Representation in the Outdoors: Our Paper Trails

07/21/22 • 30 min

Meet Veronica Castillo and Miguel Venegas of Our Paper Trails. Four years ago, this power couple decided to transform their lifestyle and live in a van to reach their traveling and financial goals (they just paid off their student loans - woot woot!).

Joining the vanlife and nomadic communities changed how Vero & Miguel approach life choices, from what they purchase to how they become better allies. Even in the outdoors, representation, inclusivity, and diversity is important to ensure that everyone feels safe and welcome. Vero & Miguel are transparent about their struggles with vanlife, how the nomadic community only recently began embracing more diversity, and their undeterred dedication to get out on the road. Although it hasn't always been easy, Our Paper Trails proves we can all fulfill our dreams with the right amount of risk, effort, and support.

Follow Our Paper Trails:

Instagram

Resources:

Diversify Vanlife Website

Diversify Vanlife on Instagram

Definitions:

Nomadic - a community without fixed habitation made up of people who regularly move to another area

Minimalism - a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]

Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)

Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Follow Our Paper Trails:

Instagram

Resources:

Diversify Vanlife Website

Diversify Vanlife on Instagram

Definitions:

Nomadic - a community without fixed habitation made up of people who regularly move to another area

Minimalism - a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]

Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)

Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Previous Episode

Allyship All Year Long: A Tribe Called Queer Founder, Sabine Maxine Lopez

Pride month is every month! Sabine Maxine Lopez, founder of A Tribe Called Queer, discusses how her Instagram page grew to a brand and now a nonprofit organization. This platform creates and shares resources for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and LGBTQIA+ (see definition below) communities including mental health services, book clubs, clothing swaps, legal advice, wellness events, and much more. As a small team, Sabine and Melba are limited in their reach and resource offerings. To grow its team and impact, A Tribe Called Queer needs funding, like so many other nonprofits, and that's where the power of community comes in. Support this incredible organization and their life-changing work today by giving them a follow, donating to their fundraiser, and getting involved (links below!).

A Tribe Called Queer Links:

Partner Links:

Definitions:

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]

Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)

Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Next Episode

The Struggle to Identify in the Latin Diaspora

People of Latin American descent can identify as Hispanic, Latino/a, Latinx, Latine, or Chicano/a/x. Others prefer to identify as Indigenous as a way to reclaim their roots. Others identify according to their nationality(ies), such as Colombian-American or Mexican-American, to speak out against terms that group multiple countries and cultures together. Identifying under multiple hierarchical systems, and according to two or more different cultures, can be confusing, but also powering. Many of these terms aren't perfect, but they all express the desire for members of the Latin diaspora to organize, mobilize, and advocate for their rights. When we learn about the history of each term, we grow appreciation and understanding for the struggle to find community and belonging.

Resources:

Raíces Verdes (featuring host Samara)
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]

Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)

Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)