“The pandemic made it clear that yes, more people are finding the outdoors and yes, people are finding the outdoors are not equally safe and welcoming for all.” So says Brad Garmon, director of Michigan’s Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry, who will be the guest on the next virtual UPEC Livestream on October 7th at 8 PM EDT. A recent article in Bridge Magazine highlighted the challenges Black, Indigenous, and People of Color face when enjoying Michigan's outdoors. Garmon will highlight the steps the Department of Natural Resources has taken to make the outdoors more welcoming for all peoples as a matter of policy and action.
In September 2019, Brad Garmon was named director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry. Though he grew up in the plains of western Kansas, Garmon has spent the last 18 years focused on improving Michigan public policy to better protect the Great Lakes and natural areas, while also forging stronger connections between resource conservation, job growth, talent attraction, and economic development.