Keep your heart healthy at MoAD on Valentine's Day! Join us for a conversation about Black Joy in the Outdoors with Rue Mapp, founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro and author of Nature Swagger: Stories and Visions of Black Joy in the Outdoors, and Rashad Frazier, founder of Camp Yoshi and author of the forthcoming book Cook Out: Recipes and Tips for the Great Outdoors. Immerse yourself with these two experts on how to reclaim and rediscover the healing power and joyful engagement with nature. The conversation will be followed by a booksigning.

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About the Speakers

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Rue Mapp is the Founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, a national not-for-profit that celebrates and inspires Black leadership in nature. What started as a blog became a powerful movement connecting tens of thousands of people annually in over 70 U.S. cities through guided hikes, conservation efforts, and outdoor experiences rooted in joy, culture, and belonging. She also launched Outdoor Afro Inc., a for-profit brand designing culturally relevant outdoor gear in partnership with companies like REI.
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A National Geographic Fellow and former California State Parks Commission Chair, Rue has been recognized with the Heinz Award and featured in outlets like The New York Times, NPR, and Oprah’s Book Club for her book Nature Swagger. She also leads initiatives on water safety and Black food heritage while serving on national conservation boards. Through all her work, she remains a joyful advocate for nature and community.

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Rashad Frazier is a chef, guide, and the founder of Camp Yoshi—a premium outdoor and cultural experience platform rooted in food, travel, and connection. Through curated trips, live-fire cooking, and storytelling, Rashad’s work explores the relationship between land, rest, and community, with a focus on creating welcoming spaces for people of color in the outdoors. His approach blends global culinary influence with outdoor living, emphasizing intention, presence, and gathering over perfection. Rashad is also the author of the forthcoming cookbook Cook Out, which centers fire-driven cooking and the rituals that bring people together.

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About the Books

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An exquisite combination of beautiful photography and compelling stories, this book from Outdoor Afro founder, Rue Mapp, celebrates Black joy in nature.

Filled with breathtaking photography, inspiring stories, profiles, and spotlights from Outdoor Afro group members, prominent Black leaders in outdoor spaces, and other organizations, this book inspires Black communities to reclaim their place in the natural world. Interspersed throughout are essays from Mapp on the rich history of Black involvement in the outdoors, activism, and conservation, as well as resources for readers who want to deepen their own connection with the elements. A perfect blend of gorgeous photographs, awe-inspiring stories, and Black history, this collection is perfect for anyone looking to heal in these sacred natural spaces.

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Reconnect to the natural world through over 60 delicious recipes and practical tips for cooking outside from the founder of Camp Yoshi. Nothing motivates, comforts, energizes, and brings people together like a delicious meal. For Rashad Frazier, founder of outdoor adventure company Camp Yoshi, the outdoors is a place for celebration, and a hot meal at the end of a long day is one of the best ways to celebrate. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by or excluded from the world of outdoor recreation and don’t know where to begin, Cook Out is your first step to unlocking your next adventure. Frazier shares his wisdom and approach to embarking in the outdoors with step-by-step tips for formulating comprehensive packing lists to properly equip your camp kitchen, cooking both on an open flame and on a camping stove, and setting yourself up for success with recipes you often start at home. As you conquer each meal of the day—whether that’s Fish and Grits to begin your morning, Banana Bread with Espresso Butter for a meal on the fly, or Fire-Roasted Curry Cauliflower and Tofu Donuts with Pear Compote to round out an epic day—you’ll realize that you can survive in the outdoors and thrive through community building in the natural world.A must-have guide for campers, explorers, and outdoor enthusiasts, Cook Out is a rallying cry for anyone who wants to diversify the outdoor space, one campfire-cooked meal at a time.

Cook Out will be released on April 14, 2026 and is available for pre-order through Bookshop.

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This program is presented in conjunction with Thrive@MoAD sponsored by Kaiser Permanente