Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Open Waters Network is committed to removing barriers that prevent underserved communities from accessing paddlesports education and wilderness safety training. We prioritize serving low-income youth, people with disabilities, and communities historically excluded from outdoor recreation along the Hudson River.

Our commitment to equity is foundational to our mission. We partner with organizations to ensure adaptive programming reaches people with disabilities, and we focus scholarships on communities where cost is the primary barrier to participation.

We recognize that our current board of three founders does not yet reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. As we grow, we are actively seeking board members who bring varied perspectives across race, gender, ability, and economic background. We believe effective governance requires voices from the communities we aim to support.

We are committed to ongoing learning and will pursue DEI training for all board members to strengthen our capacity to serve equitably.