What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1478755
women to be the best version of themselves. In both instances women are pushing back against oppressive systems. The joy, community-building and confidence found from learning new skills in a positive, supportive environment is readily transferred to learning how to tackle problems that might otherwise seem overwhelming. Both cases are about breaking things down in ways that participants can understand, execute on and have a defined path of personal goals. It's about building a community of educated advocates and allies, in mountain biking and beyond. Would you tell us a little of what you have planned for the panel? The preview mentioned it's based around how you use the mountain bike as a tool. Is it a tool for social justice and diversity equity access and inclusion? I'll be addressing how, when used in the right way, bikes can help people tap into their full potential. When (they do), it's not just them who benefit but everyone around them. Using mountain biking as a way to fight apathy and indifference, and specifically to dismantle racism, colonial ideas, gender inequality and climate injustice while building community, confidence and self propulsion is one of my favorite undertakings. It's about giving people the tools, education and empowerment to be the best the version of themselves mentally, physically and emotionally. How can we mobilize our community/our region to dismantle racist structures here — where should we start? The starting point requires being willing to take an honest look at how things actually are in the space of mountain biking and in your community. It also means stopping the consumption of racist ideas and being able to identify racism in policies, media, day-to-day culture — and the only way to do this is via education. Get educated not just on racism and colonization, but how modern day racism constantly reproduces itself (it's sneaky!) in mountain biking, the outdoors, sports and communities, etc. What should we do individually? To solve a problem, we must see it accurately and be willing to carry the load in front of us. This means understanding that multiculturalism isn't the same as anti-racism; that diversity doesn't equal inclusion or belonging even though they get lumped together. Individually, it means community leaders and community members having a concrete understanding of systemic racism, colonial narratives and how to use power and privilege to reinforce advocacy for true inclusion — rather than a disadvantageous inclusion — as well as a cohesive plan for shifting the burden from communities of color so that fighting racism is a shared effort. Ultimately, as a community and an industry (mountain biking), it's about making clear what kind of behaviors you are no longer willing to tolerate. 38 What's up! september 11-17, 2022 Summit Continued From Page 9 Feature To anyone who has considered getting into mountain biking but doesn't know where to begin or whether they have what it takes to try it, Naidu encourages an introductory group lesson. book one where you learn the psychology and mechanics of mountain biking as well as physical techniques involved in skill development, she recommends, since so much of biking is understanding the finer details of how your body moves and building up your mental fortitude. (Courtesy photo/Logan swayze photography) "anita (Naidu) is a talented trailblazer in the women's mountain bike space. She's the first Black/Brown pro female rider, DeaI advocate and conservationist. We are beyond excited to have her as a part of this incredible event." — Allyson de la Houssaye of Women of OZ