and healing. With the addition of BIPOC affinity spaces, these programs are helping connect our LGBTQ+ communities to nature.
Find monthly events here ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.parksconservancy.org/events/active-events-parks) and email Christian Trujillo to be added to the mailing list: ctrujillo@parksconservancy.org ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://baynature.org/2025/02/11/how-to-find-your-people-join-a-bay-area-affinity-group/mailto:ctrujillo@parksconservancy.org)
Birdability
Birdability’s mission is to share the joys of birding with people who have disabilities and to ensure birding is accessible for everybody. They work to improve the physical accessibility of birding locations by providing guidance on access considerations ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.birdability.org/access-considerations) and maintaining a crowdsourced Birdability Map ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.birdability.org/contribute-to-the-birdability-map) that details accessibility features of birding locations worldwide. While their website does not yet feature Bay Area-specific gatherings, they offer many virtual events such as game nights, book clubs, and featured speakers.
Ready to meet your birds of a feather? Check out Birdability’s website ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.birdability.org/) or email them at info@birdability.org.
Black Surf Santa Cruz
Black Surf Santa Cruz (BSSC) aims to promote physical and spiritual wellness through surf and community in Santa Cruz County. They work to provide equitable access to coastal spaces, strive to break down both visible and invisible barriers to enjoying the ocean, and foster a sense of safety and belonging for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Participants of their programs, many first-time ocean-goers, have expressed appreciation for the community BSSC builds and the supportive environment created by their volunteer coaches and staff.
Find them on Instagram ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.instagram.com/blacksurfsantacruz/?hl=en) and Facebook ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.facebook.com/BlackSurfSC/) or visit their website t ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.blacksurfsantacruz.org/about-us)o catch a wave with Black Surf Santa Cruz.
BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation
BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation enables youth and adults with mobility disabilities and visual impairments through athletic and outdoor programs to foster independence, health, community, and belonging. Their extensive programming includes youth and adult team sports (wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, power soccer, and goalball), weekly virtual and in-person fitness classes, pickleball, and adaptive rock climbing. BORP’s adaptive outdoor center in Berkeley houses over 100 adaptive cycles and a fleet of accessible kayaks. BORP also runs an adaptive cycling program in Golden Gate Park from June to October.
In addition to their on-site and online activities, they facilitate accessible nature and cultural outings and maintain the Access California ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://accessca.org/) website, which provides information about accessible trails and parks.
Get fit with BORP by visiting their website ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/http://www.borp.org) or emailing them at info@borp.org ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://baynature.org/2025/02/11/how-to-find-your-people-join-a-bay-area-affinity-group/mailto:info@borp.org).
California BIPOC Climate Network
The California BIPOC Climate Network is a statewide network for and by Black, Indigenous, and people of color in climate, sustainability, and environmental professions within local government, community-based organizations, academia, and nonprofits. This volunteer-run group serves as a community listserv for 800+ BIPOC climate professionals to share resources, opportunities, and job postings they may or may not have access to or knowledge about otherwise. Volunteer members facilitate knowledge, skills, problem-solving, and relationship-building sessions within the cohort, with regional in-person meet-ups throughout the year.
Sign up by filling out this form ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://forms.gle/vSfkG7TTqarzbDqS8).
California Farmer Justice Collaborative
California Farmer Justice Collaborative (CFJC) unites farmers of color and allies across California. They seek opportunities, political and beyond, to grow collective representation and sustain traditional agricultural knowledge. Members include advocates, academics, nonprofit administrators, and farmers, who all work to promote the economic self-sufficiency of underrepresented farmers. CFJC works alongside small farmers statewide, focusing on California’s ethnically diverse farmers and ranchers who may have limited access to government programs.
Ready to plant the seeds of justice? Visit their website ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.farmerjustice.com/) or email admin@farmerjustice.com ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://baynature.org/2025/02/11/how-to-find-your-people-join-a-bay-area-affinity-group/mailto:admin@farmerjustice.com).
Conservationists of Color – Northern California Chapter
The Conservationists of Color (CoC) Northern California is an affinity group formed to provide people of color working in conservation with opportunities to connect and exchange social and professional support. CoC Northern California builds and strengthens a regional community of conservationists of color by facilitating quarterly in-person meetups to create space for deep discussion, laughter, and outdoor recreation. While many members are also part of Environmental Professionals of Color, CoC is specific to land trusts and conservation organizations, with outings more focused on the land. Andrew Nguyen shared the benefits of joining: “A solid group of kindred spirits has emerged as a result of these meetups, making us feel connected, less alone, and excited for the future.”
To learn more or take a hike with your fellow conservationists, reach out to norcalcoc@openspacetrust.org.
Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP)
Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) is a national network of changemakers who strive for excellence and equity in philanthropy. EPIP aims to empower emerging leaders and elevate philanthropic practice to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. Through their commitment to professional and leadership development, advocacy and innovation, and community-building, they strive to be the home for early- and mid-career change makers committed to using philanthropy to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable future.
Early career philanthropists apply here ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.epip.org/become_a_member_501c3).
Environmental Professionals of Color – Bay Area Chapter
The Environmental Professionals of Color (EPOC) unites the San Francisco Bay Area’s community of environmental professionals identifying as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in the Bay Area’s environmental movement. EPOC creates safe spaces for BIPOC enviro pros to network, share resources, and discuss challenges. By centering and amplifying the perspectives and profiles of BIPOC environmental professionals, EPOC hopes to retain and grow the number of BIPOC professionals in the sector.
To link up with EPOC, learn more ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.epocbayarea.org/) and sign up ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/enviropros-de-color/join).
Latino Outdoors
Latino Outdoors (LO) inspires, connects, and engages Latino communities in the outdoors, embracing cultura y familia as part of the outdoor narrative and ensuring their collective history, heritage, and leadership are valued and represented. LO believes meaningful outdoor experiences make people stronger, healthier, and happier. As a community, they strive for an outdoors that is safe and welcoming for all people, regardless of race, creed, nationality, language, gender, sexual orientation, or ability.
Vamos afuera con Latinos Outdoors ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://latinooutdoors.org/).
Queer Crush Climbing
Queer Crush Climbing is about creating safe and inclusive spaces for those who are diverse in their gender, romantic, and sexual orientations. They empower Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color of all abilities to seek healing, health, community, and connection with the land through the art and sport of climbing. They host regular indoor gym meetups and outdoor events serving 3,000+ members across Northern, Central, and Southern California, as well as in CO and VT. They also partner with community spaces such as climbing gyms and nonprofits that are committed to queer allyship across intersections such as race, ethnicity, class, and immigrant status.
Climb on with Queer Crush by signing up for their newsletter ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://queercrush.substack.com/) and visiting their website ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://queercrush.org/).
Salted Roots
Salted Roots is an organization that fosters a surf culture rooted in collective power, equity, love, and reverence for the Earth. Its programs were created to address inequities in ocean access, particularly for communities of color, by providing a supportive space where girls, women, and gender-expansive people of color can connect with the ocean through surfing. By uplifting these communities’ voices, enhancing access to the ocean, and advancing environmental justice, Salted Roots aims to nurture a sense of belonging, empowerment, and well-being in coastal spaces that have historically been difficult to access for communities marginalized by systemic inequities.
For more information about volunteer opportunities and upcoming 2025 programs, visit saltedrootssurf.org ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/http://www.saltedrootssurf.org) to sign up for their newsletter and follow their ocean joy on Instagram @saltedrootssurf ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.instagram.com/saltedrootssurf/).
Sonoma County Feminist Bird Club
Sonoma County Feminist Bird Club (Sonoma County FBC) is a friendly group of bird nerds committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone, regardless of their identities, to learn about birds and their environments. We do this by organizing bird-centered outings all over Sonoma County, focusing on bringing our community to areas they usually don’t have physical access to or feel welcome in.
Find your flock by visiting the Sonoma County Feminist Bird Club website ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.feministbirdclub.org/events/sonoma-north-bay) and following them on Instagram: @fbc.sonoma ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.facebook.com/sonomacountyfbc).
Young Environmental Professionals Happy Networking
Jemma Williams ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemma-williams-3624b434/) and Nikki Roach ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-roach-phd-bb6b1322/) created the Young Environmental Professionals (YEP) Happy Networking to bring together early and mid-career environmental professionals from around the Bay who focus on regional environmental issues. YEP hosts meet-ups in the East Bay, San Francisco, and North Bay every other month. Adam Jorge of Sonoma Clean Power says, “The beautiful part about YEP is that all these people come together across sectors and disciplines. It’s like the best part of conferences – where you connect with people you care about who are doing work you care about—and learn the latest and greatest in each space while growing your network.”
Get your network on by signing up here ^(https://www.blogquicker.com/goto/http://eepurl.com/i9K6mM).
#Find #People #Join #Bay #Area #Affinity #Group
