Letter from Grace Anderson

November 4, 2018

Dear SHIFT Board of Directors,

It is irresponsible for the Executive Director of an organization that touts cultural relevancy to not answer to the mounting feedback about how SHIFT and ELP is toxic and causes harm to communities of color and others from marginalized identities.

By his own admission, Beckwith has not taken any initiative to educate himself on the equity, justice and inclusion and often leans on people of color and others from marginalized communities to educate him. This has resulted in members of the Emerging Leaders Program enduring blatant racism, tokenization and emotional labor in the name of “progressing the field.”

The Emerging Leaders program has become a pillar in the outdoor industry and attracts brilliant and beautiful minds from around the country for what is perceived to be a prestigious opportunity. Instead, the feedback shows, that people, overwhelming people of color, leave feeling exhausted from a week of emotional labor, tokenized by the program and the lack of awareness of the larger SHIFT community and devalued by the lack of opportunity of genuine and meaningful engagement. ELP continues to be misrepresented and harmful to those attending which falls at the feet of the Executive Director.

By resigning his role as Executive Director, Beckwith makes space for new leadership that is relevant, reflective and thoughtful of the communities that SHIFT/ELP attracts.

Grace Anderson
Former SHIFT Employee