Being inclusive of others—a true and deep effort to understand and welcome folks with different lived experiences than one’s own—is the foundation of any organization's work to foster diversity, equity, and justice. Inclusion is about bringing new folks into your community and also about ensuring that everyone already in it, regardless of background, has the same access to your community’s rights, resources, and responsibilities. It is fundamental to the success of all of the other aspects of JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) work.

There’s no single, cut-and-dried way for your local climbing organization (LCO) to practice inclusion, but here are a few ways to get started, accompanied by real-world case studies to illustrate how these tactics look in practice.

1. Reach Out, Listen, and Learn

Learning from the people you are trying to include is an essential first step. Without understanding the needs and values of the people you are intersecting with, you will not be able to create a truly welcoming environment. When reaching out to have conversations and build partnerships, it is crucial to be mindful of two factors: first, the labor you are asking for, and second, that these conversations are about listening. In other words, it’s not about what a given individual, community, or organization can do for you and your JEDI goals, but about how you can serve them and their needs. When you ask someone to educate you on their perspective, you are asking for their labor. Be cognizant of this, and respect the fact that the folks you are reaching out to may not have the time, energy, or desire to engage in the conversations you want to have at that time. It’s also important to note that these conversations don’t need to be solely within the climbing or even outdoor-recreation communities. Look outside your comfort zone for organizations and partners invested in JEDI principles that aren’t necessarily directly related to climbing or the outdoors.

2. Extend the Invitation

Don’t just make opportunities to engage available—intentionally extend the invitation to the people and communities you’ve been learning from. This step is simple and yet at the core of all inclusion work. Choose to actively bring people in—both those new to your community and those who are already a part of it but may face barriers to engaging fully. Then, do the necessary work to support them, in whatever ways they need. This can be difficult, and misunderstanding can easily lead to tension, but discomfort is where growth happens. Building a broader, more welcoming community is impossible without making it clear that people from all backgrounds aren’t simply allowed in but are positively desired.

3. Examine Your Communications Materials

Your communications materials speak volumes about who you believe belongs at the crag. Before someone is comfortable high-stepping on a pebble a body length above their last pro, they need to be able to see themselves out there in the first place. Look critically at your communications materials. What genders, colors, ages, abilities, and disciplines of climbing (among many other factors) are present? Making sure that your visual communications materials represent the diversity of the nation is an effective early step to show that all are welcome out at the crag and in your organization. Similarly, if your organization puts out member profiles, blog posts, or other written materials, make sure the stories you tell encompass a multitude of perspectives.

4. Make Events Accessible

The economic, physical, and emotional accessibility of your events will influence who can come and how they will feel once they get there. What is the financial burden of getting to your next event? What about the time commitment involved in traveling there and taking part? Have you considered physical accessibility—is there a way for differently abled folks to participate? What does the advertising for your event look like? Does it make clear, through both words and images, that the event will be a space where all sorts of people are welcome? Taking the time to get the details right will ensure your gatherings are places where all can thrive.