Affinity Initiative is a new space for women-of-colour and people who’ve been historically excluded in the Australian climbing scene. And they want to see you at their first panel discussion next week.

 

The folks at Women Uprising, an outdoor collective of women climbers on Naarm (Melbourne), have recently launched the Affinity Initiative to help create an accessible and uplifting space for climbers who traditionally face barriers breaking into the outdoor scene – this includes women-of-colour, people with varying abilities, LGBTQIA+ folk, and First Nations women.

Safe From What? Panel Discussion

Affinity Initiative’s first event, ‘Safe From What?’ is a panel discussion surrounding intersectionality in the outdoors, as well as how to take actionable steps as a collective to challenge the status quo, and of course, a Q&A afterwards. Big things! 

‘Safe From What?’ is being held next Thursday July 8th at the Arc’teryx store in Melbourne, 7pm-9pm. 

Tickets are $20 a pop, with all proceeds going to the COVID-19 Victorian First Nations Mutual Aid Fund. Plus, included in your ticket price, you get snacks and a Frank Green keep cup! How good!

If you can’t make it down to Melbourne for the discussion, you can still buy an In-Solidarity ticket and get access to a recording of the event to watch from anywhere, nice!

Grab a Ticket Now!

Who’s speaking on the panel?

On the discussion panel you’ll find; 

Sarah Larcombe (she/her) – a paraclimber, advocate for diversity, and committee member of Adaptive Climbing Victoria

Garima Lakhanpal (she/her) – co-founder of Colourful Climbers, a weekday environmental researcher and weekend adventure monkey

Qiqi (she/her) – a first-generation Chinese-Australian, an avid cyclist and climber, and postgrad Psychology student

Riley Edwards (they/them) – a queer and non-binary rock climber and ClimbingQTs Co-Founder

 

Affinity Initiative is For Allies Too

Although Affinity Initiative is a space for women and other folks of colour, it’s also a space for non-POC to listen, learn, and begin a journey of allyship and solidarity within the outdoor industry. 

Affinity Initiative will be hosting a solidarity workshop at the Beta Climbing Festival and panel discussions in the future. In the meantime, they’ve created a resource guide for people who want to be better allies.

If you’re a woman-of-colour or person-of-colour wanting to break barriers, you’re invited to be part of the Affinity Initiative community – this will give you access to free outdoor and indoor workshops, discounted rates to gym entries and gear purchase. 

 

Grab a Ticket Now!

 

Feature photo by @domchannon