Introducing Outdoor Unidos: Building Community Through Colorado's Great Outdoors

Colorado’s breathtaking mountains, rushing rivers, and endless trails have always been here—but not everyone has felt they belong in these spaces. We’re beyond excited to introduce a program that holds great significance for us: Outdoor Unidos. 

How We Got Here 

Our journey began when CMC was invited to apply for The Denver Foundation’s Belonging Colorado grant initiative. The mission of Belonging Colorado is simple: to provide resources for building belonging and strengthening connections across diverse communities. Since this aligns with our mission to promote outdoor engagement for all, we applied. Our program idea was simple yet powerful: to bring the outdoors to everyone and make it truly accessible. 

More than 300 organizations applied, and only 15 programs were awarded the grant—we were thrilled to be among them! 

However, a remarkable turn of events made this opportunity even more meaningful. We were paired with the incredible ViVe Wellness, an organization dedicated to fighting social injustice and serving underrepresented communities, particularly immigrant and Latino populations. That’s how Outdoor Unidos was created! To put it simply, CMC brings outdoor access and programming expertise, while ViVe serves as the vital bridge to the communities we aim to reach. 

Following the formed partnership, CMC brought on Raquel Cabeza as the new program manager to oversee this initiative. With both lived and professional experience—having lived in beautiful Colorado for six years since arriving from Venezuela—Raquel expressed her honor in leading this meaningful program, whose main goal is to foster a sense of belonging for everyone in Colorado and to break down cultural barriers through the one thing that unites all people in our world: the outdoors. 

A Partnership for Belonging 

Since receiving the great news, we’ve been working hard and closely with ViVe Wellness. With the support of the Belonging Colorado initiative, we’ve created something truly special. Together, we are working to break cultural barriers in our communities while creating pathways for underserved groups to experience the transformative power of outdoor recreation. At the same time, we’re fostering connections across diverse backgrounds, guided by the principles of the Bridging Differences Playbook. 

We’ve been awarded this grant for two years, but we know this is just the beginning of something bigger! 

What Makes Outdoor Unidos Special? 

We’ve designed this program to offer classes from June through November for all ages—kids, teens, and adults. Participants will explore a variety of outdoor experiences, including: 

🌊 Water Sports – Thanks to our partnership with ViVe Wellness, we’ll host exciting water sports sessions. 
🧗 Climbing – For all skill levels, from indoor climbing to outdoor adventures! 
🌿 Outdoor Education – Hands-on learning combined with hiking and exploration. 
🏕 Community-Building Events – Special camping trips and social gatherings to foster connections across cultures. 

What we’re most proud of is how Outdoor Unidos creates a space where diverse communities come together through shared experiences in nature. But this program isn’t just for newcomers—we’re also inviting you, the established community members and longtime CMC members, to join or volunteer with us to make this program possible! True belonging happens when we build bridges between communities, and this is your opportunity to be part of something truly unique. 

Why This Matters to Us 

We’ve seen firsthand how the outdoor recreation community has struggled with diversity and inclusion. Too often, barriers to access, representation, and resources have kept many Coloradans from experiencing the joy and benefits of outdoor activities. With Outdoor Unidos, we’re tackling these challenges directly by: 

✅ Removing financial barriers – Participation is completely free! We also provide transportation, refreshments, and all necessary gear. 
✅ Creating a welcoming environment – Providing bilingual resources and diverse representation. 
✅ Teaching practical outdoor skills – Building confidence for future adventures. 
✅ Fostering meaningful connections – Bringing together people from different cultural backgrounds. 

Join Us on This Journey 

We can’t make Outdoor Unidos successful alone—We need your support! Here’s how you can get involved: 

🤝 Volunteer or lead – Share your expertise as an activity leader! 
🏕 Participate – Join us on an adventure and connect with new friends. 
📣 Spread the word – Invite others who might benefit or want to contribute. 

Looking Forward 

As we prepare to launch this initiative, we're excited about the connections, stories, and experiences that will emerge. The outdoors has given us so much, and now, through Outdoor Unidos, we have the opportunity to extend that gift to more members of our Colorado community. 

Have questions or want to get involved? Join us on May 1st for an informational session to learn more. (Or go ahead and apply now!)

Let’s create an outdoor community where everyone truly belongs—together!