Outdoor Outreach 2016 Annual Report

SERVE AND SHARE
FACES OF OUTDOOR OUTREACH |SAMEER AZIMI
MEET OUR TEAM| JUAN ALVAREZ
Sameer graduated from Outdoor Outreach’s Leadership Program in 2015. Now a
part-time instructor at OO, Sameer finds joy in helping other refugee youth realize
possibility and opportunity in their lives.
“My family and I came to the United States from Kabul 12 years ago to
escape the Taliban. My mom didn’t know any English when we arrived
in the U.S. She wore a hijab for a while, but after someone attacked her
and pulled it off, it scared her so much that she stopped wearing it. At 7
years old I was translating legal documents for my dad to get a visa. He
was able to join us in the U.S. 8 years later.
I found Outdoor Outreach at my high school in El Cajon. I graduated
with honors, but was struggling to find a part-time job. No one wanted
to give me a chance. But Outdoor Outreach gave me a job. Perhaps the
most rewarding part is that I get to go back to my school and see so
many kids like me.
What strikes me the most is how much they appreciate the world of
possibility that can be found in this country. The sense of relief and
freedom is indescribable. I wish fear didn’t drive people’s perception of
refugees. We are just normal people.”
FUELING OUR ADVENTURES IN 2016
20,800 Granola Bars
Juan Alvarez knows what it takes to
make Outdoor Outreach run like
a well-oiled machine. He’s been
doing it for over 10 years.
When Juan joined Outdoor
Outreach in 2004 as one of the
first-ever Leadership Program
participants, the organization was
running out of founder Chris
Rutgers’ garage, with nothing but
climbing gear, a few surfboards, a
couple sleeping bags, and a tent.
Today, as Outdoor Outreach’s Logistics Coordinator, Juan manages
two warehouse storage units full of surfboards, paddles, helmets and
much more, plus a bike repair shop where he maintains OO’s 31
mountain bikes. He also makes sure Outdoor Outreach’s 5-van fleet is
up to the task of transporting teens on nearly 500 programs each year
throughout San Diego County and beyond. On top of all that, Juan
makes multiple trips to Costco each week to buy deli sandwiches, trail
mix, hummus, fruit and other snacks to fuel OO participants for their
after-school, weekend and summer adventures.
To anyone else, Outdoor Outreach’s inventory and logistical challenges
would be overwhelming. But having seen where OO started, Juan
appreciates it all. “We’re still small but we’re running with the big dogs,
and we’ve grown every year. That makes me so proud,” says Juan.
5,200 Clementines
7 lb of Sunscreen
You’re not just changing kids lives... for
some of them you’re saving their lives.
Thank you for choosing to use your time
and talents to make a difference.
Vanessa Moreno,
School Psyschologist, Morse High School
BARRIERS TO ACCESS
FAST FACTS
77% of participants lack transportation to parks and beaches.
39% aren’t aware of green spaces near their homes.
15% say gangs or crime make close-to-home green spaces
unsafe.
52% of field staff are Leadership Program
participants and graduates
126 volunteers contributed 1,066 hours
to support our outdoor programs