Out & Back w/ Alison Mariella Désir

Alison Mariella Désir explores the Pacific Northwest with the change-makers who are reclaiming space, creating awareness and delivering access for the health and well-being of BIPOC communities in the region. Representation and diverse perspectives have long been missing from imagery and conversations concerning the outdoors. Diving into topics like the running boom, sundown towns, environmental racism, redlining, safety and representation, Alison examines the barriers between outdoor space and marginalized communities. Alison Mariella Désir is an athlete, activist, author, speaker and community organizer.

Season 1

Alison Mariella Désir relocated from Harlem, New York, to Seattle with her family. She and her husband, Amir, both athletes and organizers, hope to raise their child closer to nature. As Black people, acclimating to the Pacific Northwest opened a door to exploring the outdoors in a broader way.

Out & Back Wellness Special

The Pacific Northwest is an abundant playground. With trails, parks and miles of coastline, the opportunities for a nature outing are endless. It’s well known that spending time outdoors is a great way to boost mood, relieve anxiety and improve overall wellness. But for many people of color, the outdoors can feel unattainable.